Naadam was founded by Matthew Scanlan and Diederik Rijsemus, college friends who travelled to remote parts of the world together. On a trip to the Mongolian Gobi Desert — the source of the worlds best cashmere — they became friends with the local goat herders. They saw first-hand how traditional traders and brokers drove up the prices of cashmere to increase their profits. By working directly with the Mongolian herders, Scanlan and Rijsemus realized they could cut out the middlemen, pay their herder friends more, and sell premium quality cashmere to us for less. Better yet, they could do it in a very sustainable and ethical manner.

“Since NAADAM was founded in 2013, we’ve been committed to transparency, ethical practices, cultural preservation and environmental sustainability”

You can read about Naadam’s sustainable and ethical practices, and the goals that they are working to achieve by 2025. I highly recommend reading their Social and Environmental Impact Report too. It’s detailed, but easy to follow. For example, Naadam keeps the supply chain within a tight radius to minimize transport related carbon emissions. They offset the rest of their emissions via the Carbon Fund. Naadam are able to trace every stage of their cashmere production process. That means from goat to wardrobe item. Impressive! The herders and their communities are looked after and receive benefits. And the all important goats lead a healthy and resilient life. Goats are combed instead of sheared, and are not killed for their cashmere.

Naadam is committed to making high-quality clothing that is designed to last so that consumers pass on fewer products and ultimately create less waste. That’s why Naadam uses long fibres when creating yarn because it makes the cashmere stronger and minimizes pilling. It’s when yarn fibres are short or broken that knitwear is most prone to pilling.

Naadam offers cashmere pullovers, cardigans, bottoms, dresses, and accessories for ladies and gents. Their prices are good as far as cashmere goes, especially since the quality is sublime and the production is sustainable and ethical. They also offer a $75 sweater in 14 colours. The sizes of the Naadam women’s assortment runs from XXS to XXL. Naadam have three retail stores in NYC, and for the rest you can order online through the site. Apparently they will ship internationally at a flat fee.

When I look at the assortment, I see simple, luxe, solid, and beautifully made wardrobe essentials and modern classics in a range of neutrals and earth tones. That emphasizes the versatility and longevity of the Naadam item. Dress it up it up or down, and remix it into any look that tickles your fancy. Every so often, there’s a trendy, patterned, and non-neutral piece in the mix, which keeps things interesting.

Some of our forum members swear by Naadam’s cashmere, which is good validation. I’m ready to make my next basic cashmere pullover a purchase from Naadam. But I need to be in a neutral and solid mood, because apart from the blues and creams, the colours and solids do not appeal to me. That said, who knows what they have up their sleeves for the rest of the season. This brand is on my radar.

Lots of news from the beauty industry, a new footwear collection, and more fashion news that made headlines in September.

• A new fashion documentary traces the life and design of Pierre Cardin.
• Now that temperatures are dropping in the northern hemisphere, leather face masks are on the rise.
• After 60 years, discount department store Century 21 is closing its doors.
• Nordstrom has announced it will stop selling products made of real fur and exotic animal skins by the end of 2021.
• Former J.Crew creative director Jenna Lyons is getting into the beauty business.
• Meanwhile, J.Crew is closing all six of its stores in the UK.
• Press-on nails are currently very popular as many people are postponing a visit to the nail salon.
• Canadian brand Mackage is branching out into footwear.
• The North Face is teaming up with Gucci for a clothing collaboration that celebrates the great outdoors.
• California is the first US state that will ban 24 toxic ingredients in cosmetics.
• Nordstrom is partnering with TerraCycle to create BeautyCycle, an in-store depository that will ensure your empty beauty packaging actually gets recycled.

Fun Fashion Trick

Did you know that you can avoid static cling with a safety pin? If you place it on the inner hem of your garment, it will dispel the charge, and leave you cling-free.

The pleated midi skirt is swooshy and comfortable, especially when it has an elastic waist. Some pleated skirts are more streamlined than others. If you’re concerned with too much pouf, choose a silhouette with a less voluminous and flatter pleat, and wear tops over the skirts instead of tucking them. 

I like the relaxed, less conventional, more playful vibe of these pleated midi looks because it makes the skirt versatile. You could work from home in these looks with your version of indoor footwear. It’s a big nod to fashion’s creative and liberating theme that almost anything goes, and I LOVE that.

Choose any colour palette as you put together these looks.

1. Charming Matchy-Matchy Slouch

Combine a pleated midi with a slouchy pullover. A welted pullover will add some structure. The model has layered a blouse under the pullover, but that’s not essential. A scarf is a good substitute. Finish off the look with flat mid-calf boots, and socks that peek out from the top if you like. Here, the blouse, boots and trim on the hat match, but that’s optional. Also, the skirt and pullover are high contrast thereby creating horizontal integrity. Low contrast separates will create vertical integrity.

2. Hooded Comfort

Combine a hoody with a pleated midi. A short boxy hoody, or a longer welted one will create proportions that are just flattering enough. The low contrast between the top and skirt elongates the outfit, much like a column of colour. Add sneakers, hi-tops or casual mid-calf boots. The socks here look a little like leg warmers, and could be a fun addition. But if they feel too juvenile, leave them off. The flat floral boots in outfit #1 would look fab with this outfit.

3. Elegantly ‘90s

Combine a pleated midi with a black top and flat black mid-calf boots. The top here is tucked, but you can semi-tuck or leave it untucked. A black hoody would look good too. Add black sheer or opaque hosiery and a short black moto, aviator or puffer jacket for warmth.

4. Sporty Pretty

This is my favourite of the lot, because I like the practical but pretty components in the crisp light palette. Yet you can choose any palette. Combine a pleated midi with a slightly fluid sweater. Wear it tucked or untucked. Add a short puffer jacket and sneakers or hi-tops to complete the Sporty Luxe vibe. Add accessories as desired.

I frequently help clients evolve their styles into retired life. How their styles change varies from person to person. Some change their style drastically when they move into retirement, and others don’t change nearly as much. Either way, a lot of the preparation is the same and some things are universal. Here are some general guidelines on how to move your styles into the next chapter of your life.

Slow Down Dressy Career Wear Purchases

If you wear business formal or casual attire to work, or a work uniform of sorts, slow down the purchasing of that type of dress code a year to two before you retire. For example, purchase fewer formal sheath dresses, dressy suits, formal blazers, and high-heeled pumps and boots. 

Amp Up Crossover Items

Crossover wardrobe items are the pieces that you can wear in your non-retired and retired life. For example classic knitwear, smart casual outerwear, moto jackets, some blazers, some blouses, shirts, some pairs of trousers, dressy jeans, boots, tube skirts, ruanas, casual dresses, dressy flats and knitted tops are versatile items that can be dressed up or down. If you purchase more before you retire, you can dress them down with items like fashion sneakers, a utility jacket, jeans, utility pants, a denim jacket and casual boots in your post-work life.

Needs Analysis and Closet Edit

Once you’ve retired, a new needs analysis is in order because some of the factors that impact your style will have changed. You’ll need to do a few thorough closet edits in order to decide what to do with the work clothes, footwear and accessories you will seldom wear. Don’t pass it all on right away, and be sure to keep the crossover items.

Take Your Time

No matter how much you prepare and plan your evolved look for retired life, it will take time to find your stride. Try to make changes gradually and organically. Relax into it and enjoy the process. After all, you’re retired! Ideally, you need to settle into retired life for a while first in order to correctly establish new routines, schedules and activities, all of which will impact how you dress from day to day. Take your time to evolve your retired look so that you do it effectively, efficiently, and enjoy the results.

Build Effective Wardrobe Capsules

Once you have established routines in your new way of life, figure out which activity capsules you’ll need to complement them. All of my retired clients have fleshed out their activiewear, loungewear, casual wear and travel capsules. But some of them have also added athleisure, resort, cabin, beach, crafting, camping, gardening and theatre capsules to their wardrobe.

Build each activity capsule with mix-and-match items. Remember to incorporate existing wardrobe items into the capsules. You might find that you need to flesh out wardrobe categories like jeans, utility pants, athleisure bottoms, sneakers, knitted tops, casual skirts and dresses, house shoes, and casual toppers.

You also need to figure out your at-home style. Do you want to wear loungewear, athleisure, beach wear, casual wear, smart casual wear, dressier items, or a bit of everything. It’s all good as long as it makes you happy and works for your new lifestyle.

Hair, Make-Up, Nails, and Eyewear Re-evaluation

Re-evaluate your hairstyle, and the time and money it takes to maintain it. You might want to keep it the same, go grey, change the colour, leave it curly, go shorter, grow it out longer, add rainbow locks, straighten the waves, have it styled more or less frequently, or go for a more adventurous look.

Re-evaluate your nail care regimen. Do you want to amp up or scale down professional manicures and pedicures. Maybe you want to join Team Naked Nails. Maybe you want to have professionally groomed nails and feet because you finally have the time and can enjoy the results. Maybe things stay just the same.

Re-evaluate your eyewear. Maybe you want to switch from contacts lenses to specs, update your collection of readers, get prescription sunnies, or refresh your existing day-to-day eyewear. As for make-up, decide on a look that feels right day to day. It might mean wearing less than you used to, or keeping things the same.

Throw in LOTS of Personality

Your style into retired life needn’t be less fun, less expressive, or less visually impactful than before, unless of course, that’s exactly how you want your style to evolve.

Some of my clients are having even more fun with their styles after retirement because they feel less inhibited and more empowered. They can finally wear exactly what they want. Many are more sartorially adventurous and on-trend than they used to be. Some have maintained their daily levels of dressiness, playfulness, polish, tough edge, and avant-garde integrity. They continue to have fun with fashion, but are not bossed around by it.

Over the years, I’ve seen some of our veteran forum members evolve their styles into retired life, and they have never looked better. Your style might be different as you head into retirement, but it needn’t be void of verve, chic, and personality. Retirement can absolutely be your time to shine. You’ve earned it.

Don’t Leave Things for Good

I can’t stress this point enough. My late Mum, who loved to wear beautiful dressy clothes and jewellery, left too much of it for good. She died at age 59, and missed many opportunities. Wear your fabulous wardrobe items. If not now, when?

These guidelines are not exhaustive. Feel free to add your tips and experiences in the comments. I’m sure we can all learn from each other.