Depending on where you live, we’re seeing brick-and-mortar stores slowly starting to reopen. Fashion news outlets have been trying to predict how this new phase of shopping and using beauty services is going to look:

• Here’s The Kit’s take on what will happen to fitting rooms.
• The future of the beauty tester. Allure suspects we’re going to have to say goodbye to in-store sampling.
• The Huffington Post looks at how nail salons will be different when they reopen amid the pandemic.
• The Guardian’s Jess Cartner-Morley says shopping for clothes is about to get weird, and has some tips on how to make it simpler.
• Why people are still renting clothes, even in quarantine.
• Can you still donate and sell clothes during the Coronavirus pandemic? asks Fashionista.

Fab Links from Our Members

Nuancedream absolutely loves the Netflix series “The Crown”. Part of what makes it special for her is the meticulous attention to detail with costume design.

Unfrumped enjoyed this article from The Wall Street Journal on what different designers thought would come “after” the pandemic.

Shevia found these two interesting reports regarding the state of the second-hand market in today’s environment. It’s looking good!

Alyssa Beltempo is a Canadian style vlogger who focusses on “slow fashion” and sustainability. La Belle Demimondaine enjoyed this video, in which she creates 20 fabulous outfits featuring white jeans.

Nemosmom reports that in line with Angie’s blog feature on Monday, Capezio is expanding its line of pointe shoes to include darker shades. 

This article reminded Jaileen of Angie’s post on stylish tops for Zoom meetings. It discusses the practice of slipping into that shirt for the meeting, and then slipping out of it and keeping it on the back of your dining chair, handy for the next meeting. And wearing it over and over.

Debbie Roes covers a lot in this blog post: how we’re living the “infinite present”, how menopause is changing her style, some style exercises, and much more. Suntiger thinks it’s well worth a read.

She also recommends Alison’s post about finding nude bras for brown skin tones. She adds: “I can count on one hand though, the number of times I have found bras/knickers even close to my skin color at retail. Glad to see there are some options!”

Finally, Jorja directs us to Alison’s post in which she reviews cloth face masks.

It used to be the norm to keep wardrobe items until they were too worn to wear. For one thing, it’s financially responsible. We’re respecting the investment of time and resources in the items we purchase. And it’s satisfying to reduce the cost per wear and get the most out of our fashion buck. For another, it is ecologically responsible. We’re considering the longevity of the planet. The more sustainable our wardrobes are, the better.

These days the trade-off can be different. Most of the items I pass on go either to friends, or to Dress for Success Seattle, and get a second life with a different owner. For this reason, I don’t like to pass items on if they are worn, damaged or shabby. Items should look, at most, very gently worn, so that the next person can enjoy them in a similarly polished and “new” way.

I am a neat freak who takes really good care of her things, so I haven’t found it hard to keep wardrobe items looking fab before they find their next home. This is harder to achieve with knitwear, but my new de-pilling tools help to spruce things up. It’s even harder to do with footwear because I’m hard on shoes. But sometimes shoes are very lightly worn because they are less comfortable than I had hoped, and on to their new home they go.

The reason I’m passing these items on in the first place is because the silhouettes no longer work for me on the current leg of my style journey. For example, my aversion to sheath dresses and pencil skirts because I can’t walk fast in them, and my preferences for knee-covering lengths because I feel more attractive with the coverage. Rather than keeping these items that go unworn because they don’t make me feel fab, I thought it was less wasteful to pass them on to someone who will wear them.

With the increased popularity of thrifting and buying wardrobe items second-hand, it can make even more sense to pass items on before they are very worn. A friend of mine likes to pass on her items in mint condition because she sells them second-hand. She also wears a lot of second-hand wardrobe items, and absolutely does NOT want them to look worn. If you’re a thrifter, think of how delighted you are when you buy things second-hand that barely look worn. That’s because items were passed on that way.

Of course, being in a position to pass an item on in good condition is a privilege that not everyone has. In my case, having a changing wardrobe is very much part of my profession. If I wasn’t a fashion stylist I would probably keep more items for their full usable life.

Over to you. What are your thoughts on passing on items in excellent condition? Do you find it wasteful? Or can it be a way to prolong the life of a wardrobe item before it is recycled, upcycled, or destined for a landfill.

I’ve noticed that as the weather warms up, my clients with an otherwise un-bohemian style, are more than happy to add a boho integrity to their look. There is something about the vibe that lends itself well to Summer dressing. It’s all fabulous: Unstructured comfort, cotton, silk, rayon and linen-rich fabrications, fun colours and patterns, earth tones, flounces, tassels, flowing and tiered silhouettes, florals, paisleys, embroderies, ruffles, peplums, crochet, distressed brown leather, kaftans, beading, wooden jewellery, smocking, bell sleeves, flutter sleeves, midi and maxi skirts and dresses, peasant blouses, babydoll blouses, straw hats, kimono toppers, tie-dye, soft wide pants, wooden heels, clogs, plaited belts, beachy waves, soft feathered hair, mega curly hair, headbands, turquoise jewellery, fringe, empire cuts, batwings, tunics, yoked tops, and frayed cut-off denim shorts.

The high longevity factor and versatility of bohemian style is appealing. It’s seldom on-trend, yet it’s always there and looks right every season. Think of how the Johnny Was look is so timeless, especially when you live in a warm climate like Southern California.

Anyone can rock boho items. Dress them up or down, and remix them with other vibes. Keep boho looks earthy and neutral, or throw in the brights, jewel tones and pastels. Keep it simple, or wear everything but the kitchen sink. Personalize the boho vibe and wear it YOUR way.

Some of my clients add a lot of boho to their style in Summer, and others keep it boho-lite. Kaftans come in handy for the beach and pool. Breezy boho blouses and knitted tops are a step up from basic tees and look great with jeans, shorts and cropped pants. Roomy boho dresses and skirts are very comfortable and excellent in the heat. And cut-off denim shorts have become iconic.

Here are two examples of outfits that aren’t exactly boho, but exude the same vibe. The first is very casual, and the second a good bit dressier. They are relaxed, roomy and Summery in that quintessential boho way.

Years ago, I used to say that my style was as boho as Karl Lagerfeld. I had to eat my words, because in the Summer, I will absolutely wear boho-lite blouses, skirts and dresses. I’m drawn to them because they’re soft, pretty, romantic, flouncy and flowing. But I’ll wear them in a crisp, polished, and dressier way to make them feel authentic to my style.

Over to you. Do you incorporate boho into your style in the Summertime?

Sydney-based Kim-Marie documents her outfits on her blog Kimba Likes and Instagram account with the same name. Kim-Marie’s style is casual and cheerful with quirky and arty touches. She loves colour, has a penchant for conversational prints and pattern mixing, and sports a fab red ‘do that is an integral part of her style.

Pastels mixed with brights makes for a fab Summery look. Kim-Marie is wearing a dropped-waist pinafore dress with eclectic geometric print. The midi dress has fun side-entry pockets and the pink background perfectly matches the pink tee underneath. Pattern mixing with the stripes is right up our blogger’s alley, and creates extra visual interest. Kim-Marie’s pale pink sneakers are also a good match with both the dress and tee. Bookending the low-contrast footwear with the frock elongates the leg line. Rose quartz necklaces, playful drop earrings and polished coral lipstick finish off the look.

Our blogger’s polka dot print mustard dress is the star of the show in this casual Summer dress-over-pants outfit. The V-neck dress with empire waist is flowy and breezy, great for warm temps. The billowy sleeves and flouncy asymmetrical hemline create drama and movement. Pairing the dress with white cropped jeans adds crispness. The perforated detailing on the ballet flats adds subtle texture, while the neutral colour, close to Kim-Marie’s skintone, lengthens the leg line. Dainty silver bracelets, necklace, and earrings are the accessories of choice. Here our blogger is wearing her signature red locks wavy here, and the silver barrettes are the playful finishing touch.

Conversational prints are trademark Kim-Marie, and she has many good ones in her closet! Like these culottes with cheerful botanical print. She’s combined them with a relaxed-fit chambray shirt. Faux-tucking the shirt elongates the leg line from the hip upwards when wearing calf-length culottes. Our blogger’s on-trend white sneakers have fun pink detailing and laces that match her pink socks perfectly. Dainty bracelets, earrings, necklace and barrette add polish. Coral lippy and round sunnies complete the look.

Anne-Marie loves colour but wears neutrals like this lovely navy equally well. Here she is sporting a jumpsuit that looks like a separate top and trousers but is actually one piece. Interesting and different! The top part has a high-low hemline and flattering V-neck and diagonal short sleeves. The flouncy sleeves add fun visual interest, as do the unique side slits on the wide leg pants. Light blue platform sandals with ankle strap bring an extra colour into the mix. A vintage scarf worn as a hairbow and long dangly earrings add a charming ‘60s vibe. Bright pink lippy makes the navy pop.

Aren’t this quirky patterned dress and Kim-Marie’s bright red locks the perfect eye-catching combo! Our blogger is wearing a collared midi fit-and-flare dress in pyschedelic colours that make me smile. The fitted waist accentuates her waistline while the diagonal sleeves also create a structured visual effect. Her unique blue sneakers are laceless with frilly design detail that adds both textural and visual interest. A statement dress like this doesn’t need much jazzing up, so Kim-Marie keeps it simple in the accessories department with some bangle bracelets and angular-shaped sunnies.

This arty casual look built around a skirt with artwork pattern is a fab example of Angie’s Leggings and the Kitchen Sink ensemble. Anne-Marie has paired the statement skirt with a relaxed-fit navy top with scoop neck. Semi-tucking the top creates waist definition and lengthens the leg line. The three buttons on the top together with the buttons on the skirt draw the eye up and down, and create vertical integrity. Cropped black leggings add another layer and extra visual interest. Polished loafers in pale pink are low contrast against our blogger’s skin which elongates the leg line. Silver bracelets and a dainty necklace add subtle bling. Kim-Marie’s bowl cut hairstyle and round sunnies add extra pizzazz.

Let us know what you think of Kim-Marie’s cheerful style, and then head on over to her Instagram account to browse the rest of her fab outfits.