Happy feet, Happy Life

Comfortable, well-fitting shoes follow the natural shape of your feet. Wider feet can do well with square and round toe boxes. Narrow feet can do well with pointy and almond-shaped toe boxes. Look for narrow or wide sizes to achieve optimal fit. 

Shoes Follow Your Feet

High arches may prefer a shaped footbed and the lift of a low heel for foot support and less arch pain. Flatter feet with low arches often prefer a less shaped footbed and flat heels with sturdy soles. Narrow heels like slip-ons with straps that don’t slide off.

Shoes can be altered to fit comfortably. Too wide? Add insoles. Too narrow? Have them stretched. Too hard? Add socks. Go up a size when adding custom-made orthotics. Add moleskin where they rub. Adjust the tension of laces.

Cosy Hard Edge

A new outfit from Elle of Elle Blogs, whom we introduced to YLF in April 2015.

This is a fab example of Angie’s Sweater Dress Outfit Formula. Elle is sporting a cream above-the-knee cable-knit turtleneck sweater dress that adds lightness to the other, all black, outfit components. She chose a long black puffer vest with a slightly A-line silhouette to top if off. The cosy vest is about 2 inches longer than the dress, which works well with the tall boots and bare legs combo. Elle’s chunky combat boots with platform lug sole bookend our blogger’s dark hair, and give this polished casual look a hard edge. The stretchy knit material is unusual, and provides fun texture. The vest’s quilted material and the boots’ criss-cross laces are also great ways to add subtle textural and visual interest. A black shoulder bag, bright red lipstick, and oversized sunnies complete the look. Great outfit for a milder Winter day.

Ellie - 1

Ellie - 2

Skinnies Are Staying Alive

Skinny jeans and pants are not an on-trend silhouette right now. Current bottoms are looser, wider, roomier, and relaxed all over. Instead, skinnies are a classic, and one that can be a practical and versatile choice. They are great to wear tucked into tall equestrian boots, snow boots, and the like. They are fab when you prefer to wear “long over lean” outfit proportions, or simply prefer slim-fitting pants and jeans.

When skinnies came back seventeen years ago, they weren’t nearly as skinny as they are these days. They were tailored straight legs, and many had leg scrunch. Over time skinnies became tighter and stretchier. I suspect that’s because they were competing with oh-so-popular leggings. Fitted straight legs with narrow hems are skinnies to my eye. Just not as tight on the lower leg.

When skinnies came back into fashion, many of my friends and clients stuck to bootcuts. Some stayed with bootcuts and flares, while others moved to skinnies. Now, some are staying with skinnies while silhouettes are wide, roomy, and flowing.

Retailers continue to supply skinnies despite the ongoing wide and relaxed bottoms trends. That’s because they sell. If the demand for skinnies was severely lacking, retailers would not continue to offer them.

If you enjoy wearing skinnies, wear them with a happy heart and a spring in your step. If you like them, but prefer wearing a more current roomy, wide, and relaxed bottoms silhouette, pack them away until you feel like wearing them again. If you’ve moved on from skinnies, pass them on, and wear what’s tickling your fancy. But rest assured, skinnies are alive and well.

Roundups

Simpler Items

This week's list of top picks list is about basic pieces.

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Assorted Items

Items for Summer, both in and out of air conditioning.

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Casual Summer Vibes

This week's top picks are good for a casual Summer vibe.

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Summery Earth Tones

These items are for those who like to wear casual earth tones in warm and hot weather.

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Hints of Spring

Some tried-and-tested winning items to refresh your style for Spring.

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Dressier Items

An assortment of dressier top picks might be just what the doctor ordered.

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Outfit Formula: Cute Colour Combos

It’s the middle of Winter in the Northern hemisphere, which can be cold, grey, drab, and a little sad. Sometimes we’re looking for change, but feel a little stuck. Wearing existing wardrobe items in new combinations is one way to get the change you need. The outfits here might inspire you to pull together some new-for-you looks.

Focus on the colour mix if the silhouettes are unappealing.

1. Black, Cream, Chartreuse

A chartreuse, black and cream patterned blouse is paired with wide cream trousers. A cream belt and flats add a polished and pretty accessorized touch. A black maxi coat tops the lot, matching the black in the pattern and the model’s hair. Sub the black with navy if that’s your dark neutral. I see a cream bag to contrast brightly against the dark coat.

Black, Cream, Chartreuse

2. Slate Blue and Chocolate

Slate blue is a greyed mid-tone blue. Here, an oversized slate blue shirt and sweater vest are combined with slouchy cool-toned chocolate pants. The pants complement the model’s warmer brown hair. The roomy pants are tucked into tall stompy black boots to create a knickerbocker effect. The cool black boots match the cool-toned pants. I see a black bag and coat top the lot.

Slate Blue and Chocolate

3. Lavender and Cinnamon

Purples look great with earth tones, and are an unexpected pairing. Here, a lavender sweater dress is topped with a cinnamon puffer. The lining of the puffer is deliciously lavender too. The effect, to my eye, is punchy and interesting, and a fun mix of warm and cool colours. The look is completed with what looks like black over-the-knee boots. I’d have preferred to see boots in an earthy chocolate or whiskey. Black works too, and perhaps with the addition of a black bag.

Lavender and Cinnamon

4. Forest, Purple, Tangerine, Wine

Here’s an unusual rainbow of four colours that are thrown together to create clashing harmony. Interestingly, none of the colours are repeated to allow the eye to rest. A forest green blouse is paired with bright purple culottes. A tangerine shacket tops the lot. Dark deep red flats complete the look. Works in a clean, chaotic, and energetic way. I see a dark purple or green bag. Add jewellery, watch and eyewear as desired.

Forest, Purple, Tangerine, Wine

Storing the Clothes You Can Wear Again

Often the clothes you have worn can be worn again before they need to be laundered. They might be a little creased, or need a little airing out, but don’t need to be washed with water and detergent or sent for dry cleaning. And it is good for the environment to eliminate unnecessary laundry.

Personally I hang and fold these clothes back in my closet as if they were clean. After all, they’re stain-free, odour-free, and not dirty. If the items are creased, I pop them on the ironing pile, or give them a quick press before wearing them again. Sometimes I leave an item of knitwear hung over a rail overnight to air out, and fold it the next morning. I’m happy with this strategy.

Some of my clients have the same strategy. Others section off an area of their wardrobe where they hang the worn items. Some hang the items inside out and put them back in their closets. Others hang the clothes on designated hooks outside their closets. Some of my clients put most items in the laundry after a single wear.

What is your strategy?