A new outfit from Annette Hoeldrich of Lady of Style, whom we introduced to YLF in January 2015.

The texture-rich midi dress in gorgeous forest green is the first thing that caught my eye. The off-white polka dots and relief pattern make it a statement piece, while the on-trend puffy sleeves gathered at the wrist create an elegant and trendy blouson effect. The V-neck and fitted waist add structure. Annette’s taupe suede blazer relaxed her polished look. The blazer and tall suede boots in a slightly lighter shade of taupe add further textural interest. The pointy-toe boots lengthen the leg line when worn with a midi dress. Our blogger accessorizes the outfit with an unexpected duck egg blue crossbody that looks amazing with the green and taupe, a beige tasseled scarf that works well with the rest of the colour palette, and fun oversized mother of pearl earrings. A beautiful trendy classic.

A wardrobe workhorse is an item of clothing, pair of shoes, or accessory that gets a LOT of wear. Workhorses can be simple and subtle wardrobe essentials or wardrobe basics. Or they can be bold statement pieces. They can be printed, solid, any colour, any fabric, old or new, classic, avant-garde or vintage, modern retro or trendy, pricey or inexpensive. The mix of wardrobe workhorses in our closet evolves over time.

Despite our mindful intentions and discerning shopping decisions, predicting whether a wardrobe item will become a workhorse is not easy at all. The recent discussion about this on the YLF forum is well worth a read. Most agreed that it’s a crapshoot, and so do I. Sometimes workhorses are predictable if they are items that are signature to your style. On the other hand, spontaneous wild cards can unexpectedly become workhorses. Items that are workhorses one year can fall out of favour the next, or vice versa.

Workhorses can be hard to predict at purchase time because there are a multitude of variables that affect the frequency with which you wear something in real life. Some reasons are logical, like if an item malfunctions when it’s put through its paces so it’s not as comfortable or easy to wear as you thought it would be. The way you currently feel about your body can make you change your mind about a potential wardrobe workhorse. The need for change can make a trusted workhorse fall out of favour, and make a new unexpected workhorse the refreshing flavour of the season. And there’s your mood, which reflects your daily choice of outfit and is also unpredictable. It’s a wonder that we’re able to predict potential wardrobe workhorses at all.

Personally, I find that I can more accurately predict whether an item will become a wardrobe workhorse when it’s a wardrobe basic, eyewear, a piece in my happy colours, a piece that boosts my confidence in an extreme way and is beautifully made, a piece that is extremely comfortable, a piece that is sentimental, modern retro or nostalgic in some way, or a piece that forms part of my signature style. I find that I can less accurately predict whether an item will become a workhorse when it’s a new-to-me colour, silhouette or accessory that refreshes my style, a trendy or fashion-forward piece, or a wardrobe essential.

Here are some 2019 purchases that I predicted would become wardrobe workhorses, and did.

Nordstrom

Faux Fur Trim Faux Leather Jacket

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19

Nordstrom

SCOTCH & SODA Scotch & Soda Workwear Cotton Jacket | Nordstrom

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15

Neiman Marcus

Joie Anilah Single-Button Jacket

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14

Zappos

Ecco Soft 7 Sneaker

$149.94

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38

Zappos

Ecco ECCOSoft 7 Sneaker

$149.94

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15

Hobbs

Saskia Trench Coat

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21

Nordstrom

Boden Modern Classic Print Shirt

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17

Banana Republic

JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Logan Trouser-Fit Cropped Pant

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11

Nordstrom

HIGH Waist Crop Wide Leg Jeans

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17

Nordstrom

Le Crop Colorblock Raw Hem Jeans

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13

The red aviator is in my happy colour and a nostalgic throwback to the ‘90s fashion I liked. The white buttons on the blush denim jacket launched me into orbit, and the swingy style is modern retro. Although you can’t see it in the stock photo, the denim blazer has amazing cuffs that turn back and the silhouette boosts my confidence because it’s sharp, tailored and unique. Plus it was a gift from Greg so it’s sentimental. The Ecco sneakers are in my happy colours and extremely comfortable and versatile. The streamlined wide cropped check pants are gorgeously luxe and checked pants are signature to my style. The Hobbs trench is impeccably sharp and confidence boosting, while the polka dot shirt is fun, well-made, comfortable, and boosts confidence too. The wide crops are white jeans, which are signature to my style. And the white tuxedo stripe and insets on the cropped flares instantly pulled at my heartstrings. They were also a gift from Greg so fably sentimental.

Here are some new 2019 purchases that I didn’t think would become workhorses, but did:

Nordstrom

Gemini Check Crop Pants

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20

Anthropologie

Block Letter Monogram Necklace

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12

Zappos

J.Crew J.CrewCap-Toe Ankle Boot

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23

Custom Find

by Angie

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Nordstrom

Moving Sneaker

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15

Nordstrom

Shawl Collar Blazer

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27

The lined woolly Veronica Beard pants are earthy, which is not my thing, yet I reach for them all the time. The monogrammed “A” necklace layers well with my pearls, so I wear it a lot. The red patent boots are extremely comfy, and just this year I’m majorly in the mood for red shoes so they’re my favourite boots of 2019. The ultra trendy COS jeans at the new shorter full length really caught me by surprise, and I love them. They are amongst my favourite pairs of jeans at the moment, so I guess I needed a change. The bouclé blazer at the trendy new longer length was a risk because I generally prefer shorter jackets. Yet the vibrancy, drama, and excellent pattern mixing ability of this darling makes me very happy, and I reach for it a lot. The chunky Seinfeld sneakers were a wild card, yet they became an instant workhorse because they fit well, are really comfy, look super trendy, and fondly remind me of the late ‘80s. It also helps that Greg thinks they are super cute.

Here are some items that I thought would be wardrobe workhorses, but aren’t:

Nordstrom

Bliss Bumbag

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3

Nordstrom

Levi's Levi's Water Repellent Hooded Parka | Nordstrom

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6

Banana Republic

Cropped Denim Jacket

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12

In theory the white belt bag would be excellent for my urban life. It looks great, and adds a trendy touch to my look. But it’s awfully hard to get things in and out of and very impractical for that reason, especially when I have Yorkie Sam in tow. My wallet and gigantic phone are a bad fit. My crossbody bags are infinitely more practical. The rain coat is super cute, and does the job, but it’s not warm enough. I reach for my warmer rain coats more often. The white denim jacket feels great and is a wonderful length and fit. But the silver buttons put me off a little more than I thought they would, and I wish they were brass or gold. I will absolutely keep on wearing the raincoat and denim jacket, but they’re not workhorses and that’s okay. I don’t consider them wardrobe fails at all. The belt bag on the either hand might need to be passed on. Thankfully it was not a pricey purchase.

Over to you. Do these thoughts on predicting wardrobe workhorses resonate with you? Do you have wardrobe workhorse wisdom to share?

Midi dresses are as on-trend as ever, and personally I hope it stays that way. That means hem lengths cover the knee or the calf, but not the ankle. Now that temperatures have dropped, you’ll need toppers over your midi dresses. Short toppers — hip bone or shorter — usually create slam dunk proportions over dresses, but coats are more insulating. 

Years ago the golden guideline was that a long coat was best when sported at the same length or longer than the dress. That guideline isn’t bad, but feel free to throw it out the window. The examples here will show how well it can work if your coat is shorter than your midi dress. If you are going to combine a coat that’s shorter than the midi, try to keep it knee length as opposed to thigh length. To my eye, the proportions generally look more balanced that way.

These examples show midi dresses that are A-line or flared, which are usually trickier to pair with a topper. Once you straighten the skirt by wearing a sheath or pencil, it’s easier to layer any length of coat over the top.

1. Classic Midi and Coat Proportions

This is the coat and dress combination we are used to seeing as conventionally flattering because the hem of the dress does not peek out from under the coat. The eye rests and the hems do not compete. If a coat with tie belt looks great worn untied and unfastened, it’s fab to wear that way too. It’s a good patten mix because plaids work with any pattern when the colour palettes are the same. The white boots pick up the white in the patterns making it look extra crisp.

2. Evolved On-Trend Midi and Coat Proportions

Here the hem of the dress peeks out from under the coat. It’s a very straight man coat (or gentle cocoon coat,) which you would think wouldn’t work, but looks great. A fitted coat works well too. Importantly, the coat is more knee-length than thigh-length which helps create hemline harmony. The coat and boots match the colours in the dress, which pulls the look together and harmonizes the visual. Keeping the coat unbuttoned creates a vertical line down the centre front of the body which elongates the outfit. That said, if you’e cold, button your coat.

3. Tailored On-Trend Midi and Coat Proportions

This look combines classic tailoring with on-trend mismatched hem lengths where the hem of the midi is longer than the hem of the coat. The fitted silhouette of the coat with tie at the waist draws the eye upward, and makes the combination work despite the high contrast between the hems of the coat and dress. The pumps that perfectly match the dress help pull the look together too.

4. Avant-Garde Midi and Coat Proportions

And last, these proportions are fashion-forward and an acquired taste because the midi is delving into maxi territory, the coat is long but shorter than the dress, and the silhouettes are unstructured. Add to that the fringe trend of wearing ankle socks with flat oxfords as the support act, and it’s a bit hectic for one outfit. You either like it or you don’t, and it’s all good. I think it’s a great look, and a few of my avant-garde clients have been rocking it for several seasons. The key is to make the palette work well, like the blues and whites do here. There is a lot of intentional matching to create visual harmony too. The patterns of the dress and socks are complementary, and there is a lot of dark blue. The white shoes bookend the platinum blonde hair of the model. I bet this outfit is great in motion. Add jewellery, eyewear, headgear, and watch as desired.

The Guardian is currently running a series called The Age of Beauty in which “real women reveal how their relationship with beauty has changed.” It’s sponsored by Clinique, so there is product promotion involved on the sidelines, but I’m still enjoying these women’s take on life and beauty.

Like Bibi Lynch, for example:

“I’m 53, and my face finally makes sense. Is it bad to say I sort of like my face? Sort of like it very much? Not that it’s perfect, of course; mine is a nose only a parent could love (and not necessarily unconditionally). But I really do like it. And more so as I get older. I think my face is sort of beautiful. Not because the features are beautiful — don’t make me mention my jowls — but because there’s a beauty in ageing. We all know about the glow of youth, of course, but there’s an easy, radiating warmth in maturity that’s unmissable, too.”

Or Becky Sunshine:

“‘It’s fascinating watching my skin age,’ Sunshine says. ‘I’m OK with it. I think it’s ageing well.’ But while she may be laid back about the ageing process, Sunshine strikes a more serious note when it comes to her relationship with the beauty world. ‘I get annoyed that women are accused of not being serious or intelligent if they have an interest in beauty and fashion,’ she says. ‘They aren’t mutually exclusive; you can be really smart and enjoy moisturiser and lipstick. And never listen to anyone who tells you otherwise.’”

Fab Links from Our Members

“The unlikely style icon teaching older women to be fashion rebels.” Shevia really enjoyed this story and the photos.

Nemosmom found this piece about how different brands are addressing overproduction and manufacturing processes in the push for sustainability interesting.

Marlene 1 found lots of good ideas in this post about layering puffers, jean jackets, fleece, blazers, etcetera. Great for this time of year and helpful if one wants to make outfits more casual.

“‘Buy less, use less — isn’t a scalable strategy’.” Vildy found it hard to choose just one quote or reason for sharing this article about clothing brand Reformation. She adds: “Basically, it is about milking the hypocrisy of its own customer base.”