Wardrobe Appreciation Day

Wardrobe needs are very personal and differ greatly from person to person. Yet we all strive to create a functional and fab-to-us wardrobe that sparks joy and caters to our needs. Getting to that point takes time, energy, patience, resources, and a bit of luck. Some of us are there after lots of trial and error, while for others it’s a work in progress.

No matter what stage you’re at with creating a fab-for-you wardrobe, we’re taking the time today to reflect on what we appreciate most about it. I’ll go first.

What I appreciate most about my wardrobe is how colour-rich, curated, and varied the silhouettes are across the wardrobe categories. Every item is in line with my current sartorial preferences and makes me feel like the best version of me — not someone else. Although my wardrobe is equally rich in neutrals and there is silhouette duplication, the ample variation means that I can pander to my daily dressing mood, feel fab in my outfit, and for the most part not feel bored with my style in a four-season climate.

The next thing I appreciate is how well the items fit, because I’m extremely particular and patient about that, and have spent a pretty penny having some items altered. With good fit comes great quality and gorgeous fabrics, and my items range from moderate to exceptional quality. I’m satisfied with that and it’s a good feeling.

I appreciate the versatility of my wardrobe because I can find something appropriate and great to wear for every occasion and setting of my life, and in all sorts of weather. From cocktail events, weddings, date nights and client days, to social events, job interviews, holiday parties, hot yoga, lounging, plane travel, outdoorsy trails, dog walks, snow days, picnics, reunions, and casual days at home. The only item I don’t have is a ball gown for a red carpet event — and wouldn’t that be a fun item to get!

More specifically, I greatly appreciate that I have a capsule of footwear that is just trendy enough, very comfortable, and goes the distance for my walking lifestyle. It’s hard to find shoes that look great, work with your outfits, and that you can walk in for miles in all sorts of weather.

And last, I feel extremely blessed that when I walk into my walk-in-closet multiple times a day it fills me with enormous happiness. Going into my closet and choosing an outfit is the stress-free part of my day, which calms me down – along with a hot cup of tea.

Your turn. I want to hear all about why your wardrobe is wonderful to you, and what you appreciate most about it.

Wardrobe Items You Don’t Enjoy Purchasing

I enjoy shopping for 99% of my wardrobe. Of course, I enjoy purchasing some items more than others. Handbags, coats, jackets and pants are my absolute favourite items to buy. Dresses and jeans are next. Then there’s knitwear, tops, skirts and footwear. I like purchasing lingerie, loungewear, swimwear, watches, scarves, hats, and sleepwear too.

I don’t enjoy purchasing workout wear, or gear for outdoorsy activities. I don’t like the way the items look, and I don’t like the texture and composition of techno fabric against my skin. I feel very un-fab wearing any type of gear or yoga wear, and therefore have a hard time spending money on the items. I LOVE hot yoga so I do wear workout wear. But I have a very small capsule because I can’t bear having too much of that type of item. I wear what I have until it falls apart and procrastinate replenishing the capsule.

I don’t enjoy purchasing socks because they fall off my feet and slide into my shoes. I have yet to find a pair of socks that fit properly because socks don’t come in sizes and widths. That’s why I predominantly wear knee-highs and hosiery because those always fit and stay put.

And last, I don’t enjoy purchasing jewellery because I’m just not a jewellery person. I have a few custom-made pieces that I wear daily and love with all my heart, and that’s that. I don’t want to purchase more pieces, if any at all. I think of my eyewear as my “jewellery”.

Over to you. Which wardrobe items do you not enjoy purchasing, and why? Then tell us which items you enjoy purchasing the most.

Outfit Formula: Summer Earth Tones

Gone are the days that wearing an earth-toned palette was reserved for Autumn. Wear earth tones year round, in any season, and in any wardrobe item. Earth tones have been widely available for a few seasons, and it’s especially fun to see them come through for Summer. If you enjoy wearing earth tones, milk the season before they disappear.

Here are four Summer earth-toned outfits that caught my eye, and might inspire you to put a similar look together.

1. Earthy Dress, Accents and Denim

Combine an earthy Summer frock with a boho felt hat and cognac footwear. Top it off with a denim jacket when things get breezy by the water or in air conditioning. The blue of the denim adds a cool-toned touch to the warmth of the mustard, brown and cognac, which creates a yummy balance to my eye. Brown tortoiseshell jewellery could work well here too.

Maeve Gillian Tiered Maxi Dress

2. Earthy Top

This is as easy as it gets. Combine an earth-toned top with a pair of denim shorts or blue jeans, and finish things off with a pair of black or white shoes. The mix of warm earth tone with graphic denim and black & white is a nice juxtaposition.

Eloquii Split Front Tunic Top

3. Crisp Earth Tones

This is my favourite of the four because the palette combines white and turquoise with the earth tones, thereby adding a fresh and crisp component. Wear an earth-toned top with white bottoms and blue shoes and see what happens. Here, the palette is gorgeously matchy-matchy with the model’s hair. Nice statement earrings too.

Spark Tunic and Scarf

4. Earthy Flow

And last, combine bottoms in an earthy pattern with an earth-toned top that picks up a colour in the pattern. Here, the white shoes are unexpected, and I like the effect. The black bag effectively picks up the black in the model’s hair. Fab breezy and flowing silhouettes for hot weather. Make sure you don’t trip over the hems of those pants.

Zara Asymmetric Halter Top

I LOVE warm-toned colours, but don’t gravitate towards earth tones because I prefer Spring colours to Autumn colours. That said, I do wear them. Usually in the form of cognac footwear and a belt. I enjoy wearing white jeans with cognac boots and oxfords, or cinnamon pants with white footwear. In the Autumn and Winter I wear olive, brown leopard print, and burgundy but mix it up with sour brights, French blue, light blue, navy, or white so that it looks less earthy and more crisp. I don’t wear mustard because it’s not my yellow, but am open to adding cinnamon and will remix it with red, orange, fuschia, navy, light blue, denim, and shades of white.

Over to you. Do you wear earth tones, and do you wear them in the Summer?

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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Team Athletic or Team Fashion Sneaker

Sneakers are the shoe of our fashion era. They can be worn with anything these days, and I mean ANYTHING. Gear, athleisure, casual wear, smart casual, business casual, suits, ballgowns, and everything else. My favourite red carpet moment of the year was Serena Williams at the Met Gala in a stunningly dramatic citron and pink ruffled gown with neon Nike Airs to match. How splendidly 2019.

An athletic sneaker is a sneaker that is meant to be worn for sporting activities like running, gym, and the like. They are what I call “gear” sneakers designed for athletic performance. You can absolutely wear an athletic sneaker fashionably these days, and not just for working out. The Dad Sneaker Trend, or Mega Chunky Sneaker Trend as I prefer to call it, is all about wearing athletic or athletic-looking sneakers off the sports field and with non-athletic attire.

A fashion sneaker is a non-athletic sneaker. It’s meant to be worn as everyday attire and is not for performance sports. It’s usually less chunky, more streamlined and refined, not as padded and platformed, and can look more like an oxford at times.

You bat for Team Athletic Sneaker if you prefer wearing athletic sneakers to fashion sneakers, and vice versa. I firmly bat for Team Fashion Sneaker because I walk A LOT, and almost everywhere. I wear them daily at different times of the day throughout the year. I don’t have a pair of athletic sneakers because I don’t run or go to gym. I don’t need shoes for yoga, and walk to the yoga studio in fashion sneakers. I do have a pair of trail shoes, which I’m not sure are classified as sneakers. Even my new mega chunky sneakers are fashion and not athletic.

Here is my current sneaker capsule:

Over to you. Do you bat for Team Athletic or Team Fashion Sneaker. Tell us why and no batting for both teams. But feel free to sit this one out on the bench if you can’t choose. I’m serving gourmet vegan hot dogs with homemade spicy red pepper and onion relish, the usual fixings, and sauerkraut. I’ll throw in the best South African Cadbury chocolate at the end too.

Weekly Roundup: Fabulous Fabrics

Here’s a small roundup of top picks, some of which will take you into Fall. I was particularly fond of the fabrics in this roundup because they looked and felt good, especially for the price. 

  • Bias Cut A-Line Skirt: The best bias cut skirt I've seen this year. Nice to the touch crepe fabric. The drape and fit are GREAT. Really good on a curvy body type because the bias cut is more circular than tubular. No bumps. They did not skimp on the cut! As good on a straighter body type because it moulds to the contour of the body. Runs big if you need a narrow fit. Available in other patterns and colours.
  • J.Crew Puff-sleeve button-down in Ratti scarf paisley: A fun jewel-toned 100% cotton blouse in a '70s pattern. Cute puff sleeve.
  • J.Crew Silk button-up shirt in tiger floral: The stock photo does not do the pattern or fabric justice. It's a lovely lilac silk with a mustard tiger pattern. A Modern Classic that can look fab with jeans or wide crops if you like that type of thing.
  • J.Crew Band-collar popover tunic in bold stripe: The stock photo does a bad job of showcasing this popover shirt that does not need to be semi-tucked. It's oversized up top, but slims on the hem to taper the volume. The gently rounded hem is a nice detail, as is the high-low hem and fun band collar. Runs a size big and comes in white, navy and a blue stripe. Great worn untucked over wide crops. Best on a straighter figure.
  • J.Jill Luxe Supima Ballet-Sleeve Tunic: The supima knit is luxe and feels gorgeous on the skin. The fluid silhouette is easy-breezy, but not too loosey-goosey. Comes in white and black, and size down.
  • J.Jill Mixed-Plaid Tiered Dress: Summer plaids are as fun as Winter plaids, and this ventilating dress is wonderful. It's cut quite open up top, yet you can wear a regular bra. Fab V-neck for those who enjoy the silhouette. It's fluid yet sufficiently structured and extremely comfy. Lovely fabric and runs big.
  • J.Jill Long & Light Sweater Vest: A gauzy long vest is a topper option for hot Summer weather, especially when you enjoy dressing in layers. Decorative and extremely lightweight. This one runs big.
  • Manhattan Bermuda Shorts: Dressy long shorts that can work for the office. These are best on a straighter figure.
  • Lee Vintage Modern Western Midi Dress: Who remembers Lee from decades ago. Fab to see the brand make a comeback. If you like the Western vibe, denim shirts, and sack dresses - try this frock. It's ideal with sneakers, really comfy, and the buttons do not gape because the fit is fluid. Lovely midi length, and you can move in the dress. The warm olive has a subtle pinstripe. You could add a waist belt for a '70s vibe. Comes in a sand-blasted blue denim too.
  • Loft Wide Leg Riviera Pants: These come in a whole slew of colours and they're really nice. They'll fit a curvier and straighter body type, but not a very curvy figure. Nice heft, drape and silhouette. Run a size big.
  • White House Black Market Washed Denim Jacket: An intricate and well made mauve jacket. Soft, tailored and comfy. A cooler shade of mauve than in the stock photo.
  • Sam Edelman Sam EdelmanAndy: These trendy slide-espadrille hybrids are comfy, and buttery soft. They're not wide across the toe box but there is volume in the instep and arch. Available in many colours.

Go to the collection page if you would like to see the images alongside my descriptions.

Also, here’s a collection of fashionable Naturalizer footwear that I haven’t seen or tried in person yet so I can’t comment accurately on their fits. But I wear a lot of Naturalizer footwear because of their extreme cushioning comfort and I’m confident that these styles are worth trying if they tickle your fancy. Many of them come in wide widths, and some are available in narrow widths.

Nordstrom
'Danya' Sandal
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Nordstrom
Geraldine Loafer
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2
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Cora Bootie
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Kalissa Pump
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2
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Gaia Loafer
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Geraldine Loafer
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Adiline Loafer
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