Outfit Formula: Jolly Jogger Jive

Joggers are pants that are cut similarly to track or sweat pants, but aren’t necessarily made of jersey or fleece fabric. And they needn’t be worn for athletic purposes. The jogger silhouette is fluid, yet slim, on the leg, and tapered at the hem. The waist is seldom structured, although that option exists. Waistbands are often elasticated or half elasticated, and/or have drawstrings. Many of the styles have side entry or patch pockets, and some are pleated on the midsection.

The beauty of the jogger is fourfold:

  1. It is a casual alternative to regular denim and leggings
  2. It is a breezy pants alternative to Summer dresses and skirts
  3. It has a forgiving waistband fit
  4. It works on most body types

Here are four casual joggers looks for Summer. The examples showcase joggers across a range of fabrics. Choose any colour palette.

1. Chino Joggers

This is the simplest of the four combinations. These joggers are like a pair of chinos or utility pants, but with the jogger finish on the hems. Combine them with a tee or knit top and sneakers that tickle your fancy. Fun how the tee and sneaks match, which you could replicate in any colour. Wear the tee over the bottoms if partial tucking is not your thing.

PAIGE Mayslie Joggers

2. Denim Joggers

Combine a pair of denim joggers with a tee or knit top and casual footwear. The tee is tucked to showcase the definition of the waist, which adds structure to the outfit. The long black topper elongates the outfit, and the belt bag is a trendy touch. The scrunch at the ankle adds a little extra interest to the outfit, but feel free to leave the bottoms unscrunched.

City Chic Jogger Jeans

3. Linen Joggers

A slightly dressier and more trendy classic version that combines bold striped linen joggers with an oversized cotton shirt that’s partially tucked to add definition to the waist and lengthen the leg line. The white slides are a trendy touch and the colour-blocked tote adds matchy-matchy fabness.

Anthropologie The Odells

4. Cotton Joggers

This is the most creative and complex of the four outfits. It combines patterned joggers with a striped tee that’s tucked to create waist definition. The pattern mix continues with the striped band on the fedora for an extra maximal touch. The outfit is topped with a utility jacket creating a contrast with the softness of the tee and joggers. The fedora and oxfords are a fun and formal touch, and the chain-strap baby crossbody is the glam cherry on top. Gorgeous look, and beautifully pulled together on the model. A lovely blue-green palette too.

Wrap Style Joggers

Although I haven’t shown the vibe here, joggers come in silky fabrics that can be dressed up with blouses, pumps, heeled sandals and blazers. Just as fab if the casual renditions are not your thing.

Link Love: Is Not Washing Your Clothes the Next Big Thing?

Over-washing clothes is not good for the planet, now a wave of startups is designing clothes that require less laundering. But all of these brands wrestle with how to convince customers to wash their clothes less frequently without grossing them out:

“Decades of marketing from the cleaning industry has conditioned many people to throw their clothes in the laundry after one day’s wear, even though this is rarely necessary. So one of the biggest challenges for brands pitching clothes that don’t need to be washed frequently is to convince people that they will not be gross, smelly, or dirty if they aren’t constantly doing loads of laundry.”

This Vox article explains how different fabrics repel odour and how they react to laundering:

“Brands that market their clothing as odor-fighting — from silver particles woven into the fabric, to a finish of triclosan or triclocarban, and fabrics such as bamboo rayon, merino wool, or saltwater seaweed fibers — almost always attribute it to the fabric’s supposed antimicrobial qualities. But according to McQueen, this can be misleading. Yes, the bacteria can continue to munch on your sweat and produce odors after they hitch a ride on your yoga tank, so in theory, incorporating antimicrobial ingredients into your clothing would help. But what really matters is whether the stinky, oily compounds the bacteria has produced will stubbornly cling to your shirt or drift away on a breeze. That is determined by the type of fabric.”

Fab Links from Our Members

Fashintern came across this article about colour in interior design, with a bit about wardrobes at the very end: “I think her thoughts on colour and encouragement to bring more of it into our lives can easily be applied to what we wear too.”

Runcarla is a Meghan Markle fan, and is interested in seeing what she and Misha Nonoo come up with.

She was also reminded of a past collaboration with Reitmans that was quite nice. It was cut short when the relationship with Prince Harry got serious.

L’Abeille directs us to this reflection on heels versus flats.

Angie loves Hayley’s thoughtful and mindful approach to body image. She sums it up beautifully by saying: “Happiness is a choice, and I made that choice for myself and my wellbeing.”

Elpgal reports that Charlotte Tilbury is being criticized for her new ‘Walk of Shame’ make-up line.

Vildy found this article about how Pantone comes up with new colours for its authoritative guide very interesting.

Thoughts on Wardrobe Rental Services

I have never rented a wardrobe item, but have thought about the service from time to time. My knowledge of this wardrobe strategy is limited, so I’d love to hear about your thoughts and experiences. 

As Inge mentioned in a recent Link Love post, renting wardrobe items is becoming a lot more popular. Urban Outfitters, for example, are about to launch a service that allows you to rent clothing from across their brands as well as another 100 third-party brands. Shoppers can rent six items at a time for a monthly fee of $88. They can trade the items in for six more when the month is through. The cost of postage is included in the rental, and clothing is laundered before it’s sent out. You also have the option to purchase the items after you’ve rented them. It’s like Netflix for your wardrobe.

Rentals make sense for occasion wear and items you won’t wear often. The tuxedo rental service for men has been around forever, and makes a lot of sense. Why not do the same for women’s attire? That’s how Rent the Runway (RTR) was born and the company is currently valued at a $1 billion. A large portion of the street style at the world’s major fashion weeks is rented or borrowed. Celebrities often rent outfits for events. And loads of outfit bloggers rent or borrow wardrobe items for fashion shoots. It’s no wonder that Rent the Runway is as successful as it is.

If you crave newness and are looking for a more sustainable way to shop, renting your clothes is one way to go. It also seems like a safe way to road-test a wild card or new-to-you style without committing to it permanently. Renting occasion wear for a once-a-year formal event seems sensible too.

Some of my clients use RTR for occasion wear, with very mixed results. Sometimes the outfit works out, and sometimes not at all. Usually the need arises from running out of time to shop for an occasion outfit, so out of desperation they use RTR. Since it’s hard enough finding formal attire that fits perfectly and makes you happy when you shop diligently for it, it makes sense that you have to be lucky for RTR items to work out.

A gorgeous 30-something friend of mine rents 75% of her clothing. She wears dresses 95% of the time, so she rotates through the rental frock inventory of a few services to satisfy her needs. Dresses are easier to style so I get that a style rich in dresses is more rentable. Our friend says she rents her wardrobe because it allows her to wear new stuff all the time, and she doesn’t have to deal with dry cleaning. She also said that fits can be problematic because sizing is off, that items are not as they are pictured, and that she runs out of items that she wants to rent because inventories are not sufficiently stocked with dresses she wants to wear.

There are a few things that hold me back from personally embracing wardrobe rental.

  • As far as I know, you cannot have rented clothing altered to fit perfectly. Occassion wear often needs a little nip, tuck or hem, especially when you’re petite. Same goes for bottoms when you’re curvy or have a swayback.
  • I do not want to rent clothing unless it looks pristine and new. I’ve seen the inventory of Armoire at an Amazon fashion event and noticed that some of the items looked worn. Especially the knitwear.
  • Although I do wear regular sizes, I don’t think that rental services offer a large enough assortment of extended sizes, like petite, tall, and plus. I hope that changes over time.

Perhaps these three issues will be addressed in future. Even if that were to happen, my entire approach to my wardrobe would have to change, because it is so curated today. Each item is a piece in a puzzle that has its deserving place. I know the inventory of my wardrobe like the back of my hand, and I enjoy being in complete control. Items deliberately work together so that I can create complete looks that work for my lifestyle. I also frequently repeat my favourite outfits. Each item is familiar and has a memorable history that I enjoy.

I can’t help but think shifting to a rental model would upset the highly effective system that I’ve created. But I might experiment with the strategy and expand it over time based on what works for me. 

Over to you. What are your thoughts on renting wardrobe items?

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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Weekly Roundup: Assorted Items

There are just a few top picks this week as things quiet down for the peak of Summer. You’ll notice a few items from an Amazon brand Lark & Ro. A client of mine alerted me to them because she was awfully pleased with her $39 dress. Now the brand is on my radar. 

  • Lark & Ro Women's Classic Cap Sleeve Wrap Dress: This is an affordable $39 classic wrap that hangs longer unless you'e very tall. The jersey is thick and substantial and drapes well. The front wrap section has ample coverage and works well if V-necks are your thing. There is a bonus button on the waist to keep the wrap secure. Works well on both a straighter and curvier body type because the silhouette moulds to the body. The tulip front opens as you sit and stride so there's lots of room. Not constricting. Comes in an assortment of patterns and colours.
  • Calvin Klein Floral-Print Fit & Flare Dress: A Ted Baker look-a-like at a fraction of the price. Currently $49 and works well on a curvy body type. One of our forum members wore it with a blush moto and white pumps and looked the bomb.
  • Valerie Pointy Toe Pump: A pretty and elegant kitten heel for regular and lower volume feet. Quite comfy and well made. They can be a bit wobbly if you prefer the stability of a block heel.
  • Madewell Resin Octagonal Hoop Earrings: '80s Resin Earring Fabness. Comes in cinnamon.
  • Calista Metallic Wingtip Oxford: A sparkly statement on the feet is a good thing if you enjoy glitz and shine. These are well made and look rich on the foot, although not very cushioning. They are not a slam dunk comfortable fit on a particular shape of foot so you'll have to try them if you like them, and hope for the best.
  • Women's Plus Size Cropped Wide Leg Jeans - Ava & Viv™ Medium Wash: A curvy forum member bought these and they look so much better on her than on the model. She wore them with an untucked knit top and wowed me. Great and comfy fit.
  • Lark & Ro Women's Classic Cap Sleeve Wrap Dress: This is the same affordable $39 classic wrap that hangs longer unless you're very tall. The jersey is thick and substantial and drapes well. The vertical stripes are unique, and so is the shade of forest green. The front wrap section has a lot of coverage and works well if V-necks are your thing. There is a button on the waist to keep the wrap secure. Works well on both a straighter and curvier body type because the silhouette moulds to the body. The tulip front opens as you sit and stride so there's lots of room.
  • Lark & Ro Women's Sleeveless V-Neck Dress: This type of easy breezy Grecian pull-on-and-go dress works well on petites who enjoy an empire cut and V-neck. Flattering on curvy body types because it nips you in at the narrowest part of the midsection. Available in an assortment of colours and patterns.
  • HIGH Waist Crop Wide Leg Jeans: I've tried on many pairs of white denim wide crops over the years, and said no thank you to all of them until I fit on these. (Not that I'm fussy or anything!) The fabric is extremely substantial and opaque, and the drape is sublime. No pocket lining grinning. The thigh and crotch point fits are very flattering. You feel like you're wearing quality right away. I sized up because I preferred the architectural drape of the leg and roomy crotch point fit on the larger size. But that did mean I had to have the hips, bottom and waist altered a size down. They are dramatic and wide at the hems so consider yourself warned. Very hemmable. Awfully fun to wear in Summer and into Autumn with boots.
  • Naturalizer NaturalizerHoda: If you can manage the heel height, these are extremely comfortable and look beautiful on the foot. Elegant in black and metallic, and well cut. Comes in wide widths.
  • Women's Zip Closure Fanny Pack - Wild Fable™ Black: If you're looking for a fun, roomy and affordable belt bag to wear across the body, try this one for $15.

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

Pretty & Crisp Column of White

A new outfit from Psyche Southwell of Economy of Style, whom we introduced to YLF in July 2015.

This is a wonderful example of Angie’s Summer Column of White outfit formula. Psyche is wearing a white tube top tucked into cropped joggers, thereby creating a column of white that lengthens the leg line. She then dresses up these sporty casual pieces with a navy and cream striped blazer that is the star of the show. The stripes give it a nautical vibe, while the deep V on the double-breasted style creates a cut-away effect when the topper is worn open. The Juliette sleeves — puff sleeves that taper tightly at the bottom —add dramatic flair and an on-trend ’80s integrity. Sleek, low-contrast snakeskin slingbacks enhance the tonal look by adding a subtle second pattern. Dainty necklaces, circular earrings and bright pink lipstick complete the look.

Psyche - 1

Psyche - 2