Cotton and cotton-rich casual olive pants are popular with my clients and YLF forum members. They can be a great casual, non-denim bottom option if skirts, athleisure pants, dressy trousers, white pants, and patterned pants are not your thing. 

Olive bottoms come in an assortment of shades. Some are warm-toned, and some cool-toned. Some olives are more brown, and others more green. Choose the right olive in the right pants silhouette for you. If you live in a mild climate, you can wear them most of the year.

Onto some outfit inspiration across a range of pant silhouettes and different shades of olive.

1. Sweater and Boots

A pair of cool-toned olive joggers is combined with a black and tan floral sweater. The welted sweater looks great worn over the pants, so no need to semi-tuck the front. Black cowboy boots are the iconic classic choice of shoe, and match the black in the top. Add a bag to match too.

2. Pink and Blue

A pair of olive cropped barrel pants is paired with a tucked bumble gum pink and cream pattered blouse. A blue denim jacket adds another neutral to the palette. Cream espadrilles match the cream component of the patterned top. Add a bag that works with the outfit.

3. Neutrals and Stripes

Adding solid neutral tops in black, white, grey, navy, and denim blue to olive bottoms is an easy slam dunk option. Classic stripes in black or navy and white are too. Chambray tops can work as well as denim shirts. Earth tones like cinnamon, chocolate, and cognac are another way to go. Here are ways to put together the look.

4. Burgundy and Snakeskin

Berries and plums, twinsets, chocolate brown and snakeskin footwear are trending for Spring and Summer 2025. This look showcases all four trends. A berry tank is layered with a berry cardigan to create a twinset-effect. The duo tops a pair of olive wide cropped pants. Dainty snakeskin sandals are the summery finishing touch. A mismatched brown bag complements the palette.

5. Orange and Gold

Embroidery and metallic footwear are having a fashion moment. This look showcases both trends by combing a pair of olive chinos with an orange embroidered cardigan and gold Mary Janes. The olive embroidery in the cardigan matches the olive pants. It’s buttoned through and worn as a top. The gold shoes match the gold necklace and hoop earrings of the model. Add a bag, watch and eyewear as desired.

This week’s picks are Spring and Summer inspired. Breezy dresses, classic boots, cotton-rich toppers, comfortable sandals, and a tool to create soft pretty feet. Be sure to browse the colour and size options.

1. Fanm Mon Dresses

If you bat for Team Embroidery, and enjoy wearing a summery pretty dress, keep this brand on your radar. Designs are cotton, Haitian-inspired, and make a statement. My petite client and friend rocked the yellow and light blue Jess Floral Dress and loved it. I see actors on TV shows wear these dresses too.

2. Miz Mooz Carlitos Western Booties

Miz Mooz generally makes comfortable casual footwear. Their thick cushioning footbeds and leather linings make your feet feel like they’re walking on clouds. I had a pair of lime green Miz Mooz Western boots years ago, and thoroughly enjoyed them. These are their update. Size up if you wear half sizes because their toe boxes can be short. They run quite wide. An iconic classic.

3. Gap Denim Jackets

Gap is offering great denim jackets at affordable prices this season. Many come in regular, tall and petite sizes. One of my tall clients took my breath away in the Cinched Denim Jacket in white. It looked so much better on my client than on the model. She buttoned it all the way through, scrunched the sleeves, popped the collar, and wore white jeans on the bottom. Elegant and sassy. Comes in black and blue denim too. The Cropped Floral Denim Jacket is unique and darling, and works particularly well with dresses and skirts. A good fit on petites.

4. Brioso Shoes

Brioso shoes are from Brazil, and you can buy them at Dillard’s. Super soft footbeds and leather makes their sandals particularly comfortable. There is arch support too. Clients have narrowed it down to these favourite styles that are well worth a look. Great online reviews too. Click through the links to view all neutral colour options.

5. Biosana Swiss Foot File

I recently bought this pricey foot file, and it’s awesome. It’s more effective than any professional pedicure I’ve had. It leaves your feet smooth and polished, and is especially successful at smoothing calluses and cracked skin. Easy to wash, store, and I found it well worth the price.

I enjoy the constants in my style. For example, wearing items that are part of my signature style, day after day and year after year. They are familiar, comforting, easy, and personal. That said, there are times when change is also good. I enjoy shifts and variety because refreshing my look is energizing, prevents boredom, and keeps my style aligned with current needs and preferences.

1. Seasonal Change

I feel fortunate to live in a city with distinct seasons, which is greatly reflected in how I dress. I love how the change in weather makes me wear completely different outfits. I’m ready to shed layers and Winter woolies in lieu of crisp cottons, white jeans and pretty dresses by the time Spring and Summer roll around. Similarly, I’m ready for blue jeans, jackets, and boots in Autumn time.

2. Mood Change

I pander to my changing dressing moods. I can be very into wearing patterns and pattern mixing, right up until I feel like wearing solids and no patterns for a while. I can be in the mood for clashing bright colours from head-to-toe, or resort to blue, white and gold outfits for a bit. I enjoy tonal outfits one day, and high contrast on another. Similarly, I like my hair wavy for a few days, and straight for the next.

3. Trend Change

Trying new outfit combinations, colours, and trends can be exciting and fun. It’s like experimenting with a wearable form of artistic expression. Since fashion and style is my line of work, it feels natural to be an early adopter of some trends. While much of my style is grounded by classic silhouettes, the trends play a particularly important role in the bottoms that I wear. That’s how I change up the look of my style the most.

4. Adapting to Change

New cities, new settings, new climates, and a new way of life evolves my style so that I’m practically and emotionally prepared for the activities, demands, and weather of the day. For example, Seattle Summers are hotter than they used to be, so I’ve embellished my hot weather capsule every year. I’m also vacationing in hot cities more regularly. This has significantly changed the landscape of my wardrobe and style. Since I grew up in hot countries, I enjoy the style change.

5. Personal Change

Sometimes, I need to mark a big change in my life by changing my style. The change helps embrace the new chapter by creating a refreshed personal stamp. Notably, when my Papa passed away in 2021, it was the end of an era, and the beginning of life without my parents. That’s when I decided to grow out my platinum pixie to shoulder length hair in my natural colour. Switching up to a new look is symbolic in a way. It’s a big change that I only enjoyed after I’d reached my hair goals. The grow-out was tedious, but the result was worth it. While I miss the daily ease of styling a pixie, I am thoroughly enjoying my natural hair colour.

As much as I love things to stay the same, I like a change too. How about you?

Pastel and mid-tone purples, like lilacs and lavenders, are popular on YLF and with my friends and clientele. Lilac is a signature colour for some of my friends and it suits them beautifully. Some lilacs are more pink, and some more blue. Some are saturated and others are watery. Take your pick. 

Lilac is versatile, and looks great remixed with a range of colours. These outfits show that in an interesting way.

1. Lilac, Olive, Grey, White

A patterned lilac, olive, grey and white sweater is tucked into a pair of wide chartreuse-y olive pants. The pants pick up the olive in the sweater. Chunky white athletic shoes pick up the white in the sweater. Personally, I’d have preferred the shoes to be completely white, and not blocked with black and dark purple. A lilac bag picks up the lilac of the sweater. Unique palette.

2. Lilac, Navy, Burgundy, White, Fuchsia

A lilac blouse is tucked into a pair of dark wash blue jeans. A fuchsia blazer is layered over the top. Burgundy boots that complement the purple and pink are the shoes of choice. A navy, white, lilac and fuchsia scarf is the finishing touch that brings it all together. Add a bag that works with the palette. Fab modern ‘70s vibe.

3. Lilac, Butternut, Black, White

An oversized lilac swingy sweatshirt is worn with a pleated lilac and butternut ombré midi skirt, which has a black waistband. The top is tucked a little in front to showcase the black waistband, and hint at a waist. White mules with black straps add a dainty relaxed touch. The black straps of the mules match the waistband of the skirt. I see a white bag complete the look.

4. Lilac, Burgundy, Black, Snake Print

Last, a summery lilac open weave sweater is paired with a burgundy skirt. Black and grey snakeskin sandals add patterned interest to the texture-rich look. The black belt with silver statement buckle works with the black in the pattern of the shoes. Add jewellery, eyewear, bag, and watch as desired.