There’s lots for Spring and Summer if you’re a neutral gal who likes to feel serene and calm in colour-free looks. Some of these items come in brights, pastels, petites and plus, so browse all the options. A big shout-out to Nordstrom who’s providing extended sizes in brick & mortar stores (not just online) and merchandising sizes XXS to 3XL of the same item in one area on the shop floor. May this pave the way for all retailers so that we can enjoy a more diverse fashion world.

I’m very particular about fabric, and am pleased to share that this week’s picks are made of good and exceptionally good fabric. On to to the picks.

• ALEX MILL Stretch Cotton Twill Ankle Pants | Nordstrom: BEST modern chinos of the season. Extremely good fit and wonderful inset back elastic detailing with criss-cross belt loops. They wowed me. Fab length and easy to hem. Fits a curvy and straight body type. Genius! Straighter body types need to size down. Comfy fluid fit. Rise looks high, but it's not in person. Flattering and fabulous. Comes in dark olive.
• Boden Boden Multicolor Knit Tee | Nordstrom: Clean and crisp pullover with a tidy statement neckline. Great to wear under a blazer or jacket, and looks fab worn on its own when you remove the topper.
• Boden Boden Philippa Jersey Midi Dress (Regular & Petite) | Nordstrom: AMAZING knitted dress for Team Tall. Comfortable, forgiving and flattering. Fits a range of body types. Hard to hem, so you have to be okay with the length. Good on broad shoulders.
• Boden Boden Cleo Jersey & Eyelet Top (Regular & Petite) | Nordstrom: Clean and pretty boho tee with a woven eyelet inset. Tailored yet roomy. Better than a basic tee.
• Wilfred faun pant High-waisted, wide-leg pant: 90s Palazzo Fabness. Soft woven and flowing wide leg crops that are forgiving and very comfortable. Rise is not too high, although it looks it. Works on most body types. Easy to hem. Comes in many colours.
• RACHEL ROY COLLECTION Gathered Sleeve Blazer | Nordstrom: I can't believe how awful the styling of this jacket is here. It's super cute and the photo does not do it justice at all. They've folded down the collar when it should be standing up, which is THE feature of the jacket! It has great ready-to-go scrunched sleeves, and the fabric is crease-proof. Comfy and easy to wear. Fits a range of body types. Do not judge the item by how bad the photo looks. Trust me.
• CeCe Ruffle Sleeve Pintuck Blouse | Nordstrom: Yummy weighty fabric with some stretch and substance. Good fit, easy to wash and wear, and runs a size big. Three colours.
• Levi's 501 Moto Crop Jeans (Show Teeth) | Nordstrom: If you liked the Levis Wedgie, you'll like these. They fit an assortment of body types and aren't too high in the rise. I would need back waist alteration if I got them. They are SUPER cute, flattering, and very comfy. The panels are more yellow in person.
• ALEX MILL Fleece Pocket Sweatshirt | Nordstrom: A lovely sweatshirt top in great fabric with good drape. Comfy and simple, but not sloppy. Nice relaxed boxy cut, and comes in colours.
• Halogen Double Breasted Check Blazer (Regular & Petite) | Nordstrom: An eye-catching double-breasted blazer that looks great UN-buttoned. Love the white buttons. Runs at least a size big, and comes in petites and plus. Nice fabric. Trendy fluid fit and longer length.
• ANINE BING Mia Silk Blouse | Nordstrom: This oversized silk blouse has a very clever cut. It tapers a little to the hem so it's not as boxy, and the sleeves are bracelet length with very broad cuffs, adding busloads of structure and interest. My dainty frame did not drown in the blouse, which impressed me. The stock photo does not do it justice.
• MOTHER The Shaker Prep High Waist Crop Slim Jeans (Dear Mr. Black Racer) | Nordstrom: Very comfy and forgiving jeans made of soft and thick denim fabric. The calf widths are roomier in person so not calf-sucking like the stock photo. Rise does not feel too high. Size down. Great tuxedo stripe.
• Ecco Soft 7 Leisure Sneaker: These are extremely comfy, and a little less chunky in person. Streamlined on the foot. With an extra insole and tightened laces, they fit low-volume feet. The different leathers are the same colour, and don't contrast as much as in the stock photo. Well made and comes in three neutrals.
• Everlane The Form Bag: I haven't seen this crossbody in person but it looks gorgeous, streamlined and I like the broad strap. Comfortable. Comes in seven colours and can fit a laptop.
• Boden Arabella Sweatshirt: A crisp and dressier sweatshirt with a rainbow party on the back as well as on the sleeves. Check out the back! Lovely fluid fit with a curved back hem. Better than basic. It earned a place in my wardrobe because it's quite structured and crisp. It became an instant wardrobe workhorse with my tomato red jeans for very casual days. Comes in other neutrals and a polka dot.
• Lilla P Double V-Neck Dress: This type of dress works best on broader shoulders and a larger bust. Architectural and nice drape. Comes in black. Good on Team Tall, but easy to hem.
• Hunter Refined Short Gloss Duo: A refined wellie that's streamlined on the foot and leg, and not so heavy. Comfy. Comes in black. Quite Chic.
• Badgley Mischka Collection Badgley Mischka Water Repellent Anorak with Stowaway Hood | Nordstrom: An anorak that works best on those who can fill it out. Roomy and it might run a size big. Very lightweight, quite breathable, and tailored because of the drawstring at the waist. Great length, fun fishtail, and five colours. Read the rave reviews.
• Rag & Bone Perry Floral Lace Top: This is a very pretty knit top and gorgeous quality. It's sufficiently opaque and does not require a camisole. Looks great on its own, or layered under a jacket.
• JEN7 BY 7 FOR ALL MANKIND Stretch Skinny Jeans: A repeat top pick because the white denim is thick and the fit is flattering. Can work for a straighter and curvier body type. They ALSO come in a slim straight and bootcut.
• Citizens of Humanity Elsa Ankle Skinny Jeans: A repeat top pick, and one of my favourite pairs of white jeans. Great fit and thick fabric. Flattering on curvier thighs. Pocket linings do not grin. Fits a curvier and straighter figure. These are quite high rise on me, so I had the back of the waistband tailored to create a perfect fit because of my swayback.
• Ecco Soft 7 Sneaker: A top pick every year because the Scandi sneaker is all that. Streamlined, supportive, very comfy, flattering, refined, and classic Euro chic. They go the walking distance. Can work for a wider and narrower foot, but not a very wide foot. I made them work with two sets of insoles for my very low volume feet. I bought them in "vanilla metallic" which are a lot more vanilla than the stock photo (not blush pink). Come in many colours.
• Hispanitas Rhonda Slingback Pump: Extremely comfy and well-made slingbacks that can work on a slightly wider foot. Casually dressy. Comes in black.
• Boss Vedani Windowpane Pencil Skirt: GORGEOUS quality and fit in a graphic and timeless window pane pattern. Might need to size down.
• Reiss Fenton Stretch Wool Blend Slim Pants: Extremely nice fabric and tailored fit with a not too high rise. The subtle texture in the fabric is unique. Can work on a curvier or straighter body type. Hems are easy to shorten.
• Rebecca Taylor Tweed Jacket: Classic Spring tweed in a slightly longer length that works well with pants and jeans. The textured fabric and patterns are more striking in person. The description reads black, but it looks ink blue to my eye.
• Vionic Keomi Sandal: A supportive and very comfy sandal that goes the distance. Works best on a regular and higher volume foot. Comes in black. Classic Euro.
• Rag & Bone Victor Stripe Silk Blouse: Beautifully elegant wrap front blouse with extra front pleat and colour block detailing. Works well on a shorter waist, and might run a size small.
• Reiss Colleen Polo Pocket Sweater: Gorgeous crisp and pretty piece that is badly styled here. It's quite long and has a substantial welt, so it looks GREAT worn over slimmer pants and jeans. It's not supposed to be tucked! More cream in person, and might run a size small.

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

It’s 2019 and leggings have become a classic, like skinny jeans. Black leggings are THE bottom on women at the airport, and I see woman across all ages wear them as workout wear and casual wear. They are ubiquitous, worn as leggings under dresses and tunics, as jeans or pants with all sorts of tops, and creatively layered under shorts, skirts, dungarees and culottes.

Leggings were big in the ‘80s. They disappeared for a couple of decades and resurfaced in the mid noughties. They returned more as pantyhose than yoga pants. The idea was to wear them as an accessory under butt and thigh-covering clothing because they were constructed more like hosiery than pants, with a gusset and often transparent.

Over the years, leggings have evolved to become substantial, thick and opaque. These days, thanks to the oh-so-popular Athleisure trend, wearing thick leggings as pants is a 100% acceptable look. It’s not a faux pas to wear thick leggings with just about any length of top. From crop tops, sweatshirts, blouses, tees and hip-length tops, to butt-and-crotch covering tunics and midi dresses.

My eye has adjusted to thick leggings worn with shorter tops. It’s not a look that I wear, but I’m a solid yay for others as long as the leggings are thick. The more modest version is to wear thick leggings with tunics and dresses, and I’m a yay for that too. Or you can wear see-through leggings as hosiery under another bottom like a skirt, midi dress, shorts or culottes.

Apart from for hot yoga, I do not wear leggings. Athleisure is not my thing and I don’t like the feel of thick leggings. I don’t wear them under dresses, but do wear pants like skinny jeans and cropped flares under dresses. I also wear hosiery style leggings under skirts and longer dresses because I enjoy wearing pantyhose.

Over to you. Can leggings be worn as pants, and how do you wear them? Last year on the forum there was a five page discussion on the topic, and it is well worth a read.

It’s been years since we’ve seen shades of turquoise make a fashionable comeback. From blue shades to greener hues, turquoise reminds me of the poolside, beach, Mediterranean sea, Southwest jewellery, and Tiffany’s. There’s a shade of turquoise for everyone, so take your pick. 

Many of my clients like to wear turquoise in the Spring and Summer with white, lilac, dark blue and emerald green. Some prefer to wear turquoise away from their face through items like handbags, shoes, rings, bracelets, or toenail polish.

Turquoise is one of my favourite colours, so I’m thrilled to see it back at retail. I’ll wear turquoise in all wardrobe items except jewellery, since I stick to solid gold and white pearls. When I wear turquoise in an outfit, I like to combine it with white, tomato red, shocking pink, watermelon, citron, navy and lime green. I prefer turquoise as a solid, but won’t say no to a pattern.

At the moment, I have ONE turquoise item in my wardrobe, and it’s a four year old Furla. That’s shocking for someone who loves to wear non-neutrals and turquoise. So I’ve been on the hunt to add turquoise to my wardrobe for a while.

At first, I thought I wanted a turquoise top, dress, skirt, jacket, coat, or pair of pants. I’m open to adding some of those items to my wardrobe eventually, but for the moment I’m getting my turquoise fix with a wig. It’s my wildcard purchase of the year, and an unexpected wardrobe workhorse.

Rainbow hair is extremely popular in Seattle, and I’ve been toying with the idea for a while. It’s trendy, different, dramatic, and another way I can incorporate happy colours into my style. This way I don’t need to commit to permanent turquoise hair, and to the time and expense of maintaining it. Since my short blonde hair grows slowly, it’s handy to have instant-long hair with vivid colour when the mood strikes me to switch things up. This styling technique works well when you’re an impatient mood dresser like I am. Coincidentally, my new wig complements my old Furla. Bonus.

Sam’s wearing a turquoise wig too. He needs a stylish disguise when he’s being a regular dude and not a superhero. Cascading blue locks that match his collars were the way to go. Playful, fabulous with earth tones, and alluring. The ladies are smitten, and playdates are aplenty. The power of statement hair is not to be underestimated.

Our new blue wigs work well in our homes in Seattle and Salt Lake City because the decors are rich with turquoise accents. I never thought it was important for my style to coordinate with our home decor, but this level of matchy-matchy makes for a richer life, which is trendsetting in itself. 

Could food be the final colour coordination frontier? I’m thinking a cup of turquoise tea, with a nice piece of turquoise cake, because, why not!

A new size in women’s jeans, Anthropologie is extending its size range, anti-pollution make-up is trending, and more news from the fashion trenches this March.

• New make-up brand Grace is making mascara wands more accessible for people with disabilities.
• Here’s a look at Jason Wu’s Spring collection for Eloquii.
• Calvin Klein is closing its ready-to-wear business.
• Amazon has launched its first skincare line with everything priced under $40.
• Zara is introducing a customization service that let’s you embroider your name onto denim clothing.
• Good American is bringing out a brand new size in women’s jeans: size 15 — which is being called a solution for ‘size in-betweeners.’
• Kohl’s has launched a new women’s plus-size private label brand: EVRI.
• The Guardian reports that sales of anti-pollution make-up are soaring.
• Reformation and Madewell are jumping into the sustainable swimwear market.
• New York City has launched a campaign to keep unwanted clothes out of landfills.
• Anthropologie is adding sizes 16W-26W to their range of apparel offerings

Interesting Fashion Quote

I thought what writer Lindy West said here about being styled so often with a bright red lip and glamorous almost 1940s-style hair was thought-provoking:

“You know, it’s interesting: I absolutely love that look, but it’s not actually my look. Whenever I do press or have my picture taken, people just tend to style me that way. And I do think it has to do with size. I think folks can have such a hard time imagining that fat women can be beautiful that they think the way to make it happen is to over-style them. When it comes to beauty for fat women, it has to be this super exaggerated hyper-femininity. I’m always styled like ‘old Hollywood glamour.’ I have this fantasy about going to a photoshoot and having them say, ‘We’re gonna do a natural look. And you’re not going to wear a bombshell, pin-up dress. We have this weird smock for you.’ I dream of someone saying that to me. Just put me in a smock and do something weird with my face! Fat women don’t really get to be glamorously androgynous, you know?”