• Ralph Lauren will be the first American fashion designer to be knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to fashion and philanthropy.
• Here’s a look at the Jason Wu for Eloquii Holiday Collection.
• CoverGirl is now Leaping Bunny-certified, making it the largest beauty brand to go cruelty-free.
• Alexander Wang has joined forces with Uniqlo for a collection utilizing the Japanese brand’s signature HEATTECH collection.
• Converse has reinterpreted three of its most popular silhouettes into waterproof designs.
• Universal Standard for J.Crew is back by popular demand.
• “Jewelry: The Body Transformed”, a new Met exhibition, explores jewellery as anthropological artifacts.
• Zara has launched a maternity collection, The Maternity Mood, which is available online.
• The London Victoria & Albert Museum is planning a Mary Quant exhibition honouring the designer’s pioneering work of the ’60s and ’70s.

Fun Fashion Quote

I like Nora McInerny’s down-to-earth take on wearing bright lipstick:

“People always seem so scared to try it. Other women often ask, ‘How do I wear a bright red lipstick?’ Like, you literally put it on your face. You are the only person who is worried that you look different. I was always afraid it would be too much, but truly, you are the only person who’s thinking about your appearance that deeply. No one is thinking, ‘How dare she?’ Nobody cares.”

A pant suit that doesn’t look corporate is an excellent, versatile and easy outfit to pull out for the holidays. It’s less formal than a skirt suit, a whole lot warmer than a dress, can be layered with knitwear for extra warmth, and works with practical and weatherproof footwear. The suit can look as dressy, casual, festive, fun and elegant as you style it. The jacket and pants can be separated and remixed with other items.

Men’s fashion shows practical, warm and swish holiday attire every season, while women’s fashion continues to showcase a plethora of skimpy sleeveless dresses. It drives me bananas. I for one want to look festive AND feel warm.

As much as I adore wearing dresses, I’m into the fun holiday pant suit, and hope to encourage you too. Pant suits are cosy, versatile, and a great combination of dressy and smart casual. Here are four ideas.

1. Brocade Suit

The dandy and baroque integrity of a brocade suit is classic, romantic and luxe. This one is multi-coloured, but the more subtle self-colour brocade suit does exist. Choose a neutral or non-neutral, pop a silky camisole underneath, or a simple knitted layering top. Finish off the look with pumps, boots, Mary Janes, loafers or oxfords. Add knee-highs or trouser socks for warmth, and a clutch for dressiness.

2. Velvet Suit

Velvet, another regal and luxe fabric, is a fabulous idea in a pant suit. Think neutrals or non-neutrals. Subtle or bright. Pop a casual tee, fitted knit top, turtleneck, striped top, or silk camisole underneath, and wear anything from boots to loafers as footwear. A velvet blazer can be remixed with jeans as holiday outfit #2, while the pants can be remixed with a dressy pullover for holiday outfit #3.

3. Plaid Suit

A plaid suit is another way to go. High-contrast plaids are a commitment to wear from head to toe so make sure you’re comfortable doing that. Here’s a classic low-contrast plaid that looks streamlined with a navy turtleneck. It’s easier to wear than a bright or high-contrast plaid. Your choice of pumps, boots, Mary Janes, loafers or oxfords as footwear with hosiery or socks. A sparkly bag and brooch would lift the dark palette of the outfit if that tickles your fancy.

4. Bright Suit

Think of a brightly coloured suit like red, pink, mustard or purple. Or less bright, like teal, plum, blush, forest green, burgundy or cobalt blue. Finish off the outfit with a top, shoes and small handbag in the same colour or pattern. Finish off the look with a suitable layering top, footwear. Add as much bling as you’re comfortable sporting for the festive season.

You could wear a leopard print pant suit, a metallic suit, or a classic black “Le Smoking” tuxedo too. Switch out the layers, footwear and accessories to create a fresh look, and layer a warm cape, coat or puffer over the top.

Full-length pants and jeans are alive and kicking on the catwalks, yet retail continues to flood the market with ankle and cropped lengths because it will take a while for full lengths to filter down to mainstream fashion. Outfits continue to be styled with bare ankles, and that’s not going to work unless you run very warm or your Winters are very mild.

I hate to feel cold so there’s no way am I going to suffer with cold ankles and feet for the sake of fashion. I’m wearing my cropped pants and jeans throughout Autumn and Winter following the guidelines I posted two years ago, and feeling sufficiently insulated. I’m all bundled up with the right layers, socks, knee-highs, high-shaft booties, and booties with arctic fleece linings to stay cosy warm.

Statement socks are also on-trend, and that’s another way to stay warm in cropped lengths in Fall and Winter. I posted guidelines on how to wear statement socks a year ago but the outfit formula bears repeating with some fab visuals.

To my eye, the key to making statement socks work is by making them match and/or complement the outfit so that you “don’t look like a toddler,” as of one my clients put it. Make statement socks look intentional and not like you threw anything on just to stay warm.

1. Solid & Subtle

The statement socks in this outfit are almost solid, neutral and low contrast. The shade of camel matches the coat, which pulls together the outfit. The coat and matching socks are neutral and subtle, and therefore easy on the eyes. The black-white-red rib of the socks further picks up the black-white-red in the rest of the outfit. The shoes are a versatile and a classic dark brown loafer, but the model could have worn short-shaft black/dark brown booties, Mary Janes, oxfords or pumps. Importantly, when the coat comes off, the socks match the outfit.

Make sure the socks COVER the lower legs so that there is no bare skin, even when you sit down. You’ll need longer socks than the pair the model is wearing here.

2. Patterned & Complemented

Knee-high socks are an excellent way to keep warm because they cover the lower leg and not just the ankles. This neutral outfit of on-trend black jeans, white top and black topper are gorgeously complemented by a pair of sparkly navy argyle socks. Although there isn’t any navy in the outfit, the socks work and create harmony because the white argyle picks up the white in the top. The flash of green adds a whimsical preppy and graphic integrity. Importantly, when the coat comes off, the socks match the outfit because it complements the top. If the socks were a black-white-red argyle, they’d have matched well too. The shoes are a versatile and classic loafer, but the model could have worn short-shaft black booties, Mary Janes, oxfords or pumps.

When you add scarves to the look, make sure the solids are in a complementary colour, and the patterns are in the same palette as the outfit. That way you’ll create a harmonized visual instead of a hectic mismatch that looks neither here nor there.

There is the added concern of whether you want to stretch out your pumps, loafers, oxfords and Mary Janes by wearing them with socks. Or whether they are even comfortable with the addition of a thicker sock. I don’t want to stretch out my Summer shoes, so my statement socks look is for booties and shooties only.

You’d think that fabulous statement socks would be easy to find because they are widely available. Yet it’s hard to find the right colours to match my very colourful knitwear capsule, or they aren’t long enough to prevent cold ankles. Socks often slip off my feet because the one-size-fits all is too wide, and I don’t like to wear woolly socks. I have the added challenge of making this vibe look sufficiently dressy because my style has a dressier element — even when I’m dressed casually. Dressier socks are often too slippery and don’t stay on my feet, and fishnet socks do not provide insulation. That’s why I often resort to wearing navy, barely black and nude knee-highs because they are long, dressy, warm, and stay on my feet. Or I wear warm nondescript socks that no one can see under high-shaft booties.

Who’s into wearing statement socks for Fall & Winter, and do you have tips to share?

Today we’re checking back in with Kilee Nickels (32) of One Little Momma who we first featured three years ago. She is a Mum of 5 boys, and runs her own jewellery business. She’s still into neutrals and sporting distressed jeans. Her on-trend, casual and practical style wonderfully fits her busy Mum-on-the-Go lifestyle. And she continues to add an edgy element with her go-to leather earrings, hairstyle and footwear.

“As a mom of five now and a business owner I still dress for comfort. My style is edgy and fashion forward, but also simple, so it’s easily incorporated into most women’s closets. I love camo and ripped denim, but I also love a beautiful lace top or pleated skirt.”

Kilee dresses up ripped girlfriend jeans and a tee with a statement jacket. Tucking the white V-neck tee and sporting heeled booties lengthens the leg line. The military-inspired black velvet band jacket is embellished with gleaming buttons and intricately arranged cord, and gives the look an interesting vibe. So do the velvet peep-toe booties that complement the jacket. Kilee sports a pair of leather earrings from her own company daily. Here she’s wearing her hair back which showcases their organic shape. A turquoise cocktail ring, mirrored sunnies and soft pink lippie are the finishing touches.

Jeans with sneakers, a nice top and some sort of topper is one of Kilee’s go-to Mum-on-the-Go formulas. For a back-to-school shopping trip with her son, she wore skinny ankle jeans that offset the relaxed fit of the oatmeal sweatshirt with high-low hemline. Adding the olive cargo vest as a third piece pulls the outfit together. The longer length is on-trend and works well with the skinnies. Lilac sneakers are more unexpected than a white pair would have been. Oversized leather teardrop earrings, in taupe this time, a white watch, sunnies, and several rings are the accessories of choice.

Getting a new dress or skirt for Easter each year has become one of Kilee’s holiday traditions. This year she found a black lace midi dress and paired it with all-black accessories. The scalloped leaf detailing on the frock creates textural interest. While the see-through lace on the short sleeves, neck and hemline lighten the black. Opting for dainty ankle strap sandals that show most of her bare foot enhances that effect. An oversized black clutch with zipper detailing adds hard edge. Going with cut-out leather earrings instead of a solid pair is another smart way to bring lightness into the look.

Picking a pretty top and interesting footwear is an easy way to jazz up a casual denim outfit. Our 5’7″ blogger is wearing dark-wash skinnies with an eye-catching T-shirt. The colourful embroidery and crocheted lace trim make it a stand-out top that feels more special than a regular tee. The ankle jeans showcase the lace ribbons on our blogger’s two-toned lace-up espadrilles. The black ribbons echo the T-shirt colour, while the white part of the footwear bookends Kilee’s earrings of the day.

A tomboy look feels “very Kilee.” The fitted silhouette of these black denim overalls creates a long lean line. Pairing them with a white blouson sleeve tee adds just the right amount of volume on our blogger’s dainty frame. The suede taupe wedge sneakers bring in a sporty touch, while the black leather tote with contrasting cognac handles adds a soft-edged touch. The taupe fedora bookends Kilee’s sneakers and is the playful finishing touch.

Kilee dresses up a simple tee and jeans with an on-trend blazer and gorgeous statement bag. The skinny jeans and black V-neck tee create a column of colour. The double-breasted blazer with its low stance and sharp shoulders is an on-trend piece that adds polish and fun pattern to the look. Our blogger’s nude booties with cut-out detailing an dangly gold earrings play up the rock ’n’ roll vibe. Her unique boxy colour-blocked leather bag looks both dressy and interesting. Fun that the colour blocking is repeated in the guitar strap.

Let us know what you think of Kilee’s fabulous outfits in the comments, and then hop on over to her blog to browse the rest of her posts.