Fab Finds: Casual, Dressy & Essential

New Fall & Winter 2018 collections are in stores and online, and so far so good. Here are some items that caught my eye, and some that have been winners on clients. Read the rave reviews, and be sure to browse the colour options. 

1. Ett:twa Costello Moto Jacket

A ridiculously cosy aviator style moto that I did not want to take off in stores. It would have been mine in another colour with gold hardware. The cut is a trendy boxy silhouette that should be roomy all over like how you see it on the model. It is not supposed to be fitted, which was one of the unfair reviews against it. It can accomodate several layers, and fits a range of body types. The sleeves are clever because the fold-over cuffs adjust to the length of your arms. Nice that it goes from XS to XL.

2. Mother Paisley Intarsia Blazer

Something for paisley fans. The photo does not do this wonderful KNITTED topper justice. It’s super soft and comfortable in the extreme. It’s flattering with its semi-structured silhouette that creates a gentle waistline. The stretchy but stable fabric will glide but not cling over most body types so it’s extra forgiving. The funnel neck folds down into a flat collar so good on all neck lengths. Nice to see it run from XXS to XL.

3. Madewell Clarkwell Pullover Sweater

This is a fun throwback to the ‘90s but in better fabric. It’s a terrific little casual or smart casual pullover to wear on its own or layered under a jacket or coat. Can work for work or play. It’s fitted but not too clingy or long. Works well semi-tucked too. Feels fab against the skin. Creates a relaxed tailored silhouette.

4. White House Black Market Pleated Blouses

Exuberant sleeves continue to flood the market, but these versions are more refined and a little different. The crystal pleating is unique, Modern Retro, and the fabric wears like iron. Both blouses can be dressed up or down, and run a size big.

5. Anthropologie Camo Moto Jacket

A fitted moto in a subtle cool-toned camouflage print. Machine washable and versatile. Yes, it’s a slam dunk with jeans or casual pants, but also great with a dressy skirt and pumps, or sneakers and flat oxfords. Fun to pattern mix with stripes and florals.

6. Brahmin Handbags

These classic beauties are winners with some of my clients who swear that this is the superior structured bag. They look pulled together, polished, professional, and are robust too. They work well for a Modern Classic and Modern Retro style, but can create an interesting juxtaposition with an arty, avant-garde and Sporty Luxe style. The colour combinations are unique, making quite the statement.

7. City Chic Oversize Knit Tee

These oversized architectural tees are dramatic and comfortable. They are supposed to be roomy and not fitted. The tapered sleeves, hem and relatively high neckline create ample structure. The high-low hemline creates a magical diagonal line. The fabric is quite thick, which is precisely what gives it its heft and drape. Fab for Fall.

8. Boden Long-Sleeved Breton

Breton striped tees are a Modern Classic and very versatile because they work as well with solids as they do with textures and patterns. These are LONG-sleeved, which aren’t as easy to find. The boat neck isn’t too low, and the sleeves are fitted. The striped assortment is unique along with the usual navy, white and black. I LOVE Breton stripes and wear them in pullovers because I don’t wear T-shirts. But I’ve put in an order for a few of these because if I’m going to wear a tee – Boden quality is my best bet. Crisp and gorgeous.

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Outfit Formula: Black & White with High-Rise Skinnies

High rises look the most current at the moment, and that’s what I’m highlighting in this outfit formula. Fully tucking or semi-tucking into a high waist is the trendiest way to go, because showcasing the length of the high rise is the point. You can wear a roomy cropped top to showcase most of the high rise if tucking is not your thing. 

Please try to keep an open mind if you’re not a tucker or semi-tucker. You do NOT need to have flat abs and a toned midsection to rock this look. You also don’t need to wear a belt. The high rise on this type of jean is girdling in itself, and supports the midsection more gracefully than you might expect. It’s quite comfortable too. And if that doesn’t convince you, shapewear is an option because it’s a LOT more comfortable these days. You can’t feel the compression, and the visual effect is stellar. Don’t rule it out until you’ve given the look a fair chance.

The tops are best in a fluid fit if you want to conceal the midsection above the waist.

For those who are very short in the waist, you can achieve a similar look with mid-rise jeans, or wearing a roomy cropped top, like I mentioned up top.

The outfit formula is very casual, and in black & white it looks graphic and is easy to pull together. You can make the vibe as hard-edged as you like. You can substitute the black for dark blue, and wear high-rise black pants instead of jeans.

1. Double Denim

Combine a pair of high-rise black skinny jeans with a fluid white tee, sweater or turtleneck, and top it off with a black, grey or blue denim jacket. Tuck or fully tuck the white top to showcase the high rise. Add heels to dress it up, or throw in some white sneakers.

Everlane The Denim Jacket

2. Elegantly Dusted

Combine high-rise black skinnies with a fluid tucked or semi-tucked white top, and throw over a dramatic duster in the same palette. The duster does a marvelous job of camouflaging the outside contour of the body, while drawing attention to the waist. This might be the way you ease into tucking into a high waist. Finish off the look with footwear that works with the outfit.

Eloquii Flocked Dot Skinny Jean

3. Columned & White

Create a column of black with a fluid black tee or top and high-rise black skinnies. A patterned top adds some visual interest. Semi or fully tuck the top. Finish off the look with a white topper and black or white booties.

Hudson Barbara High Waist Skinny Jeans

4. Pretty Windowpane

This is my favourite of the four because it looks the prettiest and dressiest. Combine high-rise black skinnies with a fully or semi-tucked white tee or top. A panel print is a nice touch. Top it off with a black windowpane blazer or regular black blazer. A longer length blazer is the trendiest version at the moment. Finish off the look with casual or smart casual white footwear that picks up the white in the top. Add jewelley, eyewear, headgear and watch as desired.

Paige Transcend Hoxton Ankle Jeans

I bought an unplanned pair of black high-rise skinnies from Madewell as an emergency purchase this Spring, and I love them. I enjoy tucking and semi-tucking into them, and wearing them with dainty white shoes like my flat loafers for Spring. For early Fall, I’m going to wear them with my boots and sneakers, a white belt (maybe), an assortment of white and black tops, and ink blue toppers since I don’t have black. I might throw in a stripe, a very light blue denim jacket, and my light blue bag. Here are the exact items from my wardrobe that create the outfits.

Link Love: News From the Fashion Week Sidelines

Starting this season, London Fashion Week is going fur-free, which means no animal fur will be used in any official runway show or presentation.

Claudia Li featured an all Asian model cast in showing her Spring 2019 collection. It’s being hailed as a monumental step forward in fashion’s diversity movement.

Vanessa Friedman, The New York Times’ fashion director, talks about what it’s really like to be at the shows.

Yahoo! Lifestyle reports that Queen Elizabeth II’s umbrella styling trick is now a fashion week trend.

Fab Links from Our Members

Vildy wanted to share this look at the underbelly of ‘effortless’ French fashion.

Annagybe found this article about ‘menocore’ very interesting, “because it does address the aspirational part of this style.”

Is there life after skinnies maybe, asks Jenn.

Fashintern thought this Vice piece about the secret signals of far-right fashion might interest people, and she’s curious if anyone has noticed these phenomena.

She also came across this article about hoarding disorder, which can relate to clothing, and lots of other things: “‘Hoarders fear making the wrong decision about what to keep and what to throw out, so they keep everything,’ says Dr Whomsley, who was one of the authors of the British Psychological Society guidelines on hoarding compiled in 2013.’

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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Brands That Deliver Consistent Quality

I recently complained about the fact that quality is consistently inconsistent these days, but there are exceptions to this trend. Here is a list of brands that have proved their commitment to quality to me and my clients over the years. The bar is high. The quality has been evident after many wash-and-wear cycles. After all, it’s all about how a garment, pair of shoes or an accessory wears and handles the laundry over time that truly makes its quality exceptional.

The list includes designer and non-designer brands. The price points are varied, and so are the styles.

  • Boden
  • Club Monaco
  • Reiss
  • Smythe
  • Karen Millen
  • L.K. Bennett
  • Furla (handbags in particular)
  • Kate Spade
  • Theory
  • Pendleton
  • Clarks
  • Frye
  • Aquatalia
  • Soia & Kyo
  • Elie Tahari (not Tahari)
  • Madewell
  • COS
  • Paul Green
  • Converse
  • Ecco
  • Birkenstock
  • 3.1 Philip Lim
  • A.L.C.
  • Chanel (handbags in particular)
  • Helene Berman
  • Peter Kaiser
  • Pikolinos
  • Hispanitas
  • Ray-Ban
  • The North Face
  • Zella (workout leggings in particular)
  • Brooks Brothers

Apart from Pendleton, Ecco and Birkenstock, these brands are represented in my own wardrobe and I will continue to be loyal to them. I’d buy from Pendleton, Ecco and Birkenstock if I could achieve a good fit with the brands. Alas, I can’t do that until they extend their size range or change their fits.

I also have superb quality items in my wardrobe by brands that aren’t on this list. In fact, some of them are thought to have extremely inconsistent quality. All washed and worn till the cows come home. A short toffee puffer from Zara that looks better than the Ralph Lauren equivalent. A floral Topshop frock that is one of my most frequently worn dresses ever. A navy lace dress from Banana Republic that is lined, machine washable and does not crease. A J.Crew tweed jacket that is made as well as a pricey Chanel. Zara gingham pants that look as pristine as it gets, don’t stretch or crease, and are machine washable. An $11 peplum tee from the Gap that blows me away. And two eight-year-old J.Crew coats that still look good, although I’ve had the linings fixed a couple of times. This was back in the day when J.Crew manufactured their coats in Italy, and the quality was fabulous.

Price is not a good indicator of quality, and for the most part, neither is the brand. The best we can do is make discerning decisions about quality before purchase, launder with care, and hope for the best.

By all means add to my list in the comments section.

Trend: Chocolate Brown Is Back

It’s taken twelve years for chocolate brown to return as a trendy neutral, and it’s about time. Strangely, it didn’t even feature as a fringe trend. Why the perfectly lovely neutral was banished from fashionable existence makes little sense. Let’s hope those days are over. 

Chocolate brown is the last dark neutral to join the party since navy and ink blue became fashionable constants alongside black and grey. I think shades of dark brown should be a neutral we see every season, because it’s another way of celebrating variety.

Chocolate brown comes in warm and cool variations, so there’s a shade for every complexion. Cool shades are laced with grey and blue, and warm shades with yellow and orange. It’s represented in most wardrobe items this season, as seen in the collection of items.

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Chocolate brown is a magical dark neutral that can create an assortment of personas. It is richer than black and warmer than grey. It can be as cool and military as dark blue. It can be as hard-edged as black and as preppy as navy.

Like all neutrals, shades of chocolate brown look splendid with other light and dark neutrals. Gone are the days that wearing black with brown is a faux pas. In fact, I can scarcely believe it was a faux pas since it’s always looked fab to me. It also looks fab with lighter shades of brown and white, and shades of dark blue.

You can wear chocolate brown with most other non-neutrals, depending on your affinity for colour-mixing, and your preferences. It looks amazing with other earth tones, sour brights, pastels, muddy colours and jewel tones. It’s not a neutral that requires much thought on how it will remix with the rest of your wardrobe, especially if you’ve built a complement or capsule with it.

Most of my clients like some shade of chocolate brown and will be happy to see it return to their wardrobes. For some, it’s their “black” and a favourite dark neutral. For some it’s brown in the form of patterns only, especially in leopard and snakeskin. For others it’s good in footwear, belts and bags.

It took a while, but I’m back to wearing chocolate brown. I’ve been building a complement with light blue and shades of white, and enjoying the fresh-for-me combination. I will also wear it with citron, chartreuse, tomato red, turquoise, shocking pink, toffee, cinnamon, blush, navy, ink blue and black. Not sure whether I will wear it with olive and burgundy, but maybe. The colour is VERSATILE.

Over to you. Do you like chocolate brown, and have you missed it? Will you wear it and in which wardrobe items?