Today we’re checking back in with Germany-based Annette Hoeldrich (55) of Lady of Style, who we first featured in 2015. She continues to rock Modern Classic outfits, and likes to wear on-trend items her way. She’s not afraid of playing with colour, enjoys sporting florals, and is a big fan of remixing favourite wardrobe items.

“When I started blogging in 2013, my style was elegant and ‘ladylike’ – an attribution I now shy away from but rather go for a contemporary, clean chic. I am a lot more open and adventurous and incorporate trends when they match my personal style. Seeing something on Instagram over and over again, doesn’t mean, I need to have it and I am happy to skip a trend if it is not ‘me’… For me it is important I can restyle my clothes for different occasions and seasons and I tend to wear my clothes for several years but always add a fresh touch. I really love a style mix for that reason!”

Annette is wearing cropped kick flare jeans with a simple black tee. She cut off a pair or full-length flares because they weren’t practical for Winter weather in Germany. Adding the striking velvet blazer as a third piece adds glam. The wine red looks beautiful with navy and black, and the longer length is completely on-trend again. Navy suede  booties with block heel and metallic accent lengthen the leg line. They also echo the blazer’s velvet material for a texture-rich look. Our blogger’s black leather floral brooch matches the charming flower tassels on her burgundy bucket bag. An oversized silver pendant, large hoop earrings, and coral red lippie finish off this casual polished look.

Brown is making a comeback, and seeing it in a Spring outfit feels extra fresh. Pairing the brown with off-white and black looks sophisticated. Annette is wearing dressy high-waisted culottes with eye-catching white contrast stitching. Tucking the black top lengthens the leg line from the hips up, while the suede pointy-toe pumps in a matching brown create outfit cohesion. Adding a light-weight off-white coat with dramatic feather print picks up the colours in the rest of the outfit and amps up the chic factor. Annette finishes things off with a structured cream bag, statement earrings and polished make-up.

Annette has Modern Classic style down pat, and enjoys adding her personal touch with interesting details and fun colour. Here she’s wearing a just-below-the-knee pencil skirt in a peppy tomato red with playful ruffle panel. She’s paired it with a classic white button-down shirt with knot detailing that accentuates the waistline and creates structure. Neutral footwear and bag, like Annette’s flax open-toed slingback flats with floral accent and Summery straw bag complement the outfit nicely. The floral print bandana tied around the bag picks up the red in the skirt. Wide silver cuff bracelets and our blogger’s go-to hoop earrings add subtle bling.

There’s nothing like a bright-coloured coat to liven up a cold or dreary Winter day. Annette prefers wearing bright colours with neutrals like black or navy, so her navy booties and jeans from outfit one are making their second appearance. This time, she’s paired them with a round-neck navy blouse with dramatic tie-sleeve detailing. Together with the dark wash jeans, they create a flattering column of colour. Plus the navy looks stunning against the raspberry pink bouclé coat, which creates fab textural interest. The navy theme continues with Annette’s scarf and the floral part of her amazing bag that also features animal print in two different colourways. A statement piece for sure! 

White and florals are fab for a night on the town in London. Annette’s breezy blouse with oversized floral print is perfect for a balmy Summer evening. The open neckline with smocked detailing and tassel tie closure works well on a smaller bust. Sporting the blouse with crisp, relaxed-fit white trousers dresses up the look. The cuff on the trousers showcases her silver grey sandals that add a touch of soft edge. The small suede crossbody bag in melon matches the red in Annette’s blouse perfectly. Dangly pearl earrings, a slim cuff bracelet with pearl accents, and neutral pink lipstick complete this Summer look.

A deluxe Asian-inspired look in a gorgeous colour palette with tons of visual interest. Dusty rose is a colour we don’t see all that often, and it’s used even less often for bottoms. That’s why I immediately noticed Annette’s elegant cropped pants. Their satin-y finishes matches the satin material of her floral-patterned V-neck top. The pale icy blue-grey background of the top looks stellar with the pink and burgundy colour palette of the rest of the outfit. Our blogger chose a dark burgundy maxi cardigan as a topper. The velour finish provides cosy textural interest that creates an interesting juxtaposition against the chic silky materials. Burgundy block-heeled sandals add further subtle sheen. The burgundy bucket bag with fun floral tassels isn’t a perfect match with the cardigan, but complements the colour palette beautifully and adds extra outfit depth. A triple strand of beads in a light taupe, and soft pink lipstick complement the outfit marvelously.

Let us know what you think of Annette’s relatable and polished Modern Classic style in the comments. And be sure to hop on over to Lady of Style to browse the rest of her lovely outfits (there’s a translation plugin available at the top right of each post if you want to find out more about each look).

You can wear some of these items right away, like the belt and the sneaks. If you’re heading into a cool spell like we are in Seattle, you might be able to wear the others too. Some of the items are discounted. They are fabulous quality all round. 

1. Madewell Medium Perfect Leather Belt

This belt doesn’t look like much because it’s very basic, but it’s a cut above the rest. I have two in black and brown, and they are extremely soft, lightweight and lie very flat against the midsection. You forget you’re wearing a belt. Classic and versatile. Substance without the bulk, and robust too. Sufficiently wide to wear with jeans, and the brass hardware is subtle. No wonder it’s a repeat style from Madewell.

Madewell

Medium Perfect Leather Belt

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Madewell

Medium Perfect Leather Belt

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Madewell

Medium Perfect Leather Belt

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2. SAS Free Time Sneaker

Don’t turn your nose up at these sneakers because they might remind you of orthopedic shoes — and what’s wrong with that, anyway? Remember that it’s all about how you STYLE an item that makes the difference. My ‘80s gene drew me to these because they remind me of a pair of white Reebok-esque sneakers I wore to Varsity in 1988/89. I LOVED those sneakers and bought another pair when they wore out. The SAS Free Time are extremely comfortable, well-made, supportive, all-leather, and fit beautifully because they come in six widths and a range of sizes. It’s like walking on air. They run long so size down half a size if you don’t have long toes. I bought them in a narrow size, which works well for my low-volume feet.

I got the white because they look the most pretty and crisp in that colour. They are perfect for plane travel and long walks. At first, I thought they were overly chunky for my narrow ankles, but the width fits so well, that they work. Greg likes them, and that’s all the validation I need. Here you can see me wearing them at the airport.

Zappos

SAS Free Time

$157.00

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Zappos

SAS Free Time

$157.00

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Zappos

SAS Free Time

$157.00

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Zappos

SAS Free Time

$157.00

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Zappos

SAS Free Time

$157.00

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Zappos

SAS Free Time

$157.00

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3. Boden Ellie Sweater

This Modern Retro pullover is stunning if you like a gently fluid fit and a playful neckline. Beautifully made, soft, and versatile. It could not fit me more perfectly. A little roomier on me than on the model, but still an impeccable fit. It’s versatile because you can pair it with most bottoms, AND it works on a range of body types. Quite forgiving on the midsection. The structured neckline makes it work on long and shorts necks, and multiple bust sizes. The neckline looks bulky but it’s not. It layers under jackets, coats and scarves surprisingly well. PRETTY.

Boden

Ellie Sweater

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Boden

Ellie Sweater

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Boden

Ellie Sweater

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4. Boden Horsell Jacket

A lovely FLUID fit with a very structured shoulder and V-neckline. It has a subtle shoulder pouf so consider yourself warned. Lots of room on the arms and torso. More roomy and trapeze-shaped on me than on the model, but works nonetheless. The sleeves are slightly bell-shaped to accommodate trendy exuberant sleeved tops. I’m going to adjust the position of the buttons for an even better fit. Excellent with all sorts of layers underneath. The jacket has the most beautiful tortoise shell buttons too. The red is a blue-red, and the blue a true navy. The animal print is hairy but VERY smooth and soft. Not furry or scratchy. Impeccable quality.

Boden

Horsell Jacket

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Boden

Horsell Jacket

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Boden

Horsell Jacket

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5. Boden Muriel Sweater

Fit is perfectly fluid, JUST like how you see it on the model in the striped version. Very good structure on the neckline, shoulders, upper arms, cuffs and welt – which makes all the difference. I do not think it runs big if you want it to fit fluidly like the model. You need long arms to wear the style because the blouson silhouette can overwhelm. Soft and not too thick, and with a neat and tidy neckline. Works on a range of bust sizes. The red is a shade of watermelon, and not tomato. The stripe is very bold. Not good on petites unless you have regular proportions up top. Read the rave reviews.

Boden

Muriel Sweater

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Boden

Muriel Sweater

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Boden

Muriel Sweater

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Boden

Muriel Sweater

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Boden

Muriel Sweater

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6. Boden Tie-Neck Shirt

A versatile blouse that looks as casual as it does dressy. Best on a straighter figure unless you tuck or semi-tuck for structure. I prefer the look on a small or regular sized bust. Layers well under a jacket and looks extra fresh in mustard. Read the rave reviews.

Nordstrom

Boden Tie Neck Shirt | Nordstrom

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Boden

Tie Neck Shirt

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I wear a lot of white items, which I like to keep pristine, bright and stain-free. I’m careful with laundry, washing whites with whites, and taking trickier items to eco-friendly cleaners. I’ve also learned a trick or two by using these products at home. 

1. Lysol Disinfecting Wipes: I have many pairs of white and cream leather shoes that I wear like basic black shoes. Wiping them down with a wipe is more effective than you think. It spruces them up and adds back some luster. Works well for white bags too.
2. White Brite Laundry Whitener: A friend who has to keep her son’s white baseball togs pristine suggested this product to me, and it’s effective. I throw in some crystals with the white wash, which includes towels and sheets, and they DO come out looking whiter.
3. Shout Wipes: These are better than a Tide-To-Go pen, and handy to have when you travel, or to keep in your handbag. You need to rub quite vigorously so that the the laundry detergent does not leave a mark around the stain.
4. Shout Stain Remover: I spilled a bowl of cherry pips onto white jeans last month, which is as bad as spilling red wine or curry. I aggressively used Shout and a bit of water over and over again until the stains came out ten minutes later. Then I popped the jeans into the regular white wash. It took some elbow grease, but the stains are completely gone and the areas aren’t pilling from over-rubbing. Magical.
5. Oxi Clean Stain Remover: Oxi Clean tends to work like Shout. Dilute a little in water and wash out a stain with it. I also use it to keep the soles and laces of our sneakers bright white, and throw a little in the white laundry cycle from time to time.

The discolouration that can appear under the arms of white tops are a result of wear, perspiration and deodorant. I don’t seem to get those types of stains on my tops, but I’m frequently asked by clients how to remove them. Have you found a way to do that?

Feel free to share any other tips you have on how to keep whites white. I’ve heard that baking soda and lemon juice can work too.

Amazon

Lysol - Disinfecting Wipes - Dual Action - 2x75ct - Scrubbing Texture - Disinfectant - Cleaning - Sanitizing

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Amazon

WHITE BRITE 28 oz. Bottle Laundry Whitener

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Amazon

Schott Instant Stain Remover Towelette Wipes (80 count)

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Amazon

Schott Advanced Stain Remover Gel 22 oz

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Amazon

Oxi Clean Versatile Stain Remover, 3 Pound (Pack of 4)

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This outfit formula is about the elegant and fun sweep of an A-line midi skirt on a hot Summer’s day. Breezy, girly, covered, and looking great with flats. Most of the midis below have asymmetrical hemlines, because the diagonal lines provide interest and temper the skirt’s volume by adding subtle structure. 

1. Tied & Heeled

Combine a soft pleated midi with a shirt. Tie the shirt at the waist, or wear a tie-top. The shorter top increases the length of the leg from the hips upward because you’re showcasing the waist. Add heeled sandals in a colour that matches the outfit.

2. Avant-Garde & Slides

Create an arty and architectural look with an asymmetrical midi skirt and untucked top that is moderately fluid, but hints at a waist. Keep the contrast between the top and bottom low if you want to offset the horizontally cutting line of the longer untucked top. Add flat slides or mules that work with the palette of the outfit.

3. High-Low & Flat Sandals

Combine a high-low A-line midi with a button-through blouse, and tie it at the waist for structure. This is a great way to lengthen the leg line without overly shortening the torso when you’re short-waisted. AND you don’t need to tuck or semi-tuck the top. Add flats sandals and a straw bag.

4. Polished & Pretty

Combine a swooshy A-line skirt with a tucked tee, blouse, or lightweight pullover. Layer a fitted denim jacket over for arctic a/c. Finish off the look with pointy-toe flats. The white shoes are low-contrast against the model’s skin tone, which lengthen her lower legs. I like this version best because I enjoy tucking tops into bottoms for a polished and professional effect. I have a regular length waist, so I don’t feel short-waisted when tucking tops. Add jewellery, watch and eyewear as desired.