Recently Greg and I spent a couple of weeks in and around the Amalfi Coast in Italy. The heat and humidity were relentless, but we enjoyed every minute. The high style quotient we saw among men and women on the streets was just one part of this. 

In order, the most popular looks on the street were:

1. Dresses, dresses, and more DRESSES
2. Shorts, and especially high-waisted silhouettes with tucked tops and cropped tops
3. Wide cropped pants paired with tanks or linen tops
4. Jumpsuits and rompers in soft fabrics

It was a delightful dress fashion show every day. Most women across all age groups and body types wore casual or smart casual dresses throughout the day. Every type of breezy and flirty silhouette was on show. Maxi, midi, mini, one-shoulder, sack, shirt, shift, slip, wrap, kaftan, strapless, sun, fit & flare, off-the-shoulder, ruffled, A-line, empire, and babydoll. Sheaths were not the order of the day, and I only saw two the entire trip. Colours, patterns and fabrics ran the gamut. I felt right at home and completely appropriate in my dresses and skirt.

Women combined their dresses with flat footwear 99% of the time, with heels up to about an inch in height unless they were flat-forms. Mules, slides, sandals, gladiators, Birkenstocks, thong sandals, flatforms, flip-flops, espadrilles, ballet flats, caged sandals, loafers and sneakers reigned supreme. I saw a few pairs of wedges, one pair of stiletto pumps, and one pair of strappy heeled sandals. At night, when some of the dresses were dressier, footwear was still very flat. The footwear choice made sense both from a practical and trendy point of view. It’s hard to walk up and down steep stairs and through cobbled streets in very hot weather in heels. Not to mention that flats and low heels are trendier than they used to be.

When the youngsters weren’t wearing dresses, they wore high-waisted shorts with skimpy tucked tops and cropped tops, or breezy rompers. Wide cropped pants in linens/cottons combined with fitted tank tops and voluminous sleeved tunics was another popular look. It was fun to see the occasional soft and strappy jumpsuit in a happy bright floral walk by. These looks were finished with the same types of flat footwear you saw with dresses.

Beach fashion was the bikini for every size, age and body type. There seemed to be few inhibitions related to having the so-called perfect beach body. I LOVED the level of ease and confidence that was prevalent amongst locals and tourists. Bikinis were covered with all sorts of pretty kaftans, shorts, sarongs, and dresses to and from the beach. Fun, cheerful and screaming Summer.

Women were generally coifed and polished wearing natural-looking make-up and flaunting moisturized skin. I didn’t see as much colourful nail polish as I thought I would. Hair was beachy and sun-kissed. There were lots of waves and curls because of the high humidity, my own hair included. And most people sported sunnies and some type of straw hat or cap.

Many of you may already know Susan (61) from her blog Une femme d’un certain âge where she’s been writing about personal style for women over fifty and her trips to Paris for 11 years now. Our 5’1″ blogger is a jeans and trousers gal with a relatable Trendy Modern Classic style. She wears a lot of neutrals with touches of colour, and jazzes things up with arty statement jewellery and scarves. She is a strong believer in the power of the jacket, likes to sport maxi cardigans, and wears footwear that goes the distance.

“I left my corporate job a little over two years ago, and it took a while to untangle my own style preferences from what I felt I needed to wear to be ‘office appropriate’ (albeit a casual office). While I’ve shifted to a softer and more relaxed style, I find I still want to look polished and put-together. I’ve become more confident about adding a little drama, either with a long outer layer, a bit of movement or a pop of color or bold print. I’ve learned to stay away from anything that feels too fussy. And I’ve learned to disregard some of the ‘rules’ for my height and shape. I’d probably describe my current style as Polished Casual With A Side of Edge.”

When wearing double denim, Susan likes to mix washes for a less uniform look. Here she has paired relaxed straight-leg jeans in a light wash with a darker wash denim shirt dress. Sporting a dress unbuttoned as a duster-style jacket is a great way to get more wear out of your favourite dresses. The simple black tee is a good backdrop for her eye-catching medallion necklace. The long strand and open duster create vertical integrity. Rolling the hems of the jeans showcases Susan’s pewter wide-strap sandals that have a bit of a gladiator vibe. Two antique-style bracelets and quirky bag add extra personality.

Adding a knee-length jacket is one of Susan’s go-to ways to dress up a casual outfit, and adds drama to her classic look. Here, she’s opted for a cotton twill topper with a showstopping leopard print that adds tons of oomph and casual glam. She keeps the rest of the outfit simple with a black tee and straight leg jeans with soft frayed hems. The solid tee picks up the black in the leopard print, and again is an easy way to draw the eye to a set of arty necklaces. The cracked leather and fringe detailing on our blogger’s dressy rose gold loafers add subtle texture and shine. Susan’s lipstick matches her red-rimmed specs, which look great against the brown leopard print.

Susan has a real knack for finding unique jewellery that suits her style to a T:

“I wear a lot of French Kande jewelry, because it just resonated with me immediately. I’m a Francophile, so I love that aspect of it, but the designs also strike a nice balance for me between edgy and refined. I also have a few pieces from Aurélie Bidermann, which also hit that sweet spot. And I have some fun costume pieces (like an old acorn necklace from J.Crew) that are quirky and add a lot of personality, and sometimes are just what an outfit needs. I think with accessories, and especially with jewelry, you need to trust that ‘yes!!’ feeling. Don’t overthink it or force it. Go with your mood. That’s where the ‘personal’ comes in to Personal Style.”

You don’t see this shade of salmon pink all that often, so Susan’s bag and shoes immediately caught my attention. They add an unexpected colourful touch to this neutral Summer look. Susan is sporting a silk, scoop-neck tank dress with flirty tiered hem. The stripe print adds texture, while the floaty material complements the lightweight, slightly see-through fabric of the cardigan beautifully. The cream maxi cardigan creates layering interest and casualizes the outfit. Our blogger’s pearl medallion necklace and bracelet, and the gorgeous fringe tassel clutch dress up the look. The texturized surface of the clutch and soft suede slides create even more outfit depth.

Susan loves bringing back sartorial souvenirs from her trips to France and Italy. Here she is combining four of them for a polished casual Modern Classic look that made her feel great during a day of running errands. She created a column of colour with a navy top and dark wash jeans, and kept the colour continuity by throwing on a navy jacket she bought in Italy. The jacket is structured on the shoulders and made from a lightweight wool that drapes nicely and adds movement. Classic black horsebit loafers and a tan satchel with geometric puzzle pieces look dress up the outfit. Susan finishes off the look with a pearl bracelet, thin hoop earrings, and pink trim leopard print scarf in shades of blue.

This is a fab example of Angie’s Duster and Separates Outfit Formula, and a variation on the jeans + duster outfit shown in outfit #1. Switching out the denim dress for a black and white gingham shirt dress, and replacing the black tee with a white linen tank creates a different look. It shows how versatile this outfit formula can be. The sheer fabric of the duster is great for providing lightweight arm coverage on warm days. The tab sleeves explosing the forearms create structure. Our blogger’s black suede block heel slides echo the black in the gingham pattern. The silver metallic mini shopper bag works great with the neutral colours and adds a bit of polished bling. Susan is a master at layering necklaces and picking bracelets that complement both the necklaces and the rest of the outfit. Red toenails and lipstick are the perfect pop up colour.

We recently got back from a two-week trip to the Italian Amalfi Coast and it was absolutely FABULOUS. I had high expectations, which were more than met. We had the best time, first just the two of us in Positano, and after that with a group of old friends in Massa Lubrense. The picturesque scenery was breathtaking, the food sublime, the locals lovely, and the company even better.

My travel capsule worked extremely well, and here are the details.

The first few days in Positano were very warm and not so humid, and then it got HOT for the rest of the trip. A very sunny 30-35 degrees Celsius during the day (86 to 95 Fahrenheit) with 92% humidity. It cooled down to 25 degrees Celsius (77 Fahrenheit) at night, but stayed humid. The humidity accentuated the heat, and for the most part there was no air conditioning. Thankfully, we had a/c in the car and in our bedrooms at night.

The most important part of my capsule was footwear, and I had VERY happy feet throughout the trip. We walked 10,000 to 20,000 steps a day, up and down hills and an extraordinary amount of steep stairs in blazing heat. Not one blister, sore arch, or even as much as a red mark on my feet. I did feel my calf muscles since it was 6000 steps from the the beach to our Positano hotel. WOW, it was quite the workout. Daily gelato gave us energy and kept us cool.

 I wore my loafers and mules the first few days, and then switched to sneakers and sandals for most of the trip. My huarache sandals were WINNERS, and I was very thankful I had them. The mules were not a good shoe for stair climbing, but they were perfect for walking to breakfast, lounging at the pool, and in the villa with our friends. I also bought a pair of lemon-patterned mules in Positano on our first day, which worked perfectly with my citron bag. Their narrow fit worked surprisingly well for my low-volume feet. I wore them out to dinner several times because why the heck not. Go Team Wear.

I had planned to wear dresses, skirt and tops, and white jeans and tops during the day. Instead, I ended up wearing dresses and a skirt with tops, saving my white jeans for dinners at night. It was too humid to wear white jeans without a/c, but they worked well in the cooler evening when I felt like a fresh outfit. The jeans did a good job of protecting my legs from the mosquitos that descend on the Amalfi coast in large numbers at sunset.

My dress and skirt outfits were perfect for me. Breezy, covered, comfortable, not constricting, relatively crease-free, polished, crisp, and easy to dress down with flats. The style quotient is high in Italy, so I’m extra glad I felt on trend, dressy, pulled together, and, most importantly, very comfortable.

My swimwear capsule was great, although I didn’t wear it as often as I had hoped. I wore it at the pool by the hotel, but didn’t end up swimming at the beaches. Too rocky, cold, slippery and salty. I lent my straw bag to dear friend Annie to wear at night because it matched her lovely outfits (a nice way to extend my capsule). I was extremely vigilant about sun protection, and wore my straw hat most of the time whilst slathered in sunscreen (and insect repellent). I came back tanned with zero sunburn and so did Greg, which we thought was quite the accomplishment!

I wore my bag as a satchel most of the time, but was pleased to have it convert into a crossbody for airports, flights, and for our day in Naples. I wore one denim jacket at night by the beach on a day that was less hot, and my other denim jacket on all the flights. For the rest, they hung in my closet. I wore my pearls every day, and my sunnies all the time.

I highly recommend visiting this beautiful part of Italy, but avoid Summer unless you love the heat!

I’ve run this poll twice over the last twelve years, and both times the results were interesting. The first time, about ten years ago, it was a slam dunk victory for Team Heels. My word, we were a pitiful Team Flats. People batted for Team Heels even when they could barely wear them, because they preferred the way they looked. Back then, the fashion world encouraged higher heels because they elevated your style and accentuated your calf muscles. High heels make you look and feel taller, elongated the vertical integrity of your outfit by straightening curves, and make your legs look as long as can be. High heels were also thought to give you a powerful edge.

I posted the poll again five years later and fewer people batted for Team Heels, making the race an even tie. I wonder what will happen this third time now that flats and low heels rule our fashion world. Sneakers are the shoe of the decade, and dressy flats are acceptable attire in a corporate environment or fancy event. Outfits tend to look trendier and more creative with some type of flat shoe, making heels the more classic option. And above all, fashion and style is a lot more practical than it used to be, encouraging us to go with the footwear option that best suits our busy modern lives.

We’ll define flats as any shoe with a heel of up to an inch in height. Anything higher than an inch is a low heel or high heel.

For the third time, I bat for Team Flats. Ten years ago, I could wear a three inch heel to an event or out to dinner. Up to eighteen months ago, I could wear some two inch heels out to shop all day with clients. But I voted for flats because both dressy and casual styles make my feet the most happy. Last year, I had to overhaul most of my footwear collection because I can no longer wear a heel higher than an inch and a half. I wear flats with heels up to an inch in height 99% of the time, and my feet thank me every day.

Here’s my entire current footwear collection, of which most are flat. Some of the heels are one and half inches high, and two pairs are two inches. I optimistically keep the two inch heels to wear out to dinner at night with my denim bell bottoms.

Over to you. Now that fashion has changed and/or your shoe comfort needs have changed, do you bat for Team Flats or Team Heels? Tell us why. No batting for both teams. If you can’t commit to a team, head over to the bench for fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, sweet potato fries, watercress salad, and Philadelphia cheesecake.