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A Skinny High-Rise Surprise

— by Angie

on May 29, 2018

Nordstrom

Madewell 10-Inch High-Rise Skinny Jeans

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We visited Utah recently, and despite careful packing decisions, it was colder in Park City than what was forecast when I packed for our trip. I adore the heat, but am miserable in the cold, so I needed to shop for an emergency pair of full-length jeans that I could wear with nude knee-highs, loafers, and under a dress.

I headed to Nordstrom in Salt Lake City, which was in walking distance from our hotel. I began looking for long black skinnies because they would work best under the dress. Madewell’s 10 Inch High-Rise Skinnies caught my eye right away and I tried them on first. They are thick, substantial, don’t bag out, and aren’t overly tight. They are an inch short of full length — just as you see on the model — but close enough. Miraculously the high rise does not dig into my waist, and I was very comfortable. The black denim is uniform with zero distressing, giving them a dressier integrity. They followed me back to the hotel.

I tried the jeans under the dress-jeans-jacket-loafers outfit I had in mind. I prefer the dress without the jeans, but liked this combination too. Wearing dresses over jeans is an acquired taste, but when in-house fashion stylist Greg gave a thumbs up, I was good to go. Most importantly, I was an insulated happy camper.

Here are the exact items of the outfit I wore out to dinner on a chilly evening.

Custom Find

by Angie

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Topshop

Floral Print Mesh Skater Dress by YAS

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Nordstrom

Madewell 10-Inch High-Rise Skinny Jeans

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Zara

Short Blazer With Zip

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Nordstrom

Naturalizer Emiline Flat Loafer

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Yoox

Furla Handbag

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Custom Find

by Angie

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Here comes the double wild card: Black jeans are not my thing, and high-rise skinnies were not on my radar. Yet I enjoyed wearing the full-length high-rise skinny jeans so much that evening that I wore them with a fully tucked and semi-tucked pullover and knitted top for the rest of the trip! The high rise showcases the natural waist, and I like that type of structure. It also elongates the leg line from the hips upward when paired with a tucked top, which comes in handy when you wear flats 99% of the time like I do. Full-length jeans are a fab change from a closet full of crops.

Sometimes, you hit on a look or silhouette that you like by accident and your style evolves from that point. These style surprises are fun. I’m not sure whether I’ll get another pair of high-rise skinnies, but I’ll wear these like a wardrobe essential and enjoy the change.

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My Wonderful $11 Wardrobe Item

— by Angie

on May 28, 2018

Gap

Stripe peplum tee

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Today we’re celebrating those unexpected wardrobe items that you got for a song and are still going strong. I’ll go first.

I bought a navy and white striped peplum top on deep discount on the sale rack at the Gap three and a half years ago — and it’s phenomenal. It’s made of a very substantial knitted jersey, which is a wild card in itself since I wear woven tops and knitwear almost exclusively. I’m lukewarm about peplums, but this one fits perfectly and I like classic stripes. It was the only style like it on the sale rack, and was coincidentally in my size. It has a back zipper which allows the neckline to close very tightly around the neck providing the structure that my long neck and narrow shoulders crave around my shoulder neck point. The sleeves are a bonus elbow length, and the fabric is soft to the touch and drapes like a dream.

It’s been worn and laundered over and over again, and still looks new. After a cycle in the machine, it hang dries perfectly as if it was ironed. It hasn’t shrunk, faded or stretched out. It looks crisp and polished on the body, and does not crease.

The silhouette has longevity, and classic stripes hold my interest. So I’m keeping the top until it falls apart – which at this rate is going to take a good long while. It’s a great top for warm-weather travel, because it’s soft, comfy, does not crease, and looks crisp after a long flight or road trip. It also layers well under a jacket and works with a range of jeans and pants.

My word. It’s the best $11 I’ve ever spent on a top.

Your turn to celebrate a wardrobe item or two.

Clothing Care · Frugal Style · Shopping Strategy

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Rise, Waist and Torso Measurements

— by Angie

on May 25, 2018

Every so often a Fabber asks about the difference between a rise and a waist measurement. The waist measurement we’re talking about is the length of your torso, not the circumference of the narrowest part of your midsection. It’s what we’re referring to when we say “short-waisted” or “long-waisted.”

Here’s a simple definition of rise, waist and torso measurements:

Rise is the distance from your crotch point to your natural waist
Waist is the distance from your shoulder neck intersection to your natural waist
Torso = Rise + Waist

Either measurement can be relatively short, long or regular. You can usually figure out where you fall on the rise continuum by trying on lots of bottoms. People who are short in the rise tend to prefer wearing low and mid-rise bottoms, and are cautious with high rises because the waist of the garment comes up higher on the body than it does on average. People who are long in the rise wear high rises extremely well because they have the real estate to fill out the length. They tend to find low and mid rises too low because they’re positioned lower on their bodies than was intended.

The distance between the shoulder neck point and the natural waist will vary, even among people who are the same size in other respects. If you’re outside the norm and either “short-waisted” or “long-waisted“, it can be a little trickier to find clothes that create flattering proportions because most clothes are designed for people with average proportions.

It’s easy to figure out if you’re short or long in the waist. Stand up straight (don’t sit!) and see if you can fit two hand widths between the under bust and the natural waist. If you can fit more than two hand widths, you have a long waist. Less than two is a short waist.

When you are relatively short both in the rise and waist, you have a short torso relative to the average person. When both measurements are relatively long, you are long in the torso relative to the average person. Often, people who have short torsos have relatively long legs. People who have long torsos have relatively short legs.

I’m 5ft 6, and relatively short in the rise. I like low rises, and mid rises tend to come up higher on me than the average person. I cautiously wear higher rises if they aren’t too high. A nine inch front rise on a pair of jeans or pants is in line with my belly button. A ten inch rise is as high as I can go on a pair of tailored jeans, thereby covering my belly button and reaching my natural waistline. I can go longer in the rise on a pair of pants when they’re baggy because the crotch point isn’t fitted and hangs lower on my body.

I can fit exactly two hand widths between my under bust and waistline, so I’m regular length in the waist. This helps me to create flattering proportions with high-rise bottoms, despite my short rise measurement. I enjoy semi and fully tucking tops, and belting at the waist because I have sufficient length in my upper torso to comfortably accommodate the action. Since I wear flats up to an inch in height 99% of the time, semi and fully tucking tops, or belting at the waist is a useful styling strategy because it lengthens the leg line from the hips upward without wearing high heels.

Understanding how your measurements relate to each other can help you create your figure flattering priorities, so over to you. Are you relatively long or short in the rise? How many hand widths can you fit between your under bust and waistline? Are you short or long-waisted? Feel free to ask questions in the comments section.

Body Type

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Roundups

Simpler Items

This week's list of top picks list is about basic pieces.

Assorted Items

Items for Summer, both in and out of air conditioning.

Casual Summer Vibes

This week's top picks are good for a casual Summer vibe.

Summery Earth Tones

These items are for those who like to wear casual earth tones in warm and hot weather.

Hints of Spring

Some tried-and-tested winning items to refresh your style for Spring.

Dressier Items

An assortment of dressier top picks might be just what the doctor ordered.

Link Love: The Summer Wedge

— by Inge

on May 24, 2018

Roundups of wedge-heeled footwear keep popping up in my feeds, and I’m seeing them in just about every shoe store here as well. If you’re interested in getting a new pair too, these three links are for you:

From a wedge sandal with a cheerful cherry print to raffia sandals with a relaxed Summer vibe, these 25 pairs look very fun.

Looking for a budget-friendly pair? Popsugar found 10 pairs under $30 on Amazon.

Some fun patterns, pastels, and options for the fans of the sleek, minimal look.

Fab Links from Our Members

L’Abeille enjoyed all the outfits in Tiffany blue in the jeweller’s new video campaign.

She also wanted to share this article about the Manolo Blahnik exhibition at the Toronto Bata Shoe Museum.

La Belle Demimondaine has a collection of inspiration boards on Pinterest, but never really considered how they might be put to practical use. This stylist demonstrates how she actually uses them to plan and alter wardrobe pieces.

Kari thought this overview celebrating the sartorial choices of late writer Tom Wolfe was interesting.

Gigi came across this video on getting dressed in the 14th century.

Vildy, who is interested in the psychology of merchandising, found this article on how retailers choose in-store music very informative.

“Fashion, an industry dominated by women’s wear and buoyed by female dollars, with an image sold by women to women, is still largely run by men.” Like the Season is intrigued by the results of a new study on gender inequality in the fashion industry.

Shevia thinks Racked has been publishing some interesting articles lately, like this one about “Mom hair”.

Krishnidoux finds Bon and Ton, a couple that wears coordinating outfits, very cute and inspiring.

kkards directs us to this article on how to accept a compliment: “I think the writer nicely lays out that here in the US, often a compliment isn’t just a compliment, but really is the opening line in a person to person conversation.”

The part about the tight dress taking a backseat in this article on the royal wedding stood out to Sal because it made her realise why one or two of hers are just not getting worn right now.

Link Love

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Top Picks at the Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale

— by Angie

on May 24, 2018

The Nordstrom end-of-season sale is here. It is NOT to be confused with the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. The Half-Yearly Sale discounts end-of-season merchandise, which is Spring and Summer merchandise in this case. The Anniversary Sale (or NAS), on the other hand, starts in July, and that’s when hot-off-the-press Fall and Winter merchandise is discounted for a couple of weeks before prices go back up in August.

The Half-Yearly Sale is one way to stock up on warm-weather items, especially when your Summers are hot and long. I browsed the items and these are the ones that have been winners on clients, or that caught my eye. Keep stalking the items when they’re out of your size because they do occasionally come back into stock.

KENZO Ruched Sleeve Bomber Jacket: A salmon bomber with sleeve ruching creates an interesting textural effect. Fab with dresses and skirts too. Heavier than it looks. Fits a range of body types.
J.Crew Chambray Ruffle Skirt: A breezy unlined Summer skirt that's as casual as it is dressy. Nice length and better on a straighter figure. Best with a tucked, semi-tucked or cropped top to showcase the front ruffle detailing. Ruffle is architectural. Read the rave reviews.
Kate Spade New York cameron street - botanical lottie faux leather dome satchel: Seasonless Dark Floral Fabness.
LEWIT Trench Coat: A trendy trench with wider cut sleeves that works best on a broad shoulder line. Chic. Gorgeous quality. Cool-toned.
Gibson Bell Sleeve Ruffle Hem Blouse: Fun and flouncy blouse that's swingy yet flattering. Hangs in a streamlined way. Cobalt is gorgeous with black and white.
Chelsea28 Casey Geometric Cutout Faux Leather Tote & Pouch: Versatile Silver Tote Fabness.
L'Amour Des Pieds Winifred Lace-Up Bootie: A little Fall-ish, but lovely with white jeans and matching cognac belt. Oxfords are comfy, well made and can work with gentle bunions.
Topshop Premium Grace Leather Shoulder Bag: Grommet & Ribbon Shoulder Bag Fabness.
Michael Lexie Star Embellished Sandal: A dainty sandal for a dainty foot and ankle that isn't too narrow.
Levi's Roll-Sleeve Anorak: Super cute anorak to keep out the chill. The drawstring adds subtle waist definition, and the length is flattering. Both colours are nice.
SIONI Lexie Floral Print Silk Off the Shoulder Dress: This dress works well on a small-busted pear or hourglass body type. The diagonal lines are magical creating a visually pleasing effect.You'll need a strapless bra. Both colours are nice.
Marques' Almeida Marques'Almeida Asymmetric Patchwork Plaid Shirtdress: A roomy avant-garde shirtdress that looks great over wide crops or flared crops. Scrunched sleeves add structure.
ADDITION ELLE LOVE AND LEGEND Flower & Stripe Shirt: Structured, polished and pretty embroidered tunic shirt. Read the rave reviews.
MATISSE Augustine Mule: Distressed blue mule booties are quite unique and these are reasonably comfy. These are the prettiest, but they come in black and brown. Best on higher volume feet.
Boss Damyla Sheath Dress: A classic navy sleeved sheath with an alluring integrity. Not too tight, and great pockets. Might run a size small if you're curvy. Office appropriate.
Eileen Fisher Eileen Fringe Mixed Check Square Scarf: A Trendy Classic.
Karen Kane Floral High/Low A-Line Dress: A structured dress with a flattering fit. Streamlined, yet comfortable. Forgiving of lumpage and bumpage, and a super length. Dress it up or down.
Karen Kane Cold Shoulder Top: Swingy cold-shoulder polka dots are fun with white jeans. Best on a larger bust and broader shoulder line. Runs a size big.
MSGM Chiffon Panel T-Shirt Dress: An architectural dress that is best on a smaller bust. Works on a range of body types. Make sure you like the side view.
IRO Eloaz Asymmetrical Draped Top: The drape on this Summer top is gorgeous, and you need to love grey to like it. It works on most body types, and can be paired with most bottoms.
Longchamp Small Le Pliage Cuir - Chevron Top Handle Leather Tote: Sporty & Graphic Longchamp Fabness.
SOSKEN Fil Utility Raincoat: A well-made Scandi anorak with an avant-garde vibe. Runs big and is supposed to look oversized. Good on Team Tall.
LODIS LOS ANGELES Dominica Under Lock & Key RFID Leather Briefcase: Chic Briefcase Fabness.
Via Spiga Kamille Block Heel Sandal: A chunky yet refined high block-heel sandal for regular volume feet. All the colours are nice. Moderately comfy.
Eileen Fisher Kyra Sandal: A comfy and well-made sandal that works for higher volume feet. Dress them up or down. Lovely colours.
VANELi Fabra Perforated Oxford Slip-On: A Modern Retro vibe for lower volume feet. Looks better in person and on the foot.
Sole Society Oversize Faux Leather Tote: Pleather Tote Fabnes.
Chloé Quincey Convertible Loafer: A maximal silver loafer for a low and regular volume foot. It's a very bright silver so consider yourself warned.
MICHELE Deco Madison Diamond Dial Watch Case, 33mm x 35mm: Michelle watches are STUNNING, and this simple square shape is a classic.
Halogen Emery Platform Espadrille Sandal: I find these impossible to walk in because the soles don't flex - AND they're awfully high. But I'm in the minority, so read the rave reviews. They look fun on the foot, and are quite well made. Their '70s vibe is appealing. Lots of fun colours.
VANELi Calyx Block Heel Sandal: A simple T-strap sandal that comes in a range of widths. Loving that Modern Retro inset block heel. Read the rave reviews.
Lucky Brand Print Top: A casual blouse that's more interesting and flattering than a tee. An easy throw-on-and-go.
Pedro Garcia Jalila Ankle Strap Sandal: A repeat style that has made a number of my clients happy. The cream is as nice as the black. Very comfy, well made, and best on higher volume feet. Reasonably supportive.