Weekly Roundup: Assorted Items

Here’s a weekly roundup of items, many of which have been winners on my clients recently. The other items have worked for forum members and have received great reviews online. Be sure to browse all the colour options, and check out the extended size curves. Everlane for example, goes up to a denim size 33 these days. 

  • Karen Kane Cascade Statement Sleeve Top: The welt on this blouse gives it lots of structure. It's surprisingly forgiving on the midsection despite the tapered cling. Works best on broader shoulders and/or larger bust. Might need to size down.
  • COS Shirt dress with handkerchief hem: I have this dress in olive. It's longer on me than on the model. Hits the top of my kneecap and I'm 5ft 6. It's long at the back and sides, which gives it more "length". Very architectural and voluminous from the side, so you have to be at peace with that. It only JUST does not swallow me up. The shirt detailing and ribbon placket down the front add lots of vertical integrity and structure. Fun side entry pockets. Pristine and crisp. Gorgeous substantial fabric and yummy Spring green. Impeccable drape. Modern, yet Retro too. A quality item. Available in black.
  • White House Black Market Skinny Ankle Utility Jeans: A versatile pair of skinny utility pants that works well on both a straighter and curvier bottom half. Substantial fabric. Size down. Does NOT look like a sausage casing.
  • Gap High Rise 12" Denim Bermuda Shorts with Frayed Hem: These Gap shorts almost changed my mind about wearing shorts. Flattering and elegant - and not see-through in white. The fit around the hips, bottom and waist is really good. The mini slits on the side are polished. There is room on the thighs. Does NOT resemble a sausage casing, but not too wide either. It has a button-fly that lies very flat, but might put you off the style.
  • Gap High Rise 7" Denim Shorts with Raw Hem: A flattering and tidy fit that works on a range of body types. The waistband and midsection feel very secure. There is room on the thighs. NOT sausage casing, but not too wide either. Not see-through. Works well on petites. Quite polished.
  • Maeve | Anthropologie Bette Wrap Skirt: Gorgeous wrap midi skirt that works as well on a straighter body type as it does on a curvy body type. You have to tuck or semi-tuck the top though, so best on a regular or long waist. Might need to size down.
  • Boden Richmond Pencil Skirt: A beautifully polished pencil skirt that comes in solids and patterns. Gorgeous fit and fabric. The cut is forgiving because it moulds to the body thereby suiting a range of body types. Does not cling. Looks sharp. Read the rave reviews.
  • J.Crew No. 2 pencil skirt in two-way stretch cotton: J.Crew's pencil midi is one of the best skirts for Team Tall because it comes in a Tall - and goes up to a US20. It's as fab in a petite and regular. Forgiving because it moulds to the body and suits a range of body types. Great fabric and available in neutrals and shocking pink.
  • Boden Tabitha Saddle Bag: The quality of this saddle bag is better than Stella McCartney's version. A beautifully made item with a long enough strap for Team Tall. Gorgeous colours. I like the yellow, but you might prefer the lilac.
  • Levi's Premium Premium Wedgie Straight: These have worked surprisingly well on my petite and regular height clients who are NOT after skintight jeans. Lots of washes, not too stretchy, and a trendy fit. You might need to size down a size.
  • Madewell 'Perfect Summer' High Rise Ankle Jeans: "Mum Jeans" are very trendy, and these are one of the better fits and drapes. They're best suited to those with long rises, longer waists, and curvier body types. Read the rave reviews.
  • BaubleBar New Mini Granita Tassel Earrings: Tasseled earrings are fun and festive, and these aren't as heavy as they look. I love the lime, but all the colours are nice.
  • Treasure&Bond Side Ruched Body-Con Dress: An easy T-shirt dress with strategically placed ruching, and plenty of length. Easy and comfy. All the colours are nice. Read the rave reviews.
  • J.Crew J.Crew Chunky Abba Chain Necklace: Playful Y-chain that adds interest to a plain top or dress. Feel free to add to a maximal top too, because why not. Works quite well over a larger bust because of the weight of the piece.
  • Toad&Co Muse Dress: A very casual dress to wear on a hot and relaxed day. Works best on a larger bust and/or broader shoulder line. The asymmetrical hem is magically flattering.
  • Kiyonna Luna Lace Dress: A classic party dress in an unusual colour. Covered yet alluring. Great fit. Read the rave reviews.
  • Kiyonna Flirty Flounce Wrap Dress: Fab for Team Tall & Curvy. Might need a camisole for the office. Subtle ruffle detail. Available in solids.
  • Club Monaco Elila Trench: A lightweight trench coat that drapes like a dream. Gorgeous fabric and in an unusual shade for Spring. Best on a regular or longer torso with a defined waist.
  • American Rose Daniella Short Sleeve Maxi Dress: GREAT easy jersey dress, and different from the norm. The front slit is not as high as you think and the maxi length is visually flattering because it shows some leg. The strategically placed ruching is forgiving on the midsection. Hides muffing top. The blousoned torso works on a range of body types. NOT clingy. Good on both a curvier or straighter figure. Runs big. The XS is too big for a US0. Cannot be hemmed for petites, but can be worn with flats or sneakers. It looks dressy but it's a casual dress.
  • KUT from the Kloth Catherine Boyfriend Jeans: A golden oldie repeat style that is still going strong. I have LOTS of happy clients in these jeans, and have them in white. It's a relaxed cut with a lower rise that works well on a straighter and curvier body type. You'll need to wear a belt or invisible belt to keep them up - or size down.
  • Everlane The Cheeky Straight Jean (Ankle): These were recommended by our forum members because they create a relaxed fit through the leg and a girdling effect on the midsection. No need to tuck your top. Feel feel to wear tops over the high rise. Comes in lots of washes.

Visit the collection page to see the items alongside my descriptions.

Outstanding Outfit Bloggers

Elegant Modern Classic in Athens

We’re excited to re-feature Beth Djalali from Style at a Certain Age, who was first featured here in August 2015. Beth is having a ball with fashion, and continues to rock both colourful and neutral outfits. She isn’t afraid of pattern, has a soft spot for preppy touches, and combines Modern Classic and on-trend pieces to put together her elegant, polished and chic looks. Her dramatic silver ‘do and fabulous jewellery collection are also very much “signature Beth.”

“As far as my style evolution, my classic style doesn’t change all that much from year to year. That’s what I love best about classic style — it’s timeless and ageless. But I do keep one eye on trends and incorporate them into my wardrobe to stay fresh and modern. Accessories are an easy way to do just that.”

Beth Djalali - 1

Beth loves colour and built this outfit around a pencil skirt with whimsical leaves and lemons print that is perfect for Spring. Pattern-mixing the skirt with a striped Breton tee makes it extra fun, and adds the preppy touch that our blogger enjoys. Tucking the tee showcases the yellow grosgrain ribbon detail on the skirt’s waistband. Her olive utility jacket works well with the dark sage leaf pattern of the skirt. The jacket features a drawstring which helps define the waistline. Suede flat slides in yellow echo the lemons in the skirt. A gray-green bag with tan handles ties everything together. Beth finishes things off with bright raspberry lipstick, mint earrings and assorted bangles.

Beth Djalali - 2

For after-hours casual chic outfits like this one, Beth likes to fall back on a tried-and-tested style formula of dark denim + silk blouse + blazer. For her French evening class she’s wearing dark-wash straight-leg jeans with an ivory silk blouse. Leaving the blouse untucked adds a relaxed touch, which is a nice juxtaposition against the dressy, tailor-made jacket. The gorgeous jacket has a Chanel vibe, which Beth cleverly plays up even more by pairing it with a multi-strand pearl necklace. Adding an on-trend statement brooch in beautiful blues further emphasizes the Chanel vibe. Patent pointy-toe pumps in blush add subtle sheen. A classic satchel, bright lipstick, and Beth’s trademark silver ‘do are the polished finishing touches.

Beth Djalali - 3

Pairing white with caramel feels fresh for Spring, as does combining a blazer with Bermuda shorts. Beth is sporting dressy, above-the-knee Bermuda shorts with self-fabric belt that can be tied in different ways. Tucking the sleeveless cotton shirt showcases the waistband and belt. The shirt’s stand-up collar works well with the blazer lapels and draws the eye to our blogger’s beautiful short hair. Adding an elegant, single-breasted blazer in crisp white further dresses up the outfit. Dainty wedge sandals in tan lengthen the leg line. Beth’s two-toned satchel echoes the colours of the outfit perfectly. Chandelier earrings and her signature lippy provide a touch of glam.

Beth Djalali - 4

Beth’s Fridays with Oscar (her German shepherd) blog posts are among my favourites, and this is polished casual at its best. I’m not surprised these bright pink gingham trousers appealed to our blogger’s preppy gene. Aren’t they delightful! Beth has paired the ankle-length pants with a crisp white shirt and navy crew neck sweater with hand-embroidered crabs and anchors. The whimsical, nautical-inspired embroidery picks up the pink in the trousers. Flat white sandals bookend the Modern Classic shirt. Pink nail polish and lipstick complement the statement trousers perfectly.

Beth Djalali - 5

Every year Beth goes shopping for an Easter dress, and this time she came home with this chic Karl Lagerfeld Paris sheath dress from Dillard’s. The mint green tweed is unusual, and looks marvelous on our blogger. The fringe around the arms and V-neckline are signature Chanel, and the pattern is repeated in the skinny belt with fun tassel detail that accentuates Beth’s waistline. The pleated front is an elegant design detail, while the flattering above-the knee length elongates the leg line. So do the refined pointy-toe pumps with dainty bow-ties. A simple, elegant black satchel, gold floral clip-on earrings, and arm candy in black and gold pick up the black trim in the dress.

Beth Djalali - 6

Another polished casual look, in neutral colours this time. A pattern, like the polka dots on this breezy black and ivory popover shirt, is a great way to create visual interest. Beth has tucked the shirt into high-rise cropped jeans, and jazzes up the look with a wide black belt with oversized silver buckle. I love that she found a knitted, tie-front gilet with contrast tipping. This sophisticated topper cleverly echoes the colours of the shirt. The animal print slingback flats with black tips add extra polish and are an easy way to do a bit of pattern-mixing. A stack of silver bangles, silver hoop earrings and a simple black bag are all that’s needed to complete this polished look.

I can’t wait to hear what you think of Beth’s marvelous outfits. Let us know in the comments, and be sure to browse the rest of her elegant and polished looks on Style at a Certain Age.

How to Find Mules That Fit

I’m calling mules the shoe of the season. They are a closed-toe shoe with an open back that exposes the heels and ankles. The slip-on style had its heyday in the ‘90s, and is back with a vengeance, transitioning from fringe to mainstream this year. 

Mules tend to work best on high-volume feet with high insteps, high arches, shorter toes and a wide foot print. They are just about the worst type of footwear style for low-volume feet. They tend to fall off when you have low insteps, low arches, long toes, bony feet, and a narrow foot print. I have low-volume feet, and developed foot cramp trying to keep mules on my feet when I wore them two decades ago. Walking up and down stairs was the worst. So I was the first to say no thank you to the recent resurgence of mules.

I do like the look of mules because of the closed-toe and the modern retro vibe. I prefer the way they look to most open-toed sandals. So earlier this year I started looking for a style that would work for my feet. I found the Simonette Mule (in narrow), which had an enclosed silhouette, narrow fit and thick sole. These features made the style work for me. No cramping, and no “clacking” when I walk. I couldn’t be happier with them.

Simonette Mule

The lesson is to consider the following variables when looking for mules that feel stable, supportive and stay on your feet:

  • Width: Mules must create a snug fit to feel secure, which means getting the right width for your feet. For low-volume feet, choose a NARROW width. If you have wider feet, try a regular or wide size because mules will also fall off your feet when they’re too narrow.
  • Coverage: Choose styles with extra vamp coverage across the top and sides of the feet. Those that skimp on the coverage tend to slip off. My mules have good coverage on top but its the side coverage of the vamp that does the trick.
  • Sole: If you’re looking for flat mules, choose a thick and substantial sole — something more substantial than a flip-flop or bedroom slipper. You don’t want to feel the ground as you stride. The Naturalizers that I bought have the added advantage of soft leather and a cushioning footbed that make my unpadded feet very happy.

Wearing socks and hosiery with mules is treacherous because they make your feet slippery. Mules also aren’t orthotic-friendly. If you’re after more arch support, choose a heeled version instead of flats.

I’m eating my words because I found mules that work for me. The styles in the collection below tend to tick off the boxes when it comes to the variables discussed up top. It’s a visual starting point if you fancy the idea of wearing mules, but think they will be hard to fit.

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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How to Manage Maximal Sleeves

Tops with flouncy, cuffed, ruffled, lantern and bell-shaped sleeves have been mainstream for the last eighteen months. And it seems the trend is here to stay. For the most part, this type of maximal sleeve has met with approval from my clients. It adds interest to a top, and coverage for those who don’t want to wear sleeveless styles. And it’s been a while since fashion celebrated the voluminous sleeve.

That said, maximal sleeves are awfully bossy. They can be annoying to wear, getting in the way when you type, drive and eat, and they are hard to layer under a topper. They can also overwhelm your frame. Here are a few strategies for managing them that have worked for myself, my clients and my friends.

1. Stick to Shorter Sleeve Lengths

A shorter-length maximal sleeve is a lot less fussy. You can get on with it without worrying about flounces and bells getting in the way of daily activities. You’re looking at a sleeve hem that finishes between a short and three-quarter length on the arm. By way of example, here are my own tops with shorter maximal sleeves.

2. Leave Off the Topper

Voluminous sleeves are much easier to wear when you don’t need a topper. So apart from one black pullover, I’ve kept the exuberant sleeve trend for warmer weather so that I don’t need to worry too much about the topper.

3. Add a Scarf

Sometimes, you can wear a Spring or Summer scarf instead of a topper. Wrap the scarf around the neck a couple of times to keep out the chill when wearing a top with maximal sleeves. Remove the scarf when it warms up during the day.

4. Wear a Bell-Sleeved Topper

It’s a good idea to add a topper with bell sleeves to your topper capsule when you run cold like I do. The roomy fit of a bell-sleeved topper accommodates the volume of shorter maximal sleeves quite well. My new lightweight citron cocoon coat is excellent over maximal sleeved pullovers because of the wide bell sleeves. The peplum utility jacket from the Loft has been great for my clients.

5. Wear a Wrap, Cape, Poncho, or drape a Jacket

Toppers that don’t have sleeves like wraps, capes, kimonos and ponchos work well over maximal sleeved tops. Or you can drape a coat or jacket over your shoulders if it’s not too cold. Sometimes that’s all you need to keep out the chill.

6. Choose a Blouson or Lantern-Sleeve Silhouette

I’m drawn to the more subtle exuberant sleeve, like a blouson or lantern silhouette, because it’s less overwhelming on my slight frame. When you choose them in soft fabrics, the sleeves collapse under most toppers and regain their shape when you remove the topper. A cuff at the end of a blouson sleeve is even better, because it keeps the sleeve volume in place. I have the citron blouson sleeve pullover from the Loft, and LOVE it. It works especially well under my bell-sleeved cocoon coat. A blouse with a lantern sleeve in a soft fabric (on the right below) works well under most regular jackets.

Club Monaco
Weylyn Shirt
View Info
Top Pick
20

Every so often, the cut/fit/fabric/drape of a top with long maximal sleeves is perfect. That’s what I found with the Weylyn shirt from Club Monaco. Surprisingly, the ties on the cuffs are stiff, substantial and stay put. They don’t flounce around and boss me around. Sometimes you have to take the trend a style at a time.

Outfit Formula: High-Low Dress and Trendy Shoes

A high-low dress has an asymmetrical hemline — short in front and long at the back. The overall length varies greatly, as does the difference between front and back hems. They can be dressy or casual, fitted or fluid, oversized or tailored, patterned or solid, sleeved or sleeveless, knitted or woven, simple or complex. Some are ruffled. Some are belted. Take your pick.

 

You can wear a high-low dress with all sorts of footwear. Heeled sandals, wedges, espadrilles, heeled ankle-strap pumps, booties, sandal booties, and slingback pumps are great classic and more expected pairings. This outfit formula is about pairing the dress with trendy shoes.

High-Low Dress + Trendy Shoes 

I bought a high-low navy eyelet dress this season and am very excited to wear it.

It’s a calf-covering midi length in the front and almost ankle grazing at the back. It’s casual but in the dressiest way, tailored, crisp, and awfully pretty. I LOVE the way it moves when I stride. The signature “swoosh” of the high-low dress is part of what makes it magical and fun to wear.

I shan’t be wearing the darling with dressy heeled footwear for comfort and aesthetic reasons. I like the juxtaposition of wearing the dramatic style with an “unfussy shoe”, and flat/low-heeled footwear is more current these days. I’m looking at loafers, Euro sandals, mules, strappy flats, and ballet flats. I might throw in my low-heeled pointy-toe slingbacks and sneakers too. Here are the exact shoes from my wardrobe that I’ll wear with the dress.

Here are five more ways to pair high-low dresses with trendy shoes:

1. Slides

For those who loved the ‘90s, wear open-toed slides with the dress. Think flat, low-heeled or flatform. The ones shown here look a little dressier in metallic with leather soles. Slides with low block heels are fab too. The low-contrast colour elongates the leg line.

Slides

2. Flat Mules

Mules are closed-toe slides with open ankles. The ones shown with this high-low dress are flat. Feel free to go as high as one inch on the heel. Their low-contrast colour and pointy toe elongates the leg line despite the lack of heel.

Flat Mules

3. Broad Strap Flat Sandal

A simple flat sandal with minimal broad straps, one buckle, and a leather sole are what I call “Euro sandals”. A classic in Europe and having its fashion moment. Although not shown here, a flat or low block-heeled ankle-strap sandal is another option.

Broad Strap Flat Sandals

4. Heeled Mules

Mules with low or higher heels look very fresh. A good option if you need to look a little dressier for the office. The mules here are low contrast, but high-contrast mules can look fab with darker dresses, or when you have black hair.

Heeled Mules

5. Fashion Sneakers

Sneakers are THE shoe of our fashion era. It goes without saying that you can wear the frock with sneaks. Non-athletic sneakers that are less chunky look best to my eye like the white ones shown here, Converse, or slip-on styles. But bulky athletic sneakers with huge soles are being shown with these types of dresses too. Personally, I don’t like the pairing but it’s fashion-forward nonetheless. I’m sticking to pretty and dainty shoes.

Fashion Sneakers

I don’t have visuals for high-low dresses worn with loafers, oxfords and ballet fats, which are three more trendy options. Birkenstocks are another way to go. But if none of the trendy options tickle your fancy, stick to the classics because they are always in style.