Madewell and J.Crew team up, a new Iris Apfel book, ASOS launches activewear, and more style news that made headlines in February.

• Warby Parker is branching out into kids eyewear, starting with a pilot programme in eight New York City brick-and-mortar locations to test the waters.
• J.Crew has launched its first-ever intimates collection.
• Meanwhile they are also teaming up with Madewell for a series of shops-in-shops in existing J.Crew stores.
• Target is partnering with British wellies maker Hunter for a 300-piece limited-edition collection with prices ranging between $5 and $80.
• ASOS just launched its very own fitness range, ASOS 4505.
• Iris Apfel’s new book, Accidental Icon, takes readers inside Apfel’s life and experiences in the design industry.
• Kitten heels and asymmetrical skirts are among the Spring 2018 fashion trends to watch according to Pinterest.
• Loft has added plus-sized clothing in sizes 16 to 26 to its online assortment, and will start adding the collection to stores in May.
• The New Executive Class is Universal Standard’s first foray into workwear.

Fun Fashion Fact

The 90th Academy Awards ceremony will be broadcast on TV this Sunday. Did you know that the first Oscars ceremony in 1929 was neither filmed nor broadcast on the radio? That’s why we don’t know, for example, what best actress Janet Gaynor wore to the actual show (although two publicity shots of her with her Oscar do exist, in which she is pictured in two different outfits).

It’s time to head out to see my darling Dad in the Netherlands, which I do four times a year. I’ll be flying out on Sunday but this time Greg will join me while Yorkie Sam and his pet-sitter hold the fort at the Cox Castle. This is what I’ve packed. 

A few things upfront before I delve into the details of the travel capsule:

• I’ll be visiting family, seeing dear friend Inge, doing errands, organizing, shopping, eating out, and going to appointments. I’ll be hanging out with my Dad in his home town of Velp, with daily trips to nearby Arnhem (a 15-minute bus ride). These very quaint and local towns are on the east side of the Netherlands and close to the German border. They are about an hour and a half away from Amsterdam.
• I keep my outfits on the dressier side of casual because that’s true to my style.
• Temperatures will be around 0 to 7 degrees Celsius (32 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit). Very grey and a little wet. Hopefully there won’t be much snow and ice, but there’s a biting icy wind in the Netherlands that makes it feel colder than it is — especially when you’re walking. Since I do a LOT of walking and take public transport when I visit my Dad, it’s very important to layer, wrap up, and wear comfortable footwear.
• I’ll be putting a suitcase in the hold because I like to have more dressing options than a carry-on can accommodate. I’ll also be bringing presents for family and doing some shopping, which requires extra space.
• I will not be doing laundry on the trip.
• I can magically keep white and cream wardrobe items clean, and have been travelling with them for years. It’s a complete non-issue.
• The capsule excludes the outfit that I will wear on both non-stop ten-hour flights. It’s the same outfit, and I’ve shown the components at the end of this post.

I’ve mentioned a few times that I crave a change in colour more than a change in silhouette. This is why the palette of my capsule is colour-rich, yet the items create the same daily uniform.

The Palette

I’ll create high-contrast, colourful outfits that look punchy and make me feel alive. Blue denim, navy, orange, citron and cream are the dominant colours in the capsule. Navy is a slam dunk with orange, and looks lovely with citron and chartreuse. Creams and white lighten the palette and match my hair. There are gold, white and burgundy accents just for fun, and an extremely small smattering of black.

The Outfit Formula

Foundation: Turtleneck + Jeans + Blazer + High-Shaft Flat Shoes + Coat + Specs

Finishing Touch: Scarf + Pom-Pom + Hat + Gloves + Watch + Jewellery

The items in the capsule can be mixed and matched till the cows come come. It’s a satisfying mix that is true to my style since it combines classics with trendier items, wardrobe essentials with statement pieces, solids with patterns, neutrals with colours, and old items with newbies. Plenty of variety but with a good amount of discipline. The silhouettes are simple. It’s the colour of the item, the bold combination of the colours, the accessories, and the mix of patterns that give the outfits their kick. Do not underestimate the power of colour as an effective styling tool.

Here’s more detail on each part of the capsule. Note that wardrobe basics, like undies, camisoles, sleepwear, loungewear, socks and knee-highs are not represented here. For the rest, these are the exact wardrobe items that I packed and will be wearing en route.

Footwear

I build a travel capsule around my shoes because it’s extremely important to have happy feet when you’re walking around a city and using public transport. Once I knew which ultra comfortable shoes I was taking, I planned the rest of the outfits to work with them.

I chose my gold boots to inject newness and futuristic glam into my outfits. They’ve been on shopping trips with clients so I know they can go the distance. I chose cream hi-top sneakers because their fleece lining is very warm, and the grippy soles are good in grotty weather. They are my most comfortable shoes of all time. I’ll wear the shoes with socks or knee-highs to keep warm.

Bottoms

I desperately wanted to take Winter dresses and tall dressy boots, but jeans and booties are more practical for the activities and weather on this trip. I chose three pairs of jeans, although two would have been sufficient. A pair of cropped blue straights, full-length dark skinnies, and white boyfriend jeans create variety.

Tops

I’ve packed five tops, which is more than I need. I’ve stuck to fine gauge woolly turtlenecks and one crew neck because they’re dead right for the weather, AND they layer well under blazers. Plenty of colour variety — just how I like it! Each of the five pullovers can be worn under either of the two blazers.

Toppers

I’ll wear a blazer each day to add polish and dressiness to my outfit, hence I packed two Winter weight blazers so that I can alternate and prevent outfit boredom. Both blazers are patterned, although the navy polka dot is like a “false plain.” I’ll need a coat for outside and chose my warm chartreuse cocoon coat because it fits beautifully and comfortably over the blazers. I’ll be very layered, but I don’t mind one bit. I’ll be warm and insulated, and feel pulled together with blazer and pullover when I remove my coat indoors.

Accessories

I packed many accessories because they change up my look, create a maximal vibe, keep me warm, and don’t take up space. I chose two scarves – one patterned, one solid – that can work across any of the outfits in the capsule because I like bold colour combinations, and enjoy pattern mixing. I chose a citron crossbody because it’s matchy-matchy with the coat, and easy for travel. It’s a dressy Furla because casual bags are not my thing, and I like the way they amp up a pair of jeans and sneakers.The patterned pom-pom hooks onto my bag and makes me smile. I chose two dressier belts because they also add polish to my casual outfits. Cream headgear and gloves are essential for walking in the cold morning and night. I’m leaving off my pearl necklace, but wearing pearl wedding ring with bracelets and watch daily.

I will also be travelling with an umbrella and a cashmere wrap. I’ve left the wrap out of the capsule because it will NOT be styled into these outfits. It’s loungewear and a cosy blanket for plane travel only.

Travel Outfit

This is the exact outfit that I will wear on the flight out to Amsterdam, and the flight back to Seattle eight days later. It follows my strategy for what to wear on long flights. Layers, fabrics with stretch, fluid fits, and soft fabrics are cosy, comfortable and insulating for plane travel. A jacket, scarf, belt and dressy bag also make my casual outfit look pulled together and polished. Comfortable shoes are essential for comfort when traipsing through airports and catching public transport with luggage. I’ll pack my jacket and coat into my hand luggage during the flight and while I’m at the airport, but will need it on the other side when when we take organized transport through to my Dad’s apartment.

The jeans, pullover and denim jacket that I wear on both flights do not get worn during my trip, which is why they’ve been excluded from the travel capsule. I will wear the scarf, and possibly the navy boots and belt, if I feel like it.

I tried on the outfit combinations I was a little unsure about BEFORE I made my final decision on what to pack. You can visit the collection page to see my travel capsule in its entirety. The picture below shows the items just before I started packing.

Apparently sheet masks are “the new thing” in the haircare industry.

We all know dry shampoo, but have you heard of dry conditioner?

The Fashion Spot rounds up 11 “edge tamers” for natural and heat-styled hair.

I recently came across SHHHOWERCAP shower caps, and now that The Guardian’s Sally Hughes is raving about them too, I’m even more curious.

Fab Links from Our Members

On the forum we’ve been talking about dressing for ‘approachability’, versus wanting to be a bit more aloof. So La Belle Demimondaine thought that Lisa Pippus’ post on communicating introversion with impact might be of interest.

Gigi likes how Emmannuelle Alt talks about making fashion practical in this 2014 interview, and how she doesn’t want to “suffer” in her clothes.

Silver found this article on how the costume designer for Black Panther went about creating the looks for the movie fascinating. 

UmmLila wanted to share this fairytale garb for bookworms.

Anagybe thought this video about yami kawaii was super interesting as it shows an intersection between style and mental health in a very specific way.

Here’s a selection of quality items that for the most part are simple in design. That makes them versatile and gives them the potential to become wardrobe workhorses. 

1. Naturalizer Simonette Mule

I like the look of trendy mules, but they fell off my feet and would make a loud “clucking” sound no matter how many styles I tried. Then I tried these in a narrow size in white and at last I have mules that stay on my feet. The style of the mule encloses more of the foot which makes them feel more secure. They don’t “cluck,” and are soft and cushioning. You can see them on my feet in this forum thread.

Naturalizer makes the mules across three widths. If you have low volume feet, order a narrow size. If not, get regular or wide for higher volume feet.

2. Taos Crave Boot

If you need a robust casual and comfortable Winter boot that goes the distance in grotty weather, but isn’t black, try this style. The Taos Crave is orthotic-friendly, and fits a range of foot shapes. You can adjust the laces to fit a range of ankle and calf widths. Wear it over skinnies, with crops, with dresses, or under pants and jeans. Well worth the rave reviews. Fabber Suz models the boot in style on the forum.

3. Boden Elizabeth Ponte Blazer

An extremely well-made modern classic tailored blazer that looks sharp and chic. The quality of the workmanship is gorgeous. The substantial fabric drapes elegantly over the body. The tailored fit is very streamlining. The stretch in the fabric is comfortable, and great for travel. Crease-resistant and flattering. It fits a large bust and wider midsection extremely well, yet it works as well on a smaller bust and narrower frame. Comes in petite and regular and is available up to US18.

4. Naturalizer Emiline Loafer

You can almost always count on Naturalizer to cover narrow, regular and wide shoe widths, and I’m thankful for that. These loafers are heavenly comfortable on the feet in the solids and metallics, and are well worth the rave reviews. The navy and blush metallic options are unique. If loafers usually fall off your feet, try these.

5. Talbots Trench Coats

Both these trench coats are WOW quality. Magnificent workmanship and very luxurious fabric. The red has a belt at the waist which can be tied at the back. The single-breasted style detailing is rare and works exceptionally well on a larger bust and/or apple and inverted triangle-shaped body type. That said, the fit is equally magical on a curvy hourglass and pear shape because of impeccable cut and substantial fabric. My size US12/14 client tried them both on and blew me away. Stunning fit.

6. Dagne Dover Classic Tote

There is more than meets the eye to these simple totes. They’re structured, yet streamlined. The interior is purposefully designed for items like an iPad, phone, water bottle, wallet, notebook, pen, keys and sunglasses. The totes zip closed, and are made of wipeable canvas. They come in many fab colours. A quality piece.

7. Fun Sheer Socks

Sheer patterned socks can be a fun addition to loafers, oxfords, pumps and sandals. They add maximal and textural interest to an outfit. The point is to showcase them with cropped pants and jeans, or wear them with skirts and dresses. The last two styles with “ballet laces” look particularly good with pumps and dresses.