I remember how popular these wide leg and nasty synthetic track pants were back in the ‘70s. Unisex, sporty, and very Adidas. My Dad had a green pair and my brother a blue pair. I wanted a bright red pair with white stripes down the side when I was six or seven years old. Instead I got a blue pair that formed part of my phys-ed capsule for school, and was not impressed.

The Modern Retro track pant has been a fringe trend for five years, and is quite the acquired taste. It’s gaining a bit of momentum with sports brands like Adidas bringing back the look, and mainstream retailers like Anne Taylor incorporating the vibe their own way. 

These athletic pants are beyond body type because they’re baggy with an elastic and drawstring waist, hanging straight without much shape. If you’re curvy on the lower half, you’ll fill them out a little more, but they won’t look structured. Most of the styles are full-length, but some are cropped. Many have studs down the side seams that create interesting slits on the hems.

I think they look too athletic for this leg of my style journey, although I reserve the right to change my mind. I like the idea, and the look on others. I LOVE that they remind me of the ‘70s. I like that they aren’t knitted like joggers and leggings, and have some room. I love them combined with dressy pieces for a Sporty Luxe effect. They look fresh.

Here are three fun ways of styling them with casual and dressy items to create interesting outfit juxtapositions. Choose any colour palette.

LA Casual

Combine retro track pants with a semi-tucked hoodie or tee, denim jacket, and white sneakers. Finish off the look with a structured handbag and some bling.

Relaxed Tuxedo

Combine retro track pants — cropped or full-length — with a graphic tee and dressy blazer like a tuxedo jacket. Finish off the look with dressy flats or heels, and a structured chain strap bag for glitz. Add a bit of bling. Throw the sneakers back into this combination if you like.

Easy Glam

Fashion blogger Veronica from Bittersweet Colours wore retro track pants to perfection fives years ago, the first time we featured her on YLF. She combined them with a relaxed pullover, but the rest of the outfit components were dressy. Formal coat, structured bag, and pretty wedged pumps. A very creative combination and way ahead of the time.

Over to you. What do you think of the modern retro track pant? Will you be wearing the look?

Spring collections are hitting stores fast and furiously. I have to hold myself back, because early Spring shopping is my favourite, and I want everything. Fabrics, patterns and silhouettes look so crisp, light, fresh and pretty after the dark, sombre and heavy of Winter. But like most, I have a budget and need to think carefully about what I add to my wardrobe.

Here are some fab finds that have worked on my clients, myself, or that simply caught my eye.

1. Petite Camisole in Small Sizes

These are fabulous $6 camisoles if you’re petite or wear a small size. The Small fits a size US0. Unfortunately they only go up to a Large, which fits a US8. They fit a short waist and torso really well because the straps adjust the length of the camisole. I’m regular height at 5ft 6, and the Small fits perfectly because I can lengthen the straps. Lots of great colours and 95% cotton.

2. Boden Cassandra Sweater

Boden’s quality is fabulous, and these pullovers are no exception. Silky to the touch and substantial. A fabulous fluid shape with ample structure on the cuffs and around the neckline. The rainbow trim has a Modern Retro look to it. Party at the back, and rainbow fun.

3. Via Spiga Edie Bootie

A beautifully made and very comfortable bootie. Super soft and casually dressy. The colour is a grey-ish cream, and not a crisp white. Works best on a regular or higher volume foot. They were too wide for me, so back they went.

4. Dressy Patterned Crossbody Bags

I haven’t seen these little darlings in person yet, but they look divinely dressy and structured, which is a vibe you can absolutely wear with jeans and sneakers these days. The broader straps are most comfortable, and feel free to pattern mix your outfits till the cows come home.

5. Boden Denim Skirt for Team Tall

Do not try this skirt unless you are tall and can fill it out. I liked it, but it overwhelmed me in width and length. It’s best suited to tall gals with a curvier bottom half. Well made, substantial fabric, and plenty of length. Fun denim washes too.

6. Boden Vanessa Jersey Dress

A knit dress that is lovely to the touch, feeling like silk on the skin. It’s a gorgeous fit when you have a defined waist. But it isn’t clingy on the midsection or hips because the cut glides over your curves with a good amount of drape (quite the genius design). Tailored but not body-con, and fun pockets too. The length works well on most heights because of the tapered hems. In other words, petites go for it and tall gals have length. It almost worked on me, but the neckline swamped my narrow shoulder line. I need a closer fit on the neck to add structure to my shoulders.

7. Boden Richmond Cropped Pants

The fabric of these pants is fabulous, and so much better than what I generally see at chain stores like Banana Republic. Substantial, silky, luxurious and crisp, which spells good quality. The heavier weight of the fabric makes them drape well. The fits work for a range of body types, from curvier to straighter, and they go up to a US18. Plenty of room on the calves. They run long in the rise, which is why they didn’t work for me since I’m regular height but short in the rise.

8. Anine Bing Plaid Blazer

A well-made item with a fun ‘80s vibe. Modern Retro Fabnes for the win. Nice length for taller gals. One of our forum members rocked it last week styling it with jeans, a pullover, and boots. It looks really good buttoned-up.

Over the years we’ve talked a lot about the shift away from conventional figure flattery. It allows us to dress more uniquely, comfortably, creatively, casually, practically, fashionably, and with an edge. Instead of creating a long lean line and tailored silhouette, outfits are often unstructured, waistlines are surrendered, and the curve on the bust and the hip are ignored. The neck and leg line are severely shortened, and there are many horizontally cutting lines in the outfit. Often the edgier and more avant-garde the outfit, the less conventionally flattering the proportions.

The movement in fashion towards creating unconventional outfit proportions has been extremely liberating. It strengthens the idea that there is no one way to be stylish. More importantly, allows us to dress comfortably as we go about our day. I am all for this modern way of creating outfits.

Now lets swing the pendulum back the other way and revisit what it means to create conventionally flattering outfit proportions:

1. Clothing follows the natural contour of the female form by defining the waist and accentuating the curve on the bust and hips
2. Outfits are elongated
3. Leg lines are lengthened
4. Neck length is lengthened
5. Visual effect is slimming

Creating conventionally flattering proportions continues to be a very visually pleasing way to dress the body. The models below showcase the proportions perfectly. Their structured outfits create a streamlined effect because the narrowest part of the body is accentuated. Defining the waist further lengthens the leg line, as does wearing heels. Skirt and dress lengths finish around the knee (the natural midpoint of the leg) thereby balancing the proportions created up top. They look absolutely gorgeous.

Conventional flattering outfit proportions are not conservative, boring, unfashionable, overly classic, or un-cool. It’s a forever stylish way to dress. In fact, these days conventional proportions look fresh amidst the sea of unstructured comfortable style that has taken over the world. Granted, these types of tailored proportions are easier to create when your body type naturally narrows at the waist and midsection, you have  curve on the bust and hips, and your legs are relatively long. It’s also a slam dunk for dressier attire. But you can create them your way by adding just enough structure and elongation to an outfit to make you feel fab. 

It’s time for my annual post on wardrobe essentials. A quick reminder: wardrobe essentials are indispensable staples without which your wardrobe would not function. They are not to be confused with wardrobe basics, which are items like panties, bras, camisoles, socks, sleepwear, loungewear, hosiery and thermals. 

A wardrobe essential is the “glue” that makes other items in your wardrobe work together to create complete and cohesive outfits.

• They can be clothing items, footwear or accessories.
• They are versatile, current and simple in design.
• They can form part of your signature style.
• They are SPECIFIC items within a wardrobe category, and not the entire wardrobe category. For example, in your boot capsule, the simple heeled black booties are the wardrobe essentials and not the ones that make a strong visual statement.
• They are NOT statement pieces, but often create a pulled together look by complementing a statement piece.
• They are PERSONAL. What is essential to one person is not to another.
• They are often wardrobe workhorses.
• They are fabulous items to duplicate in the same or different colours.
• They are not usually the interesting part of the outfit, despite being an important ingredient.
• They make the rest of your wardrobe more wearable.
• They evolve over time to accommodate your changing sartorial preferences.

Your wardrobe essentials list can be long or short, depending on your style and sartorial preferences. I have changed my list quite a bit over the years. Blazers, moto jackets, black trousers, trench coats, button-down shirts and riding boots were all essentials in the past, but all except tall riding boots are no longer on the list. I much prefer wearing soft blouses to shirts. I wear a large assortment of coats and jackets, but not just the classics. My black trousers are more of a statement piece than an essential. And last, I’m down to two moto jackets that I don’t wear that regularly because I am weening myself off the look.

Here’s my current list across four seasons with the exact pieces from my wardrobe represented in collections. All items are workhorses, so much so that I have duplicates of exactly the same colour.

1. Black & Dark Blue Turtlenecks & Slash Necks

I love wearing turtlenecks because they create flattering proportions by enclosing my long neck. They keep me warm and look polished. The fine gauge classic sort with a fluid fit are my “Winter tee,” and layer well under jackets and coats. They also look great with skirts, jeans and trousers. I have as many blue T-necks as black and adore them equally. I’d like to include a few more dark blue slash necks since they work well with my pearl necklaces.

2. White & Cream Knitwear

I wear cream in the Autumn and Winter, and white in Spring and Summer. The optical white crisp cotton yarn is perfect for warmer weather. Again, they are my “T-shirts,” so I wear them with all sorts of bottoms and as layers under toppers. I managed to find three more last year, and feel good about my assortment.

3. Striped Knitwear

This was an unexpected Spring and Summer essential. I love stripes, but don’t have lots of the pattern in my wardrobe. Yet I crave a classic striped cotton pullover in the Spring and Summer. I have a nice collection and will probably leave it at that.

4. Trendy Jeans

I am wearing blue jeans less frequently as I opt for trousers, dressy pants, white jeans, skirts and dresses instead. That said, blue and white jeans continue to form a large part of my style. Some of them are statement jeans, and others I view as essentials. The silhouette of my essential jeans changes with the trends. For this leg of my style journey, they are cropped straights and flared silhouettes in blue and white denim across various washes and hem widths. I’ve also added two full-length dark wash cuffed straight leg jeans. I have one pair of white boyfriend jeans that I enjoy wearing too.

Two of the pairs of cropped faded blue jeans are on their way out because they’re worn through. I will need to replace them, but not sure how, and I might not replace them with jeans at all. I’d also like to add one more pair of “everyday” white jeans because white jeans are my thing.

5. Denim Jackets

I have four denim jackets across a variety of lengths, washes and fits. Light, dark, fluid, tailored, short and long. I wear them a lot in Spring and Summer with dresses, casual pants, skirts, and enjoy sporting the denim on denim trend too. I often layer them under a Spring coat. I’ve had one of them for ten years, and it’s still going strong.

6. White Footwear

I love wearing footwear in shades of white because it bookends my light blonde hair and adds a crisp, interesting and modern element to my outfits. I have an assortment of white essential and statement pieces in the footwear department. My go-to white footwear for most of the year are flat or low-heeled white booties and hi-tops, and I have duplicates of the styles. In the warmer months, I like to wear white loafers, sneakers and sandals. My flat simple white sandals are worn through, and will need to be replaced. I’ll also need another pair of white flats.

7. Black Riding Boots & Belt

I added back in a pair of classic black riding boots as a wardrobe essential because I’ve worn them a lot in Autumn and Winter. They look great over a pair of sleek jeans with matching black belt, instantly pulling together all sorts of top, scarf and coat combinations.

8. Pearl Necklace, Pearl Bracelet & Pearl Ring

I have an assortment of real pearl necklaces, bracelets, and a wedding ring that is just about all I wear in the pearl department. Sometimes I wear all three items at once, or I choose between the necklace and the bracelets. I always wear the ring, and am adorned with pearls daily. I also wear my layered knotted faux pearls from time to time to create the pile of pearls. But those make a statement and are not an essential.

9. Gold Watches

I have three gold watches because it’s my preferred metal and I wear one daily. I like the way they work with my pearl bracelets and ring. I’ll be evolving this essentials category by adding another dainty gold watch at some point.

Wardrobes that are rich in statement pieces are wonderful to look at, but often dysfunctional unless there are wardrobe essentials in place to create wearable outfits. On the other hand, a wardrobe that is full of essentials can lack excitement, sass and verve unless there are statement pieces to add interest, drama and personality. Find the balance that works for you. Some prefer a large assortment of essentials, whereas others prefer a large variety of statement pieces. Either way, wardrobe essentials deserve your attention because they transform items into outfits, thereby making the outfit creation process a lot easier.

Consider compiling a list of wardrobe essentials if you haven’t already done so. Some people can work completely from intuition. But for most, the process of identifying your essentials, noting them down, and making sure your list evolves with your style, will help you to build an effective wardrobe.