Violeta is a fashionable brand that is offered by Spanish chain store, Mango. It stocks sizes US10 to US22 in each of its silhouettes, and the prices are quite affordable. Here’s a selection of items from the brand that recently worked well on a friend of mine, as well as some other pieces that caught my eye. There’s also a selection of jackets in regular sizes that have worked well on clients, and on me. 

• Mango Flare Crop Jandri Jeans: These jeans work well on Team Tall with either a straighter or curvier bottom half. Plenty of room on wider calves. Nice coverage and fit on the hips, thighs and midsection. White jeans tend to look better when they aren't so tight so size up a size.
• Mango Flecked Cotton-blend Top: A simple V-neck top that works well on a larger bust, and glides over midsection lumps and bumps.
• Mango Flecked Cotton-blend Top: Great layering piece for under cardigans and jackets.
• Mango Striped Rib Sweater: A striped sweater that works well on a curvy figure and larger bust.
• Mango Ruffle Printed Blouse: Flouncy Floral Fabness.
• Mango Sheer Printed Blouse: A playful pattern in a blouse that's fluid so that it doesn't cling, but is sufficiently fitted to showcase some shape. Great over bootcuts for the office.
• Mango Zipped Biker Jacket: A pleather moto for Team Tall. Great length and good coverage.
• Mango Striped Cotton Blouse: A tunic blouse that works on most body types, and is an excellent layering piece under maxi cardigans worn with trousers and jeans.
• Mango Crop Wide Leg Jeans: I don't know how these fit but they look streamlined and comfortable.
• Mango Flare Crop Jandri Jeans: These jeans work well on Team Tall with a straighter or curvier figure. Nice coverage and fit on the hips, thighs, midsection, and good on wider calves.
• Mango Openwork Cotton Blouse: Eyelet blouse that's forgiving on the midsection. Best on a smaller bust. Pretty and crisp.
• Alfani Ruffle-Sleeve Top, Only at Macy's: GREAT tee on Team Tall. Substantial fabric that glides over muffin top, with just the right amount of structure. Flattering.
• Joe's Jeans Women's Elsie Bomber Jacket: The photo does not do this bomber justice. The flowers are stunning and the jacket looks like a work of art. Luxurious. Best on a broader shoulder line.
• Madewell Shrunken Workwear Jacket in Poppy Stripe: Trapeze Fabness. Modern Retro with wide sleeves and cuff. Fun back pleat detailing. Size down a size.
• Zara Floral Print Jacket Details: Fun botanical blazer with a narrow fit. Very lightweight and colourful. The fabric is a soft and slippery poly blend so pass on the style if you prefer natural fibres.
• Boden Elizabeth Textured Blazer: Impeccable quality blazer. Beautifully made, and heavy weight. Fitted. The sleeves are wider at the cuff to allow room for lantern sleeve tops. The pattern is more geometric in person. Might run a size small. The blue version is just as nice. Very polished.
• Boden Amber Jacket: A Modern Retro jacket that looks particularly good fastened in front. Impeccable quality and beautifully made. Colour is more mustard in person. Tailored fit and textured fabric. Might run a size small. Very polished.
• Zara Frayed Tweed Jacket With Pearls Details: A Summer tweed jacket with frayed edges that temper the precious priss of the vibe. More for Team RATE (rough around the edges) than Team Polished. More earthy in person. Boxy, and best on an apple or rectangular body type. Create a playful effect by wearing it over a tee, distressed jeans, or with sneakers.
• Ann Taylor Tux Lapel Jacket: A black jacket with a difference. See the party at the back - flounced peplum fabness. Read the rave reviews.
• Ann Taylor Textured Open Jacket: A very pristine jacket that works well on a short waist and neck. Streamlined, but not overly tight. The navy is as fab as the white. Sharp and well made.
• Ann Taylor Seersucker Side Tie Blazer: A beautiful Summery topper that does NOT need the tie at the waist. Tailored and very lightweight.
• Ann Taylor Safari Swing Jacket: Trapeze Fluted Sleeve Modern Retro Fabness. Works on a range of body types. Colour is best on those who love earth tones.
• Ann Taylor Textured Fringe Blazer: Super cute Modern Retro Summer tweed blazer. Fab shorter length. Amazing brushed gold hardware and beautifully made. Gorgeous colour and good fit. It has bracelet sleeves so consider yourself warned. Lightweight. Curvier and broad-shouldered girls might need to size up. This one followed me home to replace a very worn out Dutch orange blazer. I love it.

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

We’re celebrating the dress on this warm and sunny Memorial Day in Seattle. I’m a trouser gal at heart, but dresses hold a special place in my heart because I’m drawn to their elegant vibe. If I lived in a warmer climate, I would wear dresses more frequently. 

Here are ten reasons to make dresses part of your style:

1. They are an easy “pull-on-and-go” item. One-piece dressing at its best.
2. They are the breeziest item to wear on a very hot day. 
3. Their elegant and sharp integrity is sublime. 
4. They showcase your legs, which might be a favourite part of your body. Milk it. 
5. They can look equally fab with flats, sneakers and bare legs, as they do with heels and hosiery. 
6. They’re hip, creative and modern when worn over cropped jeans and pants. 
7. They often look more traditionally flattering than a pair of trousers or jeans. 
8. The right dress can be enormously comfortable, and more so than separates. 
9. They were made for curvy figures. I LOVE the way a curvier figure can fill out a frock. 
10. Finally, compared to previous fashion eras, we see far fewer people wearing dresses these days, which makes them quite unique. You can make a statement wearing a frock. 

 Go Team Dress!

If you’re in the US, we hope that you’re having a peaceful Memorial Day. Of course, I’m wearing a dress!

J.Crew’s new strategy, an Anna Sui retrospective, plus-size clothing from MM.LaFleur and more news from the fashion trenches in May.

• Italian fashion designer Laura Biagiotti, who created clothes for stars like Ingrid Bergman and Bette Davis, has passed away at age 73.
• The Environmental Working Group has just released its eleventh annual Guide to Sunscreens.
• Meanwhile, the New York City Parks Department will be installing 100 free sunscreen dispensers on city beaches this Summer.
• Amazon is launching a Wedding Shop that will be offering bridal accessories.
• J.Crew is implementing a new strategy that involves lowering the prices of 300 items.
• Anna Sui is the first living American fashion designer to get a retrospective in the UK with an exhibition of her work at the London Fashion and Textile Museum.
• The upcoming documentary Straight/Curve shows the effects of body image in the fashion industry.
• Women’s workwear brand MM.LaFleur is branching out into plus-size clothing.

Fashion Quote

This month I wanted to share an inspiring quote from writer, editor and speaker Ashley Ford in the Week of Outfits series on Cup of Jo:

“I’ve spent a lot of time having this mental list of things that I was too fat for, too black for, too poor for. But it got boring. You can’t live your life like that. If you try hard to avoid disappointment, you also avoid excitement. In Italy, we’ll be staying in Cinque Terre. I have a one-piece swimsuit, but I’m in this phase of my life where I’m trying to embody myself and look the way I feel. I had been looking at bikinis for a while but felt really, really scared to pull the trigger. Then I saw blogger Gabi Fresh launched her line Swimsuits For All. There was one bikini with a ruffle top and faux-denim bottom. I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s me!’ Now that I’ve stopped trying to control everything, I’ve ended up living a life where I get to feel excited, almost all of the time.”

This ensemble was inspired by one of the outfits I wore last week. I combined my Rag & Bone wide cropped jeans with a white cropped lantern sleeve pullover, white loafers, Spring citron scarf, citron bag and sea foam jacket. The effect was crisp, fresh and insulating for a chilly Spring day. 

Here are the exact items from my wardrobe.

Combine these colours in any way at all. Note that denim works well as the shade of blue. Mint can be used instead of sea foam, and metallics look fab thrown into the mix.

Here are some ideas to get you started. The ensemble on the left approximates what I wore. It worked as well without the jacket, so feel free to leave out the sea foam if that’s more to your taste. Or leave out the citron and have a slice of lemon loaf instead.

Blue Jeans, White Top, Sea Foam Jacket & Citron Accents

Combine a pair of blue jeans with a white top that works with the style of the jeans. Add white or metallic shoes. Finish off the look with citron scarf, a bag to match and sea foam topper. Alternatively, layer a white jacket over a sea foam top. 

Mint Dress & Denim Jacket

Combine a mint dress with a blue or white denim jacket. Add a citron bag, and finish off the look with white, silver or light blue footwear that works with the style of the dress. Adding a scarf in the colours of the palette is optional. 

White Chinos, Sea Foam Top & Denim Jacket  

Combine white chinos or jeans with a sea foam or mint top. Add a light blue blazer or denim jacket, and finish off the look with white or silver footwear. A citron bag and scarf would be nice. But if citron isn’t your colour, sport mint with light blue and sip on a tall glass of fresh lemonade instead. Add jewellery, watch and eyewear as desired.

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