Weekly Roundup: Embroidery & Floral

Spring 2017 is unfolding in brick-and-mortar stores, and the trends are coming through with gusto. Embellishment, florals, ruffles, texture, and flounces are strong. I can see a few more tailored pieces too. Here are some items that caught my eye as I’ve started refreshing Spring wardrobes with clients. 

  • Nine West Brianyah: These work best for low volume feet although regular volume feet should give them a chance. My long toes were crammed into the toe box in my regular size, so I sized up half a size and added an insole, which worked. The suede is nice and soft. The buckles are a little finicky to fasten so be patient. Pretty ped, great colours, manageable heel height, and good price.
  • Jen7 Floral Print Stretch Ankle Skinny Jeans (Vintage Garden): Substantial fabric that is super soft, thick, and not overly stretchy. Works well on a curvier fit. Size down if you're straight on the hips and thighs.
  • BLANKNYC Embroidered Faux Leather Moto Jacket: A vegan moto with maximal embroidery that suits a range of body types. Best suited to those who wear cool colours. Runs small. Sleeves are too long for petites. Read the rave reviews.
  • SARTO By Franco Sarto 'Jolette' Penny Loafer (Women): An excellent and well-made modern classic loafer. Gorgeous quality, and looks designer. Runs big so size down half a size. Fits an orthotic. Works for an assortment of foot shapes. Available in NINE colours and in wide widths. Very deserving of the rave reviews.
  • Ted Baker London Small Gem Gardens Nylon Tote: A floral bag with a Hard Edge in a classic "Longchamp" silhouette. A fun juxtaposition.
  • Nine West Pianobar: A good ink blue ankle strap pump with glitzy heel. Works for low and regular volume feet. Soft suede, and moderately roomy toe box.
  • Anthropologie Flora Foldover Clutch: Floral Water Colour Fabness.
  • Anthropologie Embroidered Field Jacket: The masculine and military integrity of this jacket is tempered by the embroidery. I love the asymmetrical placement of the embellishment.
  • Anthropologie Wanderer Cargo Pants: These work quite well on a curvier figure if you size up. Nice fit on a straighter figure in your true size. Good drape. The pattern is darker and less bold in person.
  • CeCe Scallop Stripe Peplum Top: Good peplum for curvier body types. Might run a size big. Silky texture. Good for hot weather.
  • Anthropologie Pilcro Hyphen Mid-Rise Boyfriend Jeans: Size down in these jeans for a tailored fit, otherwise wear them TTS to create a baggy look like the model. Soft yet weighty fabric. Fun Maximal patches.
  • Anthropologie Pilcro Embroidered Denim Jacket: Great embroidered denim jacket with a very shaped torso. Sleeves are long, and it might run a size small. Soft and stretchy for extra comfort.
  • Banana Republic Military Full Sleeve Jacket: The lantern sleeves on this jacket make it look more interesting than a regular military jacket. Avant-garde.
  • Madewell Cali Demi Boot Jeans (Fenton Wash): AMAZING high-waisted jeans. Great fit. They're soft so the waistband won't cut into your tummy, but they don't bag out either. A pretty bright light blue denim for Summer, and I adore the button fly. Fits both a curvier and straighter figure. You can trim the frayed unravelling at the bottom if that's too much tough. It was for me, so I got a little scissor-happy after they followed me home.
  • CeCe Handkerchief Hem Floral Print Blouse: A flirty and roomy handkerchief blouse in an oversized Poppy print screams Spring. The silhouette is a repeat from last year and it drapes like a dream.
  • Zara Polka Dot Shirt Dress: The photo does not do this tunic justice. It's nice to wear over cropped jeans. It has a lovely asymmetrical front gathered inset which you can't see all that well in the photo, but it looks interesting and modern. Runs big.
  • Zara Tulip Print Blouse: A garden floral wrap blouse for those with a defined waist. Lovely over bootcuts, wide trousers, or a pencil skirt.
  • Zara Oversized Printed Bomber Jacket: Fun on trend long bomber jacket that works well on an assortment of body types. It's great on a curvier figure, although you may not have thought so. Fun botanical pattern with sporty stripe detailing on the ribbing. Nice juxtaposition of Soft & Sporty, and Masculine & Feminine.
  • Madewell Denim Tie Neck Shirtdress: Fabulous fitted denim dress WITH sleeves and length. Soft and stretchy. The placement of the buttons is genius - NO gaping at all. Read the rave reviews.
  • Madewell Fiesta Paisley Silk Bell Sleeve Top: The drape of the fabric makes the flounces on this blouse a lot more subtle. Luxurious. Gorgeous over black ankle pants. Works on an assortment of body types.
  • Madewell Brownstone Side Button Sweater: One of the best boxy pullovers I've seen. Genius drape and cut. You'll have to try it on to see what I mean. Luxurious heavy-weight cotton knit. Excellent over high-waisted denim. The colours are muted and moody in person.

You can see my descriptions alongside the items on the collection page.

Link Love: Embracing Ourselves the Way We Are

Embrace, a documentary by body image activist Taryn Brumfitt, explores the global issue of body loathing and the alarming rates of body image issues that are seen in people of all body types.

The Cut’s Wrinkles in Time series is “investigating the effects of gravity on the female form.” What Stella Bugbee writes in her article “Can Age-Shaming Be the Next Fat-Shaming?” really resonates with me:

“Seeing images of older women treated as normal and beautiful has a profound effect on me. Much like scrolling through the feeds of curve models, it recalibrates my sense of the ordinary and expands my visual vocabulary of ways to look.

Lately I’ve been thinking more about how to avoid the things I’m actually scared of about getting old: becoming set in my ways, stuck in my thinking or narrow in my influences. I want to keep my mind-set open, my life full of voices that are vibrant and diverse. That takes a lot of work too, but I’m confident it will have a greater return on investment than all the creams in the world. That was always the case, it just took me getting older to recognize it.”

Fab Links from Our Members

In the same Wrinkles in Time series, Annagybe thought this article was an interesting take on older women in the fashion industry.

Karie loved this article about Isabella Springmuhl, a 19-year-old fashion designer with Down’s Syndrome. “Her designs are very colorful and beautiful”, Karie adds.

L’Abeille enjoyed browsing through these photos of Queen Elizabeth II’s earliest moments in the spotlight, and finds the corgis irresistible.

L’Abeille also wanted to share this roundup of traditional wedding dresses from around the world. She especially loved the Eritrean wedding with the velvet crowns and purple and gold robes.

Layering Chunky Socks Under Boots

ExampleI’ve seen lots of people across a range of body types layer long, chunky socks under their casual knee-high and mid-calf boots lately. The tops of the socks are visible, peeking out from the tops of the boots, and are part of the outfit. Cosy, maximal, interesting, and texture-rich.

Layering long socks under taller boots has the advantage of filling in the gap around the calf when boots don’t fit snugly against the leg. It also provides extra insulation. Since we’re having a cold Winter in Seattle, it’s been a popular look. 

Keeping the socks a solid low-contrast colour to the jeans/pants and/or boots is an easy way to go because it’s creating vertical integrity despite the layers. Subtle, yet effective. In the example above the socks are low contrast to the jeans and medium contrast to the boots. The socks would have created a more horizontally cutting line in a high-contrast solid bright red, French blue or hectic pattern. Of course, that in itself would be a fun Maximal outfit statement, especially if the high-contrast socks pick up a colour in the rest of the outfit. You simply have to be at peace with how the horizontally cutting lines affect outfit proportions. 

Chunky socks are not dressy no matter how you slice and dice it, so it’s a casual look full stop. The look becomes even more casual when the socks are scrunched. I’ve also seen the visible chunky socks and boots pairing work well with casual skirts and dresses. 

The closest I’ve come to wearing this combination was back in the ‘80s when I scrunched red leg warmers over skinny blue jeans and into red suede ankle boots. I loved the look back then, but haven’t worn it again. How about you?

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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.

Read More

A More Feminine V-Neck

I was surprised to hear how V-necks can also be thought of as overly tomboy or mannish when I wrote about them last week. I dress women for a living, and had yet to hear that perspective. Most of my clients adore V-necks. 

Although I generally think of the V-neck as an alluring option because it showcases skin close to the bustline — I do see the point. V-necks like the ones shown in the first collection below might look a little close to men’s styles for some tastes. The solid V-neck pullover looks especially masculine when layered over a button-down shirt in colours like grey, navy and black. 

If a masculine V-neck is not the vibe you’re going for, there are ways to make the item appear softer, more romantic and more feminine. Consider these styling strategies:

  • Sporting long, girly hair
  • Adding bling to the neck and ears 
  • Adding a playful scarf
  • Wearing statement make-up and fingernail polish
  • Combining the V-neck with skirts and heels
  • And if you’re very curvy with a larger bust and defined waist, the female form will outshine the masculine vibe of any boyish looking V-neck when it’s fitted in the right places.  

If you’re still not feeling the V-neck because it reminds you too much of menswear, simply choose a silhouette and colour that is less typical in men’s fashion. The items in the next collection are good examples of the more feminine V-neck. Soft fabrics, drapey styles, flounces, ruffles, lace, cold shoulders, tailored fits, pastels, and dresses will do the trick.

Punchy Black and White

A new outfit from Carelia Morán of My Small Wardrobe, whom we introduced to YLF in July 2013.

Carelia built this graphic black and white Winter look around a pair of boyfriend jeans and a boyfriend blazer. Combining the solid-coloured pieces with an elegant silk leopard print shirt provides a powerful punch. Tucking the shirt into the crisp white jeans lengthens the leg line. The rolled cuffs showcase the vintage pointy-toe booties with hidden wedge heel to perfection. The subtle contrast between the optical white and bone creates outfit depth. A stack of black and white bangles with retro vibe echo the outfit’s colour palette. Carelia finishes off the look with a fun pompon hat, statement sunnies, black zip-around pouch with decorative tassel, raspberry lipstick, and a radiant smile.

Carelia - 2

Carelia - 1

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