A New Blouse Refreshes an Old Blazer

I’ve had this classic denim blazer for ten years. The product photo does not show that you can turn back the French slit cuffs, which are awesome and add an architectural touch. The cuffs make the jacket, and that’s how I wear it. It’s gorgeous quality with a lovely tailored fit. A versatile classic.

Recently I had gone off solid blazers. I started to much prefer short cheeky faux leather jackets and colourful plaid blazers. Although I didn’t feel like wearing the denim blazer, I kept it because I liked it so much. I knew I’d wear it again at some point.

And that’s exactly what happened after I got a new navy silk chain print blouse at this year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I love the old denim blazer over this blouse. There is something about the side-by-side navies and punchy pattern that energized the tired blazer. Kind of a set, but not a matching set. I wore the duo with off-white barrel jeans, gold belt and loafers, and a cream bag. This outfit has been on repeat three times in one month.

The exact items of the outfit are represented in the collection below.

You don’t always need to pass on items if you aren’t wearing them. If you still like them, they fit well, look good, are comfy and in good nick, the chances are high you’ll wear them again in a refreshed way.

Outfit Formula: Leather Skirt

Leather and faux leather skirts across a range of silhouettes and colours have been trending for years. Not quite mainstream, but gaining momentum. Here are outfit ideas for Team Leather and Faux Leather Skirt. If skirts aren’t your thing, opt for leather pants. If leather bottoms aren’t for you, find inspiration through the mix of silhouettes and colour palettes.

1. Columned and Blousy Black and Green

A column black knee-length and button-through faux leather skirt is combined with a very fluid pine green blouse. It’s tucked to showcase waist definition. Black pumps and belt match the black skirt. The shoes bookend the model’s black hair. Add a bag that works with the palette. An earthy brown bag would be my choice.

Columned and Blousy Black and Green

2. Kick Pleat Mash Up

A caramel kick-pleated faux leather skirt is combined with an orchid sweater vest. It’s blousoned with a welt over a black belt which matches the two-toned cream and black heeled Mary Janes, and the dark hair of the model. Charcoal grey socks are worn instead of hosiery as a fringe trend touch. A brown bag is the colour of choice. Apart from the black accents, none of the outfit colours are repeated. A creative and interesting remix.

Kick Pleat Mash Up

3. Burgundy Suited

A long tailored burgundy faux leather pencil skirt with front side slit is combined with a matching tailored faux leather blazer to create a suit. The asymmetrical hem of the jacket creates magical diagonal lines across the front of the body. Snakeskin pumps are the punchy finishing touch. The chunky vintage gold chain looks good too. Add a bag to match.

Burgundy Suited

4. Silver Slit with Casual Black

Metallic clothes are fringe trending, and here’s a great silver leather skirt example. Its maxi length with a high front slit is right on trend too. THE skirt silhouette of year. The skirt in combined with a black support act of tucked black tee, slides and bag. Elevated everyday, and easy to pull together. Add jewellery, watch and eyewear as desired.

Silver Slit with Casual Black

More silver skirt with black accents inspiration. Great tonal mix of greys, and fab addition of red.

Be Kind To Yourself

Be gentle as you reflect about your style and wardrobe, and as you look in the mirror. Don’t dwell on the negative. Shopping mistakes are inevitable, and everyone has imperfections. You deserve the kindness. Extend it to yourself and to others too. 

Be Kind To Yourself

Practice self-acceptance and body shape neutrality. Identify strengths and realistically appraise capabilities. Embrace the things that make you unique, vulnerable, and eccentric. Give yourself a pat on the back for the things you are doing right. Laugh!

You can learn from mistakes, constantly improving and making better choices that positively affect you and others. Look for silver linings. Keep up positive self-talk. Compare but don’t despair. Keep fashion and style lighthearted. You are fab.

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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Grey as a Neutral

As a nod to late ‘90s fashion, grey is THE neutral of the season, and will be trending for a while. Grey is a mix of black and white, and a true or pure neutral. Pearl grey, battleship grey, pebble grey, steel grey or charcoal grey, it’s everywhere in every shade, and in every wardrobe item at the moment. Undies, swimwear, sleepwear, accessories, footwear and activewear included. If you enjoy wearing grey wardrobe items and need a refresh, stock up.

COS
Wool-blend Cape
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Top Pick
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COS
Tailored Twill Culottes
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COS
Merino Wool Polo Shirt
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2
Boden
Longline VNeck Tank
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3
Boden
Tapered PU Trousers
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2
Loft
Bomber Jacket
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4
Lane Bryant
Ombré Scarf
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Grey Items

Most wardrobes have a neutral component because neutrals are grounding, versatile, and soothing. Grey can be an satisfying neutral if it suits you and your sartorial preferences. There are countless shades of it. Choose the shades of grey that work best for you, and make them the main or accent neutral of your wardrobe.

Grey items can be dressy or casual. Greys can work well as wardrobe essentials and wardrobe workhorses. Grey footwear can bookend grey or greying hair. If you like grey, but it doesn’t love you back, wear it as bottoms, accessories, or footwear away from your face. Grey is great in patterns too.

Grey as a Metal

Silver is grey and might be your metal of choice. Silver jewellery and hardware is tonally fabulous with grey clothing. Silver clothing, footwear, and accessories are trending too. Remix them with just about anything. Silver shoes and belts look great with silver hair. Feel free to mix metals if you enjoy gold as much as silver and pewter. By all means wear gold jewellery with grey wardrobe items.

Remixing Grey

Grey is one of the most versatile neutrals. It works well remixed with cool and warm colours. Greys are a slamdunk with classic black and white, and all sorts of greyed colours. Greys are excellent with navy too. They are great with pastel blues, pinks, lilacs, mints and lemons. Greys work well with jewel tones, brights, and are surprisingly splendid with earth tones. The right shades of grey work with every colour.

Signature Grey

Some of my clients wear shades of grey superbly well and it’s their signature neutral. These clients tend to have silver, or salt and pepper hair, which beautifully matches the grey in their outfits. Some stick to wearing their signature greys with black, white, and blues. Some add rich reds and burgundies to their black, white, and grey palettes. Others add a range of cool toned purples, lilacs, pinks, and blues to their signature grey.

Personally, I don’t wear grey because it neither looks good nor makes me happy. It doesn’t help that my primary school uniform was grey either. I made an exception when I bought a matching grey sweatshirt with a friend because the slogan appealed to us. By the time it was accessorized with my pearls and bright specs, I could live with the grey. Bright pants and a white crossbody help too.

I like grey on others. Hubs Greg is a blue-eyed and silver-haired person who wears grey, black and blue with the best of them. Maybe you have similar features are wear grey well too. Maybe your greying hair enjoys the repetition of grey in your outfits. Or maybe grey serves as a fabulous accent neutral for your outfits.

Over to you. Do you wear grey, and is it a donimant neutral in your style?

Outfit Formula: Shirt, Sweater Vest and Jeans

There are multiple ways to wear sweater vests or sleeveless pullovers. Layering a sweater vest over a collared button through shirt and popping the duo over a pair of jeans is an easy outfit formula. Add shoes, a bag to match, and Bob’s your uncle. A blouse can work as well as a shirt, if that’s more your thing. 

Here are four variations on the formula. Choose any colour palette.

1. Pattern Mixed

A blue and lemon pattered shirt is worn under a blue and white short and fitted sweater vest. The mismatched patterns clash, yet work because their blues unite them. The duo is untucked and worn with faded bootcut jeans. Silver cowboy boots are the shoes of choice, and work especially well under bootcuts. I see a white, lemon, silver, or blue bag.

Pattern Mixed

2. Oversized and Avant-Garde

An oversized and flowing light blue tunic shirt with puffy long sleeves and high-low hem is worn over wide leg dark grey or faded black jeans. A boxy and big grey sweater vest with high-low hemline tops the shirt. Grey and white athletic sneakers are the casual choice of shoe. A mismatched retro tomato red bag adds some punch.

Oversized and Avant Garde

3. Oversized and Bright

A big turquoise shirt is paired with a big teal, turquoise, and pink patterned sweater vest. The shirt is buttoned right to the top. A brooch would look nice on the top button too. The oversized duo graces wide, two-toned jeans. Turquoise shoes match the turquoise in the outfit. Add a bag that matches the palette or the colour of your hair.

Oversized and Bright

4. Variety

These outfits show a range of shirts and sweater vests worn with jeans. The sweater vests are fitted or fluid, with crew or V-necks. Shirts are white, blue, or blue and white stripes, but you can choose any colour that tickles your fancy. Most of the shirts and sweater vests are untucked, but some are tucked and completed with a belt. Jeans vary from wide legs and bootcuts, to relaxed straights, cuffed silhouettes, and boyfriend jeans. Shoes range from loafers and sneakers, to boots. Finish off the look a bag, jewellery, watch, and eyewear as desired.