• Canadian handbag company Matt & Nat is branching out into footwear.
• Giorgio Armani has agreed to stop using fur for all its products.
• H&M and the World Wildlife Fund are embarking on a five-year partnership to create a more responsible fashion industry.
• In other H&M news, the Swedish company is adding bridal wear to its Conscious Collection.
• In the meantime, ModCloth has also come out with a bridal collection.
• Earlier this month, Nike unveiled its first self-lacing sneaker.
• Here’s a look at the full Target x Marimekko collaboration which will launch on April, 17.
• Zara is now selling its first unisex collection, Ungendered.
• Fans of Ines de la Fressange can now shop at her very own atelier-boutique on the Paris Left Bank.
• Christian Louboutin just added a pointy toe ballet flat to its Nudes collection.
• According to Old Navy, wine, ketchup, coffee, juice, and other commonly spilled substances will wipe right off their new Mid-Rise Stay-White Rockstar Super Skinny jeans.
• Ted Baker and G-Star Raw are two of the brands who are making their sustainability scores public.
• Glamour is “entering into a multi-pronged partnership with Lane Bryant laser focused on courting the plus-size market and promoting a message of body positivity.”
• After months of speculation, Maison Yves Saint Laurent confirmed yesterday that creative and image director Hedi Slimane is leaving the company.

Fun Fashion Fact

Did you know that the Monnaie de Paris (the Paris Mint) has released an Yves Saint Laurent coin. The coins come in silver and gold, and also feature the designer’s iconic Mondrian dress and the Centre Pompidou. The Saint Laurent coin is meant to symbolize contemporary artistic France.

This ensemble was inspired by my own love for suits and a recent conversation on the forum about power dressing. Crisp tailoring, luscious fabrications, perfect fit, a sleek silhouette, and intense polish is the armour that shields us at work and in social settings. On some subconscious level, a suit gives us the confidence to fight back under adversity. There’s definitely something about wearing one that makes us feel authoritative, powerful and strong.

The bouclé Chanel suit is the original power suit, and is still widely worn by women in politics, business, and high-end social settings like charity events. Its retro integrity and rich history make it a chic modern classic that will stand the test of time. By all means invest in a Chanel suit (or a lookalike) and feel fabulous.

But looking to the past for power suit inspiration isn’t our only option. We can also look to the future. And if my instincts are correct, the future of power suits is already with us today. Not yet commonplace on the retail floors, but ubiquitous in popular culture. The look is fashion-forward, comfortable, crease-resistant, slimming and wears like iron. It’s a graphic vibe that is thoroughly modern. A look that can make us feel superhuman. I call it the Super Suit.

I’ve stuck to dark neutrals and primary brights, but feel free to use any colour palette. Here are the components:

Jumpsuit, Leotard or Dress: For an authentic super suit vibe, choose a leotard in a silhouette that works with your body type. Or go for a leather mini dress if you prefer a little coverage on the thigh area. To make less of a statement — “ultimate power suit lite” if you like — choose a jumpsuit, as I have done in the outfit on the far left. You don’t need to wear tights with this option, which makes it somewhat less “super”, but it is a good option if you’re not into hosiery.

Tights: You’ll need tights for the leotard and mini dress options, but not for the jumpsuit. Choose a full or cropped length, depending on what works best with the footwear. You can create either a low or a high contrast between the tights and the rest of the outfit. Low contrast will create a column of colour and is more conventionally flattering. But there’s no doubt that a high contrast is more bold, more fun, and delivers more impact.

Cape: The cape was made for this ensemble. You can choose either a long or a short version. The former works well for the “lite” rendition and for petites. Longer capes make a bolder statement and are a slam-dunk for Team Tall. Lace capes add textural interest, especially with monochromatic versions of the outfit. Bright capes in solid colours make the most powerful statement. Just what you need when presenting to board members at the next annual meeting.

Patent Boots: It’s all about boots and only high shine will do. No substitutes. Heels add height to your outfit, enhancing your physical presence. Choose booties, mid-calf lengths, knee-highs, or over-the-knee styles. Choose neutrals or brights, depending on which works best with your outfit. It’s an extra bonus if the boots have steel toes. Some of my clients swear by the practicality of a reinforced toebox when it comes to resolving workplace conflicts.

Accessories: A wide belt adds structure and definition to the silhouette and is an extremely popular accessory with this ensemble. Cuffs, gloves and masks are optional but do add to the mood. A shield can be useful in some situations. Choose one in colours that work with the palette. I vote metallic or brights. Black shields tend to look heavy — especially with an all-black suit — so stay clear of those.

Finally, while my renditions above are for the ladies, men can also get in on the action. Here’s a photo of my client Sam in his own super suit, which he wears when he wants to feel particularly strong for a day of work defending the house from all manner of intruders. You look fabulous, Batsam. Thank you for being a stylish and powerful inspiration to us all.

Chilly temperatures and plenty of showers means we are still sporting Winter coats here in Belgium. I’m getting a little bored with mine, but after watching Bill Cunningham’s video on pink coats, I’m thinking a happy pastel or bright pink coat could be just the ticket for Spring.

The Guardian is on the same wavelength with their top 10 pink picks to say hello to Spring. I wouldn’t mind trying the J.Crew cashmere cable-knit sweater.

Are you also in the mood to add a little pink to your Spring looks? Here’s some outfit inspiration:

• Sporty with light grey sneakers and unstructured duster trench.
• Distressed white skinnies and feminine ruffled top.
• Shiny hot pink loafers to dress up jeans.
• Pretty pastels from head to toe.
• Shirtdress with statement belt.
• Romantic pleats nonchalantly paired with sneakers.
• Flirty fringed skirt and strict button-down.
• Eye-catching patterned coat.
• Cropped Sporty Luxe.
• Pairing pink with tomato red.

Fab Links from Our Members

There are a lot of colour theorists and stylists out there, but so far, Jen Thoden’s website has the easiest breakdown of the concept for La Belle Demimondaine.

Science, history, and fashion all come together in this article about masks, says Rachylou.

Laura (rhubarbgirl) recently came across the hilarious blog What To Wear When. From “What to Wear When You Are A Second-Tier Villainess From A Dark Matter Universe, Temporarily Disguised as a Japanese Substitute Teacher” to “What to Wear When You Are A Billionaire Playgirl Philanthropist Using Your Fortune to Fight Crime”, this tumblr has you covered.

A recent forum thread got Laurinda reminiscing about Banana Republic in the 1980s. She then found the site Abandoned Republic, where artist Scott C. Adams presents ’80s Banana Republic catalogues and associated artwork.

Laurinda also discovered that the J. Peterman Company took on the safari/outfitter market when Banana Republic moved away from that theme. Seeing the company name mentioned, reminded her of this Seinfeld episode in which Elaine meets J. Peterman.

A wardrobe essential is an indispensable staple, without which your wardrobe would not function. They can be clothing items, footwear or accessories. They are usually versatile and simple in design. They are current, and sometimes even trendy. They are NOT statement pieces, but rather complement a statement piece to create a pulled together look. Wardrobe essentials are not to be confused with wardrobe basics, which are knickers, bras, camisoles, socks, sleepwear, loungewear, hosiery and thermals. 

I listed my current wardrobe essentials at the beginning of the year. After a shift in my personal style I had pared down the list to black turtlenecks, trendy jeans, dressy black trousers, denim jackets, flat white footwear, and oversized watches. But after removing white button-down shirts as a wardrobe essential, I’d forgotten to include a Spring and Summer item that would serve as their replacement.

As I’ve been dressing for Spring, I’ve realized that the essential I should have on the list is a white cotton pullover. I reach for one frequently to layer under jackets and to wear with jeans. It’s a very simple and effective “glue piece” that often makes an outfit come together.

I have the following white cotton pullovers in my wardrobe at the moment and both are workhorses: 

Ann Taylor

Boatneck Sweater

View Info

Top Pick

25

Ann Taylor

Shrunken Mock Neck Sweater

View Info

Top Pick

28

I’m wearing the Ann Taylor shrunken mock neck sweater so frequently that it became a bottleneck in the laundry. So I duplicated it and I now have two. I might even get a third because it ticks all the boxes: crisp, soft, polished, simple, comfortable, trendy, fitted, versatile, and an ideal neckline for my body type. I also have the same top in ink blue and, predictably, don’t wear it as much. I do like the ink blue with my flared white crops, full-length white flares, and some skirts, so it’s not an orphan either. 

Wardrobe essentials are personal and our lists of items might look different. White cotton pullovers are like my version of the ubiquitous white T-shirt. I will be adding a few more of them to my wardrobe over the next few months as soon as I figure out the right silhouette. Perhaps I’ll go for more of a boat neck to wear in warmer weather. 

A wardrobe full of statement pieces is fun to purchase and exciting to look at, but hard to create outfits with. Wardrobe essentials help you create complete outfits and make statement pieces shine. Do not underestimate their importance in your wardrobe.