Alber Elbaz has been discharged at Lanvin, an Olivia Palermo collection for Nordstrom, and more fashion news that caught our attention this week.

• This startup company is offering its pregnant employees a $2,000 stipend for maternity clothes.
• A new exhibition at the Museum at FIT will explore the role fashion has played in fairy tales.
• After 14 years, Alber Elbaz has been discharged from his position as creative director of Lanvin.
• Olivia Palermo is designing a clothing collection for Nordstrom’s in-house label Chelsea 28.
• The Fashion Institute of Technology is organizing “The Hand of Fashion“, a series of conversations about sustainability in fashion.
• Diesel has teamed up with Dutch brand Bugaboo for a second stroller customized by the Italian brand.
• Zara is launching its first studio collection for men.

Fashion Quote of the Day

While browsing through articles announcing the news about Alber Elbaz, I came across this quote from the designer that spoke to me:

“Loudness is the new cool, and not only in fashion, you know. I prefer whispering. I think it goes deeper, and I think it stays longer.”

It’s not often that a wardrobe item makes it past the seven year mark. Our style preferences change, our lifestyles change, our weight fluctuates, and often the quality of the piece does not hold up for longer than five years. Yet some wardrobe items do earn a place in your closet for many years. 

These are the pieces in my wardrobe that have made it past the seven year mark and are still in regular rotation.

• I’ve had the black parka for eleven years, although it was exiled to a holding zone for six of them. 
• I’ve had the mixed media black L.A.M.B jacket for eight years and wear it very regularly because of the tailored fit, luxurious quality, and interesting design.
• The black moto with silver trim is ten years old and comes in handy when I need a cropped jacket to create interesting and flattering proportions. It’s a classic.
• The cream leather jacket was a present from Greg eight years ago that I wear frequently in white-out ensembles. Another classic.
• I’ve had the zippered skinnies for seven years and I’m wearing them more regularly this year now that I’m back to tucking jeans into boots.
• The polkadot blouse is a seven year old darling with great drape. I like wearing it with my new light grey moto jeans, which injects newness into the ensemble.
• The rust ‘70s jacket has been mine for 10 years and has become my go-to ultra casual topper for milder weather.
• And last, the Chanel clutch is twenty-two years old, and comes out on special occasions. 

In an era of throwaway fashion and where purging our closets to minimal status is popular, it makes me feel GREAT that I’ve had these pieces for years and am still wearing them with a happy heart. Their quality has held up really well. I’ve also got a slew of six year old pieces — like my beloved Valentino handbag — that will join this collection next year. 

Three cheers for wardrobe golden oldies that haven’t let you down. Join me in celebrating YOUR golden oldies in the comments section.

The Fashion Spot shows us five ways to wear tweed right now, and throws in some fun shopping tips. I wouldn’t say no to this Mango tweed flap clutch.

In August, T Magazine rounded up a few examples of how “the traditional menswear fabric has been nipped and tucked to new feminine proportions.” I especially loved the Moncler sweater and skirt, and the Michael Kors cape.

I also enjoyed this in-depth article on how Harris Tweed — all the weaving is still done by hand, in private homes — has been saved from the brink of extinction.

Fab Links from Our Members

Astrid really liked this Conscious Shopping Guide with the Zero-Waste Buying diagram because it moves the emphasis away from buying.

Laurinda appreciated how Janice at The Vivienne Files shows how the thoughtful addition of a couple of items can up the elegance factor of a utilitarian down vest.

With Angie’s steampunk tribute in mind, L’Abeille wanted to share this Mad Max Power Wheels costume.

“The ones where a woman with gravity-defying rollered curls is doing that one-small-step-for-mankind leap across an imaginary puddle.” Vildy was charmed by how Jess Cartner-Morley based her ’70s daytime outfit on the Charlie perfume advertisements, and loves this quote because she likes clothing lookbooks or catalogues best when they show women striding confidently.

Salt-sea enjoyed this post on how to tell whether a trend is going to last.

Robin loves the idea of incorporating her love of books into her outfits with a pair of bookish tights, but isn’t sure she’s brave enough to draw attention to her legs like that. “Would you?” she asks.

Angela K is intrigued by the Llynda More boot concept that lets you transform one pair of boots into 30 different styles.

With Winter being particularly harsh in certain areas of the US and Canada over the last few years, Polar Vortex Chic has become quite the trend. Even high-end designer sites like Net-a-Porter are showcasing Sorel snow boots in fashionable outfit combinations. Practical and comfortable fashion has never been more on trend.

It’s not impossible to create fabulous outfits with snow boots, and these visuals provide a good starting point. Many of the outfits combine neutrally-toned snow boots with a neutral, and often dark support act. That’s a practical way to go, but not the only way. That said you might feel more pulled together and streamlined in dark, neutral combinations because snow boots and heavy outerwear is bulky to wear. 

Here are three easy ways to incorporate neutrally-toned snow boots into outfits. Note that all the bottoms are tapered – either skinny or straight – so that the hems can be easily tucked into the boots. No soggy hems. 

Black-Out 

Choose black snow boots with non-black neutral trim like shearling and faux fur because those types of trims go a long way to breaking up the monotony of the head to toe black outfit. The trim also adds important textural interest to the look. Combine black skinny jeans or trousers with black, ink or charcoal knitwear. Layer knitwear if you need extra warmth. Finish off the look with a black puffer coat and casual black bag. 

Although I don’t have a visual, you could substitute black clothing pieces for ink blue and wear ink-out with black snow boots if black is not your colour. The black bottoms could be dark blue jeans.

Combine Black, Grey, Brown, Tan & Toffee 

This combination works well with toffee and brown snow boots. Again, the snow boots with contrast shearling or faux fur trim add visual interest to the outfit, especially when you pick up the colour of the trim somewhere else in the outfit. 

Combine three, four, or all of these neutrals – black, tan, toffee, brown and grey – in one outfit. Create high-contrast effects with knitwear or with snow boots to break up the expanse of dark colour. Grey and black jeans have been used in these outfits, but feel free to wear dark blue jeans. Black outerwear is not your only choice. Think cream, grey, ink, and brown outerwear too. A casual bag in the same colour or a tonal colour to the outerwear creates a streamlined look. 

Throw in the Colour 

Combine a pair of blue jeans with a colourful piece of knitwear, and finish off the look with black or toffee snow boots, a black coat and black bag. The black coat picks up the colour of the snow boots, or the trim of the snow boots, creating a pulled together look. The tonal handbag creates a streamlined effect. 

The outfit the with the black snow boots on the right lengthens the leg line, whereas the version with the toffee on the left shortens the leg line. Personally, I prefer the version with the toffee despite the leg shortening effect because the high contrast looks more interesting and happy than the all black column from hip to toe.

Of course, you can incorporate snow boots into colourful outfits, and we’ll be covering that later. In the meantime, creating neutral ensembles with neutral snow boots is a classic and easy way to go.