A new outfit from Valerie Husemann of Simple et Chic, whom we introduced to YLF in November 2014.

Soft and Pretty meets Hard Edge in this faux leather pants outfit. The ladylike ruffled blouse softens the tough vibe of the black skinnies and high-heeled mules. The oversized patterned cardigan adds a bit of Boho, colour and cosy textural interest. Rolling the sleeves adds structure to the topper, while the leggings paired with the high-vamped shoes streamline the look. Valerie’s wavy locks and small blush crossbody bag create further softness. Her rusty orange lippie is a fun Autumnal touch.

The points of pointy toe footwear are easily scuffed, and after some wear the scuffs become visible. This is precisely what happened to the colour blocked flats that I bought six months ago. There was a bald grey patch on the toe points as you can see below.

My simple fix involved using a black sharpie pen to cover up the grey patch, and you’ll see the noticeable difference in the picture below. The sharpie colour doesn’t blend perfectly with the black leather of the shoe, but it takes the edge off the scuff. My flats definitely look better after my little sharpie intervention.

You could achieve a similar result with black shoe polish, but a sharpie pen is easier and faster to apply.

A first look at Balmain for H&M, Ralph Lauren is stepping down as CEO of his namesake company, and more fashion news that caught our attention this week.

• Ralph Lauren is stepping down as CEO of his namesake company. He will be succeeded by Gap Inc. executive Stefan Larsson.
• Nike’s new Elite Basketball performance collection marks the very first time the activewear giant has engineered basketball clothing for women, designed by women.
• Here’s a first look at the Balmain for H&M collection.
• Gap Inc. plans to expand its award-winning life-skills and education program, P.A.C.E., with the promise to advance the lives of up to one million women by 2020.
• A new exhibition in London’s Victoria & Albert Museum is putting Indian textiles under the spotlight.

Fun Fashion Fact

Did you know that Charvet, the French high-end shirt maker and tailor founded in 1838, was the world’s first ever shirt shop. It’s thanks to the renown of its ties, that charvet has become a generic name for a certain type of silk fabric used for ties.

The poncho is a very easy piece to have in your wardrobe. Dress it up or down and add instant drama to your outfit. There are all sorts of ways to incorporate ponchos into outfits, and here are two to get you started. The version on the left is casual, and the version on the right is dressy. Choose any colour palette. 

Poncho & Jeans

The easiest way to style a poncho is with jeans. Choose jeans that are fitted on the thighs to offset the volume of the poncho. Choose a layering top like a shirt, knitted top, pullover, blouse or tee. Wear the layering top untucked or semi-tucked with a belt. Add footwear, like booties, that work with the jeans and drape a poncho over the top. Make sure you like the outfit without the poncho so that you feel fab when you need to remove it. A satchel works best with a poncho because shoulder bags and crossbody bags won’t stay put. 

Poncho & Black Support Act

Drape a poncho over a black sheath dress and finish off the outfit with pumps or boots. Add a satchel and jewellery of your choice. Or drape a poncho over a pair of black trousers and top, thereby creating a column of colour under the poncho. As an alternative I’ve used a black polka dot blouse to break up the column of black. Choose shoes that work with the bottoms. Add jewellery, eyewear and watch as desired. 

A brooch can be used to fasten a poncho that is open in front. For ponchos that only have a neck opening, it can be pinned close to the neckline and over to one side as a decorative extra.