Ponchos are typically available in one of two silhouettes: those with neck openings and those with front openings. The former has a hole for your head and drapes over clothing without a centre front opening. It stays put once you style the direction of the drape. The latter opens down the centre front and looks more like a wrap. One of the front panels can be thrown over the opposite shoulder to create some extra drama. The open-front styles can be a little fussy, slipping around as you move. But they’re fine if you’re not having an active day with lots of arm movement. 

Ponchos in either silhouette can be solid or patterned, heavy or lightweight, fringed and bordered, long or short, and in any colour. Their fabrications vary from the breeziest cotton, cotton blends and silk, to the warmest of wools and wool blends. Their hemlines are asymmetrical by design to add structure to the voluminous silhouette. 

PLEASE don’t think that you have be slim, tall and willowy to wear a poncho. You don’t. I’m helping petite clients across all sizes style their ponchos and it’s going well. Choose a poncho that is a little shorter to start off with and wear the shorter portion in front so that the hem is straight or asymmetrical. Choose a style in a soft knitted fabric that drapes back onto the body as opposed to a rigid woven fabric that creates boxy folds on the body. Solids work best, but if you’re after a pattern, choose a subtle one.

Ponchos can be worn in all sorts of ways, but pairing them with jeans is the easiest of all. Here’s how to create some casual and smart casual combinations.

1. With Full-Length Skinnies

Combine a pair of skinny jeans with a layering top, poncho and boots. Add a bag and voilà, you’re out the door. The fitted silhouette of the skinnies offsets the volume of the poncho. Think long sleeved T-shirt, turtleneck, blouse, or button-down shirt as the layering top.

The poncho becomes more of a top than a jacket when it covers the top underneath. This is often the case with a shell top underneath.

Ponchos can also be very lightweight, and when they are the outfit can be finished off with sandals. 

The examples below show a high contrast between the jeans and poncho. Create a low contrast between the two items if you’re after an outfit with more vertical integrity.

2. With Cropped Skinnies

Cropped skinnies are a trendy alternative to full-length skinnies. Wear them with the same types of layering tops, but wear footwear that is higher on the leg, like booties with higher shafts, or open shoes with high ankle straps. Cropped kick flares will also work, but won’t be quite as flattering.

Create a column of colour if you’re after more vertical outfit integrity, which might be the case for the version with cropped kick flares. 

Pair shorter ponchos with denim culottes — another variation on the cropped pants silhouette — and add heeled footwear.

3. With Flared Jeans 

A poncho with flared jeans is the most ‘70s and retro combination. Keep the flares fitted on the thighs to compensate for the oversized fit of the poncho. Wear the poncho a little shorter — like in example 2 below — for extra structure. Although these examples have been completed with sandals, feel free to wear boots, sneakers, pumps, loafers or oxfords.   

Casual ponchos worn with fringe, faded flares and platforms create a boho chic vibe. Dressy ponchos worn in a crisp, hard-edged, graphic or minimal way look more avant-garde. Both looks are fun and fab, making the poncho a piece that transcends the trends. 

Although I’ve focussed on pairing ponchos with jeans, feel free to substitute the jeans for trousers in the same silhouette for business casual. Or wear ponchos over sheath dresses and pencil skirts. 

My clients either love or loathe the poncho. Those who enjoy drape, boho vibes, avant-garde silhouettes, or have very casual lifestyles, love it. Others find the item fussy, unflattering, overly casual, too blanket-esque, and above all far too unstructured. Personally, I’m not into wearing ponchos because I’m a big jacket and coat gal. But I love the look on others and I’m having a ball helping clients pull together their poncho outfits. What’s your take on the poncho, and do you wear it with jeans?

A new plus-size brand inspired by Theory and Vince, a handbag to raise awareness of domestic violence, and other style news that made headlines this week.

• Last week Nordstrom opened its third Canadian and first international flagship store in Vancouver.
• Inspired by Theory and Vince, new plus-size brand Universal Standard offers “modern essentials” for sizes 10 to 28.
• Three new Bloomingdale’s Outlet stores will open their doors in November: in San Diego, Manhattan, and Philadelphia.
• Kerry Washington and Dee Ocleppo have designed a limited-edition handbag to raise awareness of domestic violence and financial abuse.
• A group of Finnish organizations are teaming up to turn waste cotton into new fibres for the textile industry.
• Reese Witherspoon is opening her first brick-and-mortar Draper James store in Nashville this Fall.

Fun Fashion Fact

According to body language experts the way we carry our bag can say a lot about our personality. For example, sporting a crossbody with the bag in front of the body “is almost a form of armament. This style of bag-wearing often indicates a more cautious personality, someone who is reticent or shy”, says writer Kathlyn Hendricks. Do you agree with what this Glamour article has to say about your bag-carrying style?

This ensemble was inspired by a client who didn’t think she’d like the combination but ended up loving it because the cobalt brightens grey and black. I’ve created a few renditions to get you started, but think of combining grey and black with cobalt in any way at all. 

Black Bottoms, Grey Topper & Cobalt Top

Combine black jeans, pants or skirt with a cobalt top and grey cardigan, jacket, vest or coat. Finish off the look with black footwear and a bag that works with the palette of the outfit. The example on the left with the black jeans and two-toned cardi is almost the exact combination that won my client over. 

Grey Bottoms, Black Topper & Cobalt Bag 

Combine a grey skirt with a black top and topper, and finish off the look with a cobalt bag. I’ve chosen a marled grey skirt, a black windowpane blouse to create a pattern-mixed effect, and topped the look off with a black poncho. Black shoes and blue bag finish off the outfit. Add jewellery, eyewear and watch as desired. 

I’ve added cobalt trousers – feel free to make it a skirt – into the mix to create a cobalt column of colour. Or match it with a black top and grey topper. A cobalt sheath dress is fab with a grey or black wrap and silver pumps. The combinations are endless.

The Telegraph has tips on the best cashmere brands to buy this Winter.

An interesting NY Times article about how Afghanistan’s goat farmers have found a luxury niche in cashmere.

I thoroughly enjoyed this interview with Brunello Cucinelli, “the king of cashmere”, who pays his workers “wages that are 20 percent higher than the industry standard, mostly because it allows his company to encourage and continue the Italian craftsman traditions.”

Fab Links from Our Members

Shevia adores the Kate Spade Miss Adventure series starring Anna Kendrick and some incredible guest stars, including her dog!

L’Abeille loved these vintage trading cards depicting professions for women of the future imagined in 1902.

Vildy would like to share a selection of excerpts from Cintra Wilson’s Critical Shopper column for the New York Times that ran until March 2011. Vildy just finds her fascinating to read, as she holds back nothing.

Angie came across a guide on how to keep heavy brooches from flopping back onto your clothes. Enter foam backing. Great idea! 

With Pope Francis visiting the US at the moment, Marlene thought the timing right to have a look at his wardrobe.

25 women bare their unretouched thighs, and describe them in one word. Robin especially enjoyed the comments from women about how strong and useful their thighs are. She adds: “People measure their beauty and worth against impossible standards, and they also expect their bodies to stay the same over time and are distressed when that doesn’t happen.”