Outstanding Outfit Bloggers

Bold & Feminine Style

Assa Cisse (33), blogger and Mum of two boys, lives in Canada. She believes in celebrating women of all shapes and sizes, and documents her outfits over at My Curves & Curls. Her style is bold and feminine with bucketloads of flair. She is a dress gal at heart, with a soft spot for statement earrings and a fun print. Assa also likes to pattern mix, and has a good eye for unusual colour combos. Her bright lipstick, bouncy curls and wide smile are all trademark Assa.

“My style has definitely changed since I first started blogging which is about 5 years ago. I pay more attention to details while putting my outfits together and take a lot more risks now. I’ve always loved colors, and now I am more comfortable and confident while mixing them. I think it’s also safe to say that my style has evolved beautifully because I write a fashion blog and I am also inspired daily by other bloggers.”

Assa Cisse - 1

Assa’s eye-catching bird print blazer is the star of the show. She’s layered it over black skinny jeans, and a black and white slogan print tee, which creates a clean graphic effect. Pairing pastels with black looks fresh and vibrant when you throw white into the mix. Our blogger’s fabulous black curls pull together the colour palette even further. The longer topper and ankle straps on the footwear that come up right to the hem of the jeans provide vertical integrity. The block-heeled sandals cleverly pick up the soft yellow in the blazer. The black satchel and subtle black details in Assa’s bib necklace echo the dark jeans. Bright red lippie and nail polish, and one of Assa’s many pairs of sunnies complete the look.

Assa Cisse - 2

A midi dress with all-over leopard print makes for a bold style statement that might look a little overwhelming on some. But our statuesque, 5’11” blogger wears it with grace and pizzazz. The soft pleats on the fit-and-fare frock start under the bust and drape down elegantly to below the knee. The subtle drape contrasts nicely with the more rigid fabric of the thrifted trench. The khaki adds soft edge. Accessorizing with a coral infinity scarf is an unexpected touch. It adds extra vibrancy to an already powerful look. No need for extra bells and whistles. Assa’s finishes of the outfit with simple pointy toe pumps and black bag with gold hardware.

When asked which 2015 Fall/Winter trends she is looking forward to the most, Assa said:

“I am really looking forward to wearing a lot of plaid and army green this Fall. Plaid pieces are always popular during this time of the year. I’m wearing mine with other prints like stripes or animal prints. The army green will be worn with other colors such as red, orange, yellow and navy to name a few.”

Assa Cisse - 3

I first thought Assa was sporting a cold-shoulder top, but the effect is created by layering the vest over an off-the-shoulder long-sleeved tee. Fun! The combination adds lots of visual interest to this simple and strong black and white look. Rolling the jeans shows off Assa’s slim ankles, and the bare skin echoes our blogger’s exposed shoulders. Black suede slipper flats bookend Assa’s hair and add textural interest. The leather cognac shopper and gold jewellery look chic with the graphic colour palette. Mirrored sunglasses and Assa’s trademark bright lip are the fun finishing touches.

Assa Cisse - 4

Assa Cisse - 4

All you need for a feminine and festive look are a great frock, fab shoes, and a few well-chosen accessories. The polka dot mesh detailing on Assa’s short-sleeved dress and the see-through part at the bottom create a playful and alluring effect. The swing style is a flattering silhouette that allows enough movement to dance and twirl. The black floppy hat adds dramatic flair, and emphasizes Assa’s gorgeous curls. Our blogger threw in a second pattern with the small animal print clutch. The cobalt and black ankle strap pumps further amp up the flirty fun factor. An interesting silver necklace, gold watch, bright red lipstick, and our blogger is ready to party the night away.

Assa Cisse - 5

Assa Cisse - 5

Sherlock Holmes comes to Canada! Doesn’t this vintage tweed cape look divine on Assa. The grey, tan with blue, green and red colour combo works beautifully with her complexion, and the midi length and oversized style are perfect for her height. Underneath Assa is wearing a navy turtleneck sweater dress paired with black leggings and flat boots. The below-the-knee length, casual footwear and leggings effectively de-bombshell the form-fitting dress. Her taupe felt hat adds boho flair. Our blogger’s rosy cheeks and bouncy curls add extra charm.

Assa Cisse - 6

What a showstopper this dress is! I’ve never met Assa in person, but I’d like to think that the bright magenta matches her fun-loving and vivacious personality. This sassy flutter-sleeved midi dress hugs Assa’s curves in all the right places, while the ruching provides a gentle camouflaging effect. The surplice neckline is flattering on a larger bust. The subtly curved hemline creates even more visual interest. Our blogger is no wallflower. She could have gone with neutral accessories, but instead opted for aqua chandelier earrings and bright pink lipstick, which make the outfit pop even more. The low animal print wedges in shades of brown are an unexpected pairing with the bright pink. Playful and feminine.

Let us know what you think of Assa’s bold, feminine style, and then hop on over to My Curves & Curls to browse the rest of her outfits.

Hack an Old Pair of Bottoms to Refresh Your Style

Almost every Summer I hack off the length of an old pair of bottoms to create a more updated look. Last year I chopped an old pair of Gap boyfriend jeans to create a pair of boyfriend shorts. I kept the length to just above the knee with a rolled hem and wear the shorts on ultra casual hot days at home or walking Sam, our Yorkie pup. I much prefer them as shorts than I did as jeans.

Just last week I shortened a very old pair of white KUT from the Kloth Diana skinnies to an inch above the ankle to create a tidy and crisp visual effect with my new block-heeled snakeskin ankle strap pumps and white tunic shirt.

I’d worn this exact outfit before the chop, rolling the hems of the full-length skinnies to showcase the straps of the shoes. But I didn’t like the roll with the outfit because it wasn’t sufficiently streamlined and looked too casual. Scissors and a quick hem sorted that out, and I’m much happier with the dressier and more fashionable look. 

Anyone else a little scissor-happy in the Summer? I have to say that it’s fun, and cost-effective, creating “new” silhouettes with the items in your wardrobe. It’s amazing how these small changes instantly make your style feel refreshed.

Custom-Made Tall Boots

It’s very hard to find a pair of comfortable and streamlined knee-high boots that fit well on the lower leg. Extra wide and extra narrow calves are almost impossible to fit straight off the rack, especially when your calf circumference measures thirteen inches or less. Most options for narrow calves include a stretch panel, which might not be the style you’re looking for. There do seem to be multiple options available for wider calves these days, but not when you’re petite and need a shorter shaft measurement.  

One option is to have tall boots custom made to fit your calves, the length of your leg, and foot shape. I know of two companies that will do just that. The first is Poppy Barley, who also custom make other footwear styles. Here’s a selection of their knee-high boots. 

The second company is Ted & Muffy, who used to be called Duo Boots. They have an even larger assortment of custom-made tall boots, but they don’t allow you to specify shaft measurements. My sister-in-law who lives in London has had several pairs of tall boots tailor made by Duo boots. She walks great distances in nasty weather and these boots go the distance. I saw the boots while visiting in June and was impressed with their quality and fit. 

Ted & Muffy
Hestia
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5
Ted & Muffy
Leda
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3
Ted & Muffy
Peronella
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1
Ted & Muffy
Ismene
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3
Ted & Muffy
Melete
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2
Ted & Muffy
Bellatrix
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2
Ted & Muffy
Seraphine
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2
Ted & Muffy
Acantha
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1
Ted & Muffy
Althea
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3
Ted & Muffy
Comet
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2
Ted & Muffy
Draco
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1
Ted & Muffy
Draco
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4
Ted & Muffy
Celestia
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1
Ted & Muffy
Marvel
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2
Ted & Muffy
Quest
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3
Ted & Muffy
Huntsman
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3
Ted & Muffy
Huntsman
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9
Ted & Muffy
Elfin
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1

Despite the fact that they are custom made, these boots can be returned if you’re unhappy with them. They are pricey though. If they’re robust and ultra comfortable with a superb fit, they might be worth it.

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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Four Reasons to Keep Items that You Seldom Wear

Items that are purchased but seldom worn are generally undesirable because they represent wasted time, money and closet space. Too many of them, and you’re left with a closet full of stuff and nothing to wear. 

But there are situations where seldom worn items are perfectly fine. I’ll use my own wardrobe to illustrate four of them.

1. Special Occasion Wear

You can’t expect all items to be wardrobe workhorses, especially with a moderate or large wardrobe. Special occasion wear is not intended for frequent use. You’ll wear these pieces a few times a year, or even skip a year from time to time, and that’s fine. I have fancy dresses, skirts, a jumpsuit, high-heeled sitting shoes, and a very impractical small clutch that fit into this category. 

2. Extending Longevity

There are a few items that I don’t wear often because they would be hard to replace and I want to keep them for a very long time. Wearing and laundering them shortens their life, especially when the pieces are delicate. So I deliberately choose to limit their action so that they continue to look pristine. My Valentino and Chanel bags, and white Anne Fontaine shirt are in this orphan category. So is my cream Jil Sander skirt because it’s delicate. And an eight year old designer belted leather jacket that was my first ever NAS purchase. The cracked patent is peeling off the belt and this is irreparable, so I only wear it very occasionally to prevent further damage. 

3. Temporary Hibernation

These are the items that I used to wear frequently at one point, but haven’t worn in a while because I’m in the mood to wear something else on the current leg of my style journey. I continue to love the pieces — they still spark joy — so I am not passing them on just yet. I’m sure that they’ll come back into rotation after a period of hibernation. 

My Rudsack mixed media black coat and Alexander Wang clutch are hard-edged pieces that I have to be in the mood to wear with the right soft support act. (I favour my soft and pretty colourful, ink and cream coats and clutches a LOT more than the same item in black). I had a huge run with Sporty Luxe a few seasons ago so I’m giving that vibe a bit of a break, hence the colour blocked jacket isn’t currently in rotation. I haven’t been in the mood for cobalt or masculine tuxedo shirts, so those pieces are resting too. My flared Kate Spade skirt took a back seat after I got my striped midi. Both pairs of shoes are too high-contrast on my feet for my current style preferences. And the faded blue boyfriend jeans feel too Tomboy this year. I’m only wearing streamlined white boyfriend jeans because they’re prettier and less tough.

4. Capsule Work in Progress 

You may have purchased an item with the intention of purchasing other items to accompany it in future. So although it’s currently orphaned, your plan is that the item will get a lot more wear when you have the right support act. When I first got my black silk harem pants six years ago, I only had one dressy way to wear them. But over the years I’ve managed to wear them with all sorts of tops and toppers and footwear, right up to the point that they’ve become a versatile piece. The collection below shows the harem pants together with all the items I now pair with them.

The last category is tricky because you have to be committed to finding the pieces to complete the capsule. There is little sense in holding on to an orphaned piece for years in the hope that you might find something to wear with it. 

Most of the items in your wardrobe should be ones that you wear quite regularly. From time to time you should review the seldom worn items and analyse why you aren’t wearing them. If there are only a few of them, and if they fall into one of the four categories above, you’re probably fine. If not, consider popping them into a holding zone or passing them on. 

Fashion News Roundup: Week 33, 2015

Macy’s is coming to New York Fashion Week, Aldo is teaming up with Target, People StyleWatch magazine gets a makeover, and other style stories from around the world this week.

Fun Fashion Fact

Did you know that during the Second World War, French couturier Lucien Lelong, who was also president of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, persuaded the Germans to allow French couture houses to remain in Paris instead of being moved to Vienna or Berlin. Thanks to his efforts, over ninety fashion houses were kept running throughout the occupation of Paris from 1940 to 1944.