A recent post on high-rise jeans caused a gentle stir in the comments section about the size of your bottom in the silhouette. The concern was that your bottom looks larger in high-rise jeans and trousers when you tuck your top to showcase the waistband. Of course this is not the case when leaving tops untucked, or partially tucked in front, because then your bottom is covered.

It’s true. Showcasing your high rise makes your bottom look larger. Conversely, a lower back rise with a tucked top makes it look smaller.

I’m probably in the minority but I LIKE the look of a longer and larger gluteus maximus in fitted high-rise jeans and trousers. For one thing, it lengthens the leg line from the thighs upward. For another, the accentuated curves and defined waistline are sensual. To my eye, these proportions can be very attractive on petite, regular and plus size women. Gone are the days when reducing the size of your bottom was best.

I do agree that showcasing the waistband of high-rise jeans and trousers with a tucked top looks a bit off when you’re very short-waisted, because the silhouette shortens the torso even further (especially when you’re large in the bust).

So I vote yay for larger butts in high-rise jeans and trousers if it doesn’t make your torso look disproportionately short.

What’s your take?

Kohl’s next design collaboration, an Adidas sustainability initiative, and other fashion news that made headlines this week.

• Adidas is partnering with the Parley for the Oceans initiative to develop fibres made from marine plastic waste.
• For the second year in a row, Adidas Originals is bringing out a capsule collection for Topshop.
• For its seventh DesigNation collaboration Kohl’s is teaming up with Thakoon Panichgul.
• To coincide with Earth Day, J.Crew launched its second Save the Bees campaign on Wednesday.
• The North Face is rolling out its “Clothes the Loop” recycling programme nationwide. The goal for 2015 is to salvage 100,000 pounds of clothes and footwear.

Fun Fashion Fact

Did you know that Liz Claiborne developed marketing strategies that changed how brands are presented in retail stores. She insisted that her clothing line was displayed separately, as a department to itself, accompanied by all the other items she offered. “This was the first time customers were able to select many types of clothing articles by brand name alone in one location of a department store.”

This ensemble was inspired by an outfit in the Banana Republic lookbook, which I thought was a very fashionable way to sport Summer business casual. You could also wear the outfit out to lunch or dinner. Or out and about with a more casual pair of shoes because there is life after jeans. 

Of course, if wearing sleeveless tops and open sandals to work is not an option, substitute those items with a sleeved blouse and closed toe footwear like pumps or flats.

Culottes have become a trendy and very wearable mainstream item, but they might not be your cup of tea. So I’ve provided cropped pants (ankle length or shorter) and a pencil skirt as alternatives.

Here are the components of the ensemble:

Bottoms: Think black culottes, harem pants, cropped pants or a pencil skirt. I’ve deliberately kept jeans out of the formula, but feel free to substitute these dressy bottoms with black jeans.  

Tops: Choose a light neutral top with or without sleeves in a silhouette that works with the bottoms. Keep the fabric dressy for business casual, or jersey for a more relaxed vibe. Wear the top untucked in a fluid of tailored fit. Choose a print or solid. I like cobalt matched with black if you’d prefer to wear a colour. Solid pastels look fab too. 

Black Vest: You’ll need a black moto vest in leather or pleather, or a dressier style of black vest in a non-leather fabrication. Layer it over the top and wear it open. 

Footwear: Choose black sandals, peep-toe booties, heeled mules, pumps, ankle strap pumps or flats, or slipper flats. I threw in a pair of sneakers for those who want to interpret the ensemble in a Sporty Luxe way. 

Accessories: Finish off the outfit with a Spring or Summer bag, which means preferably not black. I vote metallic, pastel, dove grey, tan or white. I’ve also included a wristlet because sometimes that’s all you need. Add jewellery, eyewear and watch as desired. 

I have yet to add a structured vest (sleeveless jacket) to my own wardrobe. Perhaps this will be the year I do that. Dressy vests provide practical outfit interest on a hot day when it’s too warm to wear a sleeved jacket.

In honour of Earth Day yesterday, I’m sharing some eco-friendly links and articles about sustainability initiatives that caught my attention.

• Los Angeles-based clothing brand Reformation has launched RefScale, a system that tracks the environmental footprint for each of their products, and at the same time compares them to industry standards.
• Yvon Chouinard, the founder of outdoor clothing brand Patagonia, is urging his customers not to buy new Patagonia goods, but to reuse and recycle them as much as possible instead.
• Yahoo Style! did a roundup of The Best Eco Fashion to Celebrate Earth Day, and also shared 9 Eco-Friendly Men’s Shoes.
• Australian environmental scientist and model Laura Wells just released an eco-friendly swimwear collection made from Recotex, a 100% recycled yarn that reuses spandex and polyester.
• The New York Times lets us know that Green Is the New Denim, or in other words, that sustainability is becoming “a basic every brand needs as part of doing business.”
• Refinery29 investigates the practice of “greenwashing” in the beauty industry.

Fab Links from Our Members

This tongue-in-cheek article about culottes made Diana giggle.

After reading this older post about how “good eyebrows can change your entire face“, Jeweled wonders if “power eyebrows” are still a thing this year.

Jackiec is thrilled that H&M-owned brand COS is coming to Canada.

DonnaF reports that two entrepreneurs are creating a line of maternity clothes for genderqueer parents.

MyWebRoom.com lets you build virtual rooms that can be filled with the products you love. Justina thought this fashion-themed room has a ton of good links.

In need of some fashion-related laughs? Laura (rhubarbgirl) recommends checking out the Throwback Thursday posts on the Nordstrom blog.

Art director Malinda Kahl wears the exact same thing to work every day. La Belle Demimondaine finds this very interesting, but was also frustrated by the different reaction she and her male co-workers get for doing the same thing.