This outfit combination was inspired by three looks from Nordstrom. They combine a T-shirt with a pair of casual bottoms, denim vest and casual shoes. Relaxed, trendy, comfortable and a little tomboy. Good for Mums and gals on the go in very casual settings. 

I’ve kept the outfits neutral with black, white, grey and denim, but by all means add some colour. I also added the option of a cognac bag and footwear to warm up “cool neutrals” if that tickles your fancy. 

Here are the components of the ensemble:

Bottoms: Think black, grey or white jeans (any style) or city chinos (roll the chinos at the hem). Black and white Ponte pants, shorts or culottes will also work. I threw in some harem pants just for fun. Sporty track pants or joggers are another way to go in either a pattern or solid grey jersey, or a casual black fabrication. 

Tops: Think linen and cotton-rich T-shirts in white, grey or black. Wear them fluid or oversized in basic cuts or high-low silhouettes. Partially tuck the front for structure, or leave the tees untucked (the vest will add structure when layered over the top). If tees are not your thing, think casual knitwear, soft cotton blouses, or a lightweight sweatshirt.

Create a column of colour, or create contrast between the top and bottom. Wear a pattern or slogan if solids look too plain. Adding a belt to the partially tucked top is optional.  

Vest: Think classic denim vest in blue denim in a fairly structured fit. Leave the front unbuttoned. You can choose an oversized version because those are still on trend. Or choose a longer silhouette with drawstring waist definition. 

Footwear: Choose any style of casual footwear that works with the outfit, like slides, slipper flats, Birkenstocks, ankle strap flats, cut-out booties, pointy toe flats, slip-on sneakers, wedge sneakers, wedge sandals, sandal booties, mules or gladiators. Black, white and metallic are a slam dunk, but cognac adds an unexpected touch. Animal print or floral flats will work too. 

Accessories: A casual scarf is optional. Choose a casual tote, hobo, bucket bag or backpack in black, grey, metallic, white, cognac or tan. Or throw in a patterned or non-neutral bag. Finish off the look with headgear, eyewear, watch and jewellery as desired. 

You can turn the formula on its head by wearing black jeans with a grey tee and white denim vest. Or a black top with blue jeans and a white vest. Or substitute the denim vest for a white one in the first rendition on the left (patterned track pants).

The Business of Fashion is currently running an interesting series on why the fashion industry is ignoring the plus-size market. Have a look at: Plus-Size Is a Huge Growth Opportunity, Reaping Plus-Size Rewards Online, Serving Women of All Sizes Has Business Benefits.

The Guardian interviews Tess Munster, the largest plus-size model signed with a mainstream agency.

Fab Links from Our Members

Summer is almost here, and Deb found this review of all-mineral sunscreens very helpful.

Diane G loved this little peek into some of the work that goes into making a Dior dress.

Laura (rhubarbgirl) thought “Inside Gap’s Plan to Get Back Into Your Drawers” an interesting read.

This tool for colour blindness has helped Dixie, whose first language is not English, to learn new names for colours. She also came across an article explaining why no one could see the colour blue until modern times.

Angie directs us to this animated short interview with 93-year old fashion icon Iris Apfel.

Marlene feels inspired by Bridgette Raes’ approach to creating a wardrobe capsule.

Vicki would love to go see this exhibition at the Tate Modern in London which celebrates the work of Sonia Delaunay.

The Atlantic’s review of Jo Paoletti’s book Sex and Unisex: Fashion, Feminism, and the Sexual Revolution explains how gender-neutral clothing has mirrored broader social changes throughout the 20th century. Having lived through a couple of those changes herself, Laurinda found the article especially interesting.

More than 8 years ago I suggested the three bag complement for handbag minimalists who don’t like to swap out their bags regularly. One bag for Autumn and Winter outfits, one for your Spring and Summer style, and a dressy clutch for formal events. This simple handbag capsule was inspired by clients who would carry a single large black or dark brown handbag throughout the year. It tended to look seasonally confused with soft, light and lightweight warm weather outfits, and looked even more out of place with their formal attire. 

Over the years I’ve changed my mind about having the dressy clutch as an on-hand option in case you need to go to a formal event. First, because it’s best to purchase the clutch as and when you need it and after you know exactly what you’re going to wear to the event (which includes footwear). That way you’ll ensure the very best choice of clutch to finish off your look. And second, because fewer of my clients are going to formal events these days, which means that a formal handbag option is not an essential stand-by anymore. That’s why a TWO bag complement makes more sense. 

An Autumn and Winter handbag needn’t be dark, but that’s the traditional and practical way of making it seasonally appropriate. A cold weather bag usually has a rich integrity — for example, leopard print or tweed — and tends to be more structured. A Spring and Summer handbag needn’t be bright, pastel, a light neutral or metallic, but again, those traditional options make the bag look more seasonally appropriate. Casual linen, canvas, wicker and beach bags look very Summer-y and are best reserved for warm weather. 

My clients who are handbag minimalists select two bags to wear for the year (excluding formal events). They sport each bag for about six months. This wears out their bags at a much faster rate, especially when they frequently travel for work. They often retire a non-designer bag after one season because it’s worn out, or because they’re ready for a change. They tend to keep designer bags for longer because they’re generally more robust, but they might stop wearing them regularly after one year. They purchase another for the next season. 

I am not a handbag minimalist at all. In fact, I’m a handbag maximalist because I LOVE handbags. I thoroughly enjoy shopping for them, across all price points, and regard them as an important part of my outfit. I have many in rotation in one season. I swap them out daily because I like the way they change up the vibe of my outfit. I will also pair formal handbags with jeans when we go out for supper. My wardrobe pets are dear to me and last a long time because they’re frequently rotated to share the wear. I pass on my bags to dear friends when they’re still in good condition so that they can be enjoyed even longer, and so I know that they went to a good home.

Over to you. When it comes to handbags, are you a minimalist or a maximalist?

I’ve worn this outfit three times in one month because of its high happiness factor. It is not the most conventionally flattering combination, but I feel fab wearing it because it’s graphic, comfortable, bold, and slightly playful. Most importantly, it feels different to many of the outfits I’ve been wearing over the last four years and is more in line with recent shifts in my style. 

I’ve mentioned that I want to amp up the feminine integrity of my outfits with tailoring, visible softness, lighter colours and pretty items. The outfit with the sea foam leather jacket — another favourite that I’ve worn multiple times — ticks off all the boxes. Comparatively, this combination is less pretty, light and soft, but it’s adequately tailored with the addition of skinnies, dressier loafers, a fitted trench coat and structured bag. The white accents add some softness, as does the light blue and satin texture of the bottoms. The part that adds a significant  amount of softness to my outfits these days is the new ‘do, which is quite practical. And to my eye, the citron and turquoise components provide ample pretty. 

The top, trousers, loafers and handbag are new this season, but the trench coat and sunnies are five years old. Creating an outfit that remixes old pieces with new ones puts a spring in my step. It gives me the satisfaction of knowing that I’ve created a cohesive wardrobe and that I’m appreciating old favourites. I have one pair of sunglasses with prescription lenses, which is why you see me wearing the same pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers repeatedly. 

The Trouvé contrast underlay sweater piqued my interest because of the high neckline, slim-fit sleeves, graphic integrity, and two-for-one concept with the shirttail underlayers. It provides the illusion of layering a pullover over a shirt with a lot more ease and comfort. The tapered shape of the sweater portion against the high-contrast woven white fabric creates a slimming effect, both at the front and back, which offsets the boxiness of the long, oversized piece. The colour blocked side view of the top is interesting too. These distinctive details, along with the curve of the hemline, are visually clever and appeal to me most about the top. 

A boxy top works well with sleek bottoms that add structure to the volume. I didn’t like the pullover paired with sleek black or denim blue skinnies quite as much, which is why I’ve stuck to light blue satin trousers. The high-contrast top and bottom combination, left untucked and worn with high-contrast flats, is leg shortening. A tucked or partially tucked top and heels would have been instantly more lengthening and would have created more flattering proportions. Alternatively, creating a low-contrast between the top, bottom and footwear with white jeans would have prevented the stumpiness created by the flats and multiple horizontal lines. I will certainly wear the top that way too. 

It’s been perfect trench coat and leather jacket Spring weather in Seattle. My old Karen Millen citron trench is my favourite trench of all time because of the cut, fit, quality, fabrication and colour. (I wish I could replicate it in a stone or toffee with black buttons). I chose this topper instead of a black, denim or white option because it added an extra dimension of colour, which makes me happy. It also adds a classic and tailored vibe. 

I finished off the look with white slipper flats because they pick up the white in the top, and because they add a lightness and crispness to the outfit. I’m fine with their less-than-elongating visual impact because they’re extremely comfortable, and to my eye look just flattering enough. The turquoise Furla satchel adds a fifth colour to the mix. A little jarring and mismatched for some, but because I so enjoy wearing happy colours, the combination is quite soothing to me. 

I’ve done a lot of Spring shopping this year, and many of the items — like the bag and the flats in this outfit — are already becoming wardrobe workhorses. My citron trench works hard every Spring, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be wearing a lot more of this underlay sweater with white skinnies and white flares.