Most of us shop for individual items. Even when we buy several items in one shopping session, they often don’t work together. While we (hopefully) do have outfits in mind, the pieces we will pair them with are in our closet at home. Sometimes we have a future plan for our new purchases, like when we introduce a new colour or silhouette and their support acts are a work in progress. This approach to creating outfits takes more discipline and time, but it can be effective. The search for the next fabulous piece is in itself a fun process, especially when you have a knack for putting together cohesive outfits. 

Shopping for complete outfits in a single session is less common. I have clients who prefer to work this way because they want to work efficiently, and they want to be certain that their purchases don’t become wardrobe orphans. To quote one of my clients, “outfits are outstanding, pieces are problematic”. With some of my clients we take this a step further and shop for an entire mix-and-match capsule in one session, making sure that all items we purchase can be combined in multiple ways to create several cohesive outfits.

Sometimes we shop for outfits or capsules that will work with my client’s existing footwear and accessories. In this case we bring along a few pairs of shoes and bags we have in mind as starting points, or we bring photos of my client’s current footwear and accessories. Sometimes we will shop separately for the footwear that will complete an outfit or capsule.

My clients who prefer to shop for complete outfits tend to shop less frequently, and their shopping trips are longer. More stamina and patience are required, and more money is spent in one go. When they do occasionally buy an individual item, they do so because they know exactly where it will fit into their existing outfits and capsules.

Shopping this way does restrict your options. First, you are limited to what you can find on shopping day, be it on sale or at full price. This means the best time to shop for complete outfits is near the beginning of mid-season offerings when assortments and sizes are abundant. Second, it’s hard to shop this way online because you need to be trying on the items together as you go.

These marathon shopping sessions are not for everyone. But they work well for my professional clients who want to work very efficiently and dedicate a small amount of time to shopping each season. Especially if my client does not want to spend too much time at home experimenting with outfit combinations.

Over to you. Do you purchase a few pieces at a time thereby completing the outfits at home, or do you purchase complete outfits in one shopping session?

A Bergdorf Goodman cookbook, Sorel launching an outerwear collection, Vince opening more stand-alone stores in the US, and other fashion news that made the rounds this week.

• Sorel is launching an outerwear collection for Fall/Winter 2015.
• Vince plans to open eight to ten new stores in the US this year.
• Denim brand Ayr has launched a try-on-at-home service for its best-selling skinny jeans.
• Reports claim that Marc Jacobs’ diffusion line, Marc by Marc Jacobs, will be discontinued as a stand-alone label.
• Former Emilio Pucci designer Peter Dundas has been appointed Creative Director of Roberto Cavalli.
• Gwen Stefani is bringing out a limited-edition collection of Harajuku Lovers unisex watches.
• The Bergdorf Goodman Cookbook, out on Tuesday, contains signature dishes from designers like Zac Posen and Diane von Furstenberg.

Fun Fashion Fact

Did you know that the fashion world is calling the slim-fit, straight leg jeans that are currently on trend again, the slimmy. The Guardian desribes them as:

“The kind of jeans that make no sort of statement and, at first glance, fit no trend. They’re neither skinny nor boyfriend. Instead, they’re kind of in the middle — not skintight and not loosecut, a kind of ‘nothing’ jean; a compromise in indigo.”

Some of my clients like to wear very dark outfits in warm weather, which is why the Eileen Fisher looks caught my eye. The point is to create a dark column of colour from top to toe that is fitted on the bottom and loosely drapey on top. If wearing a black top and bottom is not your thing, substitute the top with ink blue or charcoal. 

The fabric of the tops and the style of the footwear will determine whether the outfit is smart casual or casual. Silkier fabrics, crisp jackets, and dressier shoes will amp up the dressy factor.

Here are the components:

Bottoms: Think black leggings, jeggings or Ponte knit skinnies. Leather leggings or leggings with leather inserts will work too. Keep them full length or cropped. Of course, a black pair of skinnies will work if that’s all you have to play with, but they will create a bulkier look under the tunic.

Tops: Choose soft flowing tunics in knits or wovens with asymmetrical hemlines. The asymmetrical hemlines are important because they add interest to the combination, thereby creating outfit depth. Black on black can look extremely flat if you don’t choose the pairing carefully. Choose black, charcoal or ink blue. I’ve stuck to solids, but by all means wear a tonal black pattern if that’s more your cup of tea. 

Toppers: The topper is optional, but if you’d like to add a third layer, think black or charcoal moto, boyfriend cardigan, long vest, blazer, tuxedo jacket, boxy black jacket, cape, wrap or poncho. Keep the jackets open so that you don’t loose the dramatic drapey lines of the outfit. 

Footwear: I’ve chosen five pairs of on-trend footwear styles that can be worn with all three renditions. Slides, peep-toe booties, pointy toe ankle strap flats, slip-on sneakers, and cut-out booties. But pumps, d’Orsay flats and heels, loafers, oxfords, ballet flats, espadrilles, chunky sandals, flatforms, platforms, gladiators, cage heels, clogs and mules will also work. 

It’s nice to break up the black by wearing non-black footwear if you’re wearing black bottoms, top and topper.  A little white strap or sole, white shoes, cobalt shoes or metallic options are fab. 

Accessories: Choose a non-black bag to break up the darkness of the outfit. White, tan, cognac or grey work well. Or opt for a pastel or bright bag. Finish off the look with a scarf, eyewear, watch and jewellery as desired. 

I will be popping a pair of cropped black leggings under my ink blue silk flag dress as a nod to this outfit formula as soon as the weather warms up. I will finish off the outfit with black and white pointy toe ballet flats and a white bag to break up the darkness of the palette.

With the weather warming up, and Angie talking about footwear trends for Spring 2015, I know I’m not the only one eager to add a few pairs of fun peds to my Spring wardrobe. So I thought I’d share some footwear roundups today:

• Popsugar predicts these pointy toe lace-up ballet flats are going to be the next big thing in shoes.
• They also bring us The Ultimate Guide to Shopping Every Spring Shoe Trend.
• The Telegraph tells us how to find the perfect block heel.
• Refinery29 found 53 pairs of sneakers to wear right now.
• While The Huffington Post shares 11 Floral Print Sneakers That’ll Keep You Blooming All Season Long.
• Looking for pointy toe flats? Then check out these suggestions.
• If you’re after sandals, all the ones included in this roundup are currently on sale.

Fab Links from Our Members

Diana and Deb both wanted to share this article in The New Yorker on the history of the Birkenstock and its rise as a fashion icon.

Sharon thought this was a very helpful set of outfit ideas to use for wardrobe planning.

Annagybe directs us to this piece on The Fall of the Hipster Brand.

Transcona Shannon reports that Elton John started quite the Twitter flurry with his public boycotting of Dolce & Gabbana over their IVF baby comments. She adds it will be interesting to see how this plays out for the fashion house.

Caro in Oz says there’s plenty of inspiration to be found over at Rhonda’s Creative Life for anyone who sews.

Angie thought this article contained fascinating information on what to wear when you’re a keynote speaker and want your talk to go viral. Several speakers were interviewed and asked about how they chose their outfit, what they wanted to communicate with it, and whether they were happy with the result.

Angie also refers us to Sally’s post about which design elements make clothing look young and old.