A new outfit from Kelly of Alterations Needed, who we introduced to YLF in July 2013.

Our 4’11” blogger is sporting a roomy striped shirt over relaxed-fit skinnies. The leather jacket has a structured shoulder line, which keeps the volume of the untucked shirt in check. The menswear-inspired dress shirt and moto jacket give this look a spunky tomboy vibe. Dainty suede pumps, Kelly’s curls and gold arm candy add in the pretty. Faded denim, charcoal and black make a great colour combo on our brunette. The brown spotted haircalf pattern on Kelly’s bucket bag — they are making a comeback! — is the unexpected boho chic touch.

Bucket bags are barrel shaped with a top drawstring closure and shoulder strap. They have been a fringe trend for four years, but have battled to gain momentum. That changed this year, with the style once again going mainstream like it did back in the ’90s. 

The bucket bag has its casual and boho chic appeal. Its lack of structure successfully dresses down an outfit much like a slouchy hobo style. The drawstring closure is in itself an interesting, textural and eye-catching detail. But it’s not that easy finding your stuff in this style of bag. You end up digging around a lot, especially when you tend to carry many items in your bag. That said, bag organizers are one way to solve the problem, and some bucket bags are more structured than others. 

My first expensive and “grown-up” handbag was a brown and black suede version that I bought in my second year as a fashion buyer back in 1995. I thought it was a good way to dress down my neutral power suit during the week, and dress up my Levis 501’s over the weekend. Polished, yet not overly structured and formal. The suede was bald by the time I stopped wearing it, I loved it so much. Now though, I find the drawstring detailing too maximal for my taste, and prefer a much simpler looking bag. I’m also not fond of carrying bags on my shoulder. But I do like bucket bags on others, and some of my clients have been sporting them for a while.  

Over to you. Would you wear a bucket bag?

Decorations are everywhere as Hong Kong prepares for the lunar new year, and this includes shopping malls and window displays. Although most references are to the year of the “goat”, the sheep and the ram also represent this animal in the Chinese zodiac. It is fun to see how different brands interpret the symbols in ways that are aligned with their aesthetic. Some displays are literal, others are more abstract, and many are works of art. From huge plush toys and realistic statues, to wooden sculptures, origami and animals made of glass and cardboard. Some displays are colourful, while others are neutral and monotone. 

Pantone announces its top colours for Fall 2015, Old Navy teams up with Current/Elliott, Inditex stops selling angora wool products, and more news from the style trenches this week.

• This week, Lucky launched its new website, Lucky Shops, which combines editorial content with e-commerce.
• Old Navy teams up with the founders of demin line Current/Elliott, who will serve as the brand’s “Style Ambassadors”. 
• Inditex, the parent company of Zara and Massimo Dutti, will stop selling products made with angora wool.
• Pantone’s top colours for Fall 2015 are a nod back to the seventies.
• Karl Lagerfeld is branching out into childrenswear. 
• A new exhibition in Paris examines the history of the button.
• Barneys turns its blog The Window into a printed magazine that will be mailed to the store’s “best customers”. 

Fun Fashion Fact

Did you know that Prada has put its entire fashion archive online. The Future Archive contains runway images, advertising campaigns and catwalk videos going back all the way to 1987.