A new outfit from Janie Medley of Medley Style, whom we introduced to YLF in August 2023.

Janie is rocking this polished casual all-neutrals look. She’s created a column of black by pairing a tunic-length turtleneck with mixed-media skinny trousers, which creates a long lean line. Chestnut pointy-toe booties with black block heel and black elastic inset repeat the trouser colour and add to the visually lengthening effect. Our blogger dresses up the outfit with a relaxed-fit tan wool coat that lightens up the black. Gold bangles, big hoop earrings, and arty black and copper necklace tie the dark and light neutrals together, adding shiny visual interest. Janie finishes off the look with a fun fedora and raspberry lipstick.

This is the sixth time I’m choosing a word and colour for the year. The tradition started with my lovely friend, and YLF Fabber, Laura, whose done this for decades. She invited me to join her in 2019 and I haven’t looked back. Thank you, Laura!

Choose a word to keep top of mind for 2024. Take it to heart, and act on it. Personally, I’ve found this a motivating and worthwhile exercise. It helps me prioritize and get more out of the year. I’m more focussed and accountable to small and big-picture life goals, which is quite satisfying. 

The colour I choose can be one I’m liking more than other colours at the moment, or a colour I want represented more strongly in my life. It can come through in my style, our home, our setting, and in the natural beauty that surrounds us.

These are words and colours I’ve chosen in previous years. Nothing too serious, and it’s all in good fun. Sometimes I repeat a word or colour because they need a do-over, or I’m not quite ready to move on to another.

2019: Relaxed/Red

2020: Experience/ Blue

2021: Achieve/ Citron

2022: Achieve/ Light Blue

2023: Change/Sour Green

On to 2024.

Word: Present

My number one goal for the year is to live in and enjoy the present moment with an open mind, appreciative heart, and empathetic attitude. I want to pay more attention and be fully engaged with what is happening now, around me, and be grateful for it. I want to stop and focus on what is presently fabulous, instead of wishing time away planning and waiting for the next thing. It would be great to be more spontaneous too.

Being mindful in more aspects of my life will take practice, as I’m far too eager to tick things of my list, and plan the next list. This needs to change. I’d like to take a minute to catch my breath during the day, keep screen time in check, spend more time with people who are important and be really present with them. I want to hone my listening skills, practice yoga more frequently and expand my creativity. I want to intentionally enjoy what is right in front of me, right now.

As a great planner of all things in life, I’m pressing the pause button. Planning has its advantages, but it can stress people out, and stress me out too. I can become a little obsessed with my plans. It puts unnecessary pressure on others, and on me. Of course, there will be some planning, but on a smaller scale. And that will be more than enough this year.

My wardrobe is in brilliant shape, and I’m very happy and at peace with my style. Counting my blessings, and hugging my fab-for-me wardrobe. It needs little intervention at this point, so the plan is to generally leave it alone and enjoy the heck out of my stuff.

Colour: Sour Green

An acidic lime and apple green is one of my all-time favourite colours. I’m choosing it as my colour again this year because I want to be surrounded by more of it. It’s a bright yellow green, and not a blue green. I’m also enjoying a yellow based, Kelly green with my new darker blonde hair. While these sour greens are still available at retail, I’d like to purchase a little more of them for my wardrobe. Our home is accented with lime green, and adding more of the colour to our home would make me smile.

Over to you. Join us in choosing a word and colour for the year. Don’t overthink it. Your first and freshest thoughts on the subject are often the best ones. Share them in the comments section when you have a moment. I’m looking forward to hearing them.

The first outfit formula for 2024 is colour-rich. When it’s cold, wet and grey for most of Winter like it is in Seattle, I find it therapeutic, energizing, and calming to wear brights, clashing colours, high-contrast neutrals, high-impact patterns, and Winter whites. Others feel differently, sticking to dark colours, dark neutrals, low-contrast outfits, quiet patterns, and earth tones. Horses for courses, always. Wear what makes you happy, works for the weather and your lifestyle, and panders to your mood of the day.

If you enjoy wearing high-impact colours and patterns in Winter all or some of the time, the colour combinations and components of these outfits might inspire you. Notably, shades of white are used as accents. To my eye, the whites clean up, crisp up, and brighten the palette.

1. Red, Blue, Lilac, and Whites

A pair of relaxed cropped red pants is combined with a white shirt. A lilac sweater is layered over the untucked shirt to showcase white outfit accents. A red, blue and cream coat in a bold geometric pattern tops the lot. Mismatched cream and toffee haute hiking boots complement and complete the outfit. Add a bag that works with the palette.

2. Cinnamon, Whiskey, Orange, Chocolate, and Cream

A burnt orange A-line corduroy skirt is combined with an orange turtleneck. A cream, orange and earthy Fair Isle sweater is layered over the turtleneck. Its semi-tuck is secured with a whiskey belt, which in turn matches a whiskey bag. A cinnamon puffer tops the lot. Tall brown lug-soled boots ground the look. The brown and whiskey in the outfit effectively match the model’s’ hair.

3. Chartreuse, Grey, Cream and Teal

A pair of full-length, flared charcoal grey pinstriped trousers is combined with a grey, white and chartreuse striped sweater. It’s topped with a chartreuse jacket that picks up the same colour in the sweater. Black shoes bookend the model’s hair. A mismatched teal scarf is a dramatic and high-contrast finishing touch. Add a bag that works with the palette.

4. Denim Blue, Pink, Lilac and Bone

A pair of faded blue wide leg, full-length jeans is combined with a white tee. A cool-toned pink jacket tops the tee. A big brushed fringe scarf in a plaid that’s tonal with the pink and lilac of the outfit adds interest to the look. Bone shoes pick up the bone in the patterned scarf, and complement the soft pretty palette. Add jewellery, watch and eyewear as desired.

“Oscars were swept, swimsuit issues set alight, exciting new career phases entered…” The Kit reports that “even in a year saturated with Barbie, Beyoncé and Taylor, women over 50 dominated the cultural landscape with main character energy in 2023.”

From Ayo Edebiri’s workwear dungarees in “The Bear” to Lukas Mattson’s flamboyant Swedish streetwear in “Succession”, The Guardian looks back at the best TV style of 2023.

In a second installment, they also round up film’s biggest fashion moments in 2023. Now I’m curious to know what your favourite were!

Fab Links from Our Members

Ket has been following Georgette of Grown And Curvy Woman (one of our YLF Outfit Bloggers, by the way): “So much fun, glamour, color, and joy!”

Runcarla thought this was fun: Tom and Lorenzo review TV and movie costumes from 2023. She adds: “I want Tom Hank’s trousers (‘hope embodied’ – per the article).”

Suz is loving the ‘Articles of Interest’ podcast, a show about what we wear: “This season has included everything from pointe shoes to prison uniforms! Runcarla might be especially interested in the episode on Hawaiian shirts.”

kkards loves the way Jamie walks through the Pantone colour of the year. She says: “Until I watched this I didn’t realize that they actually had whole color palettes of the year, with basics/classics and fashion colors. I also love the way she illustrates how to wear the colors, and shows examples.”

suntiger directs us to this post on fitting pointe shoes, that could help with regular shoes too.

Nuancedream found this history of the Barbour jacket, which has been gaining popularity in the US more recently, fascinating.