I love lipstick. I wear it every day, apply it several times a day, and don’t feel completely dressed without it. I’m not all that adventurous with colours and prefer to keep them fairly light, subtle and warm. I enjoy how accentuating the colour and shine on the lip adds polish and textural interest to an outfit. Lipstick can also brighten up the shade of a top that is quite dull and lifeless against your natural complexion. 

I’ve been a M.A.C lipstick fan for years. A few years ago I ventured into Laura Mercier’s Lip Glacé and started to enjoy a thin layer on top of my lipstick for extra sheen and moisture. More recently, while helping Inge navigate her way through tinted moisturizer and new shades of lipstick, I stumbled upon Laura Mercier’s Stickgloss. Wow. This is my new favourite lipstick because it’s a brilliant combination of lipstick and gloss that is very moisturizing and not at all sticky. After seeing how stunning the shade of Black Orchid was on Inge, I promptly bought the Patchoulie and Courtisane to complement the cognac accessories and footwear I’ve been sporting for Fall. I’ve been using Stickgloss daily since I bought it and I’m not looking back.

A new shade of lipstick or gloss can be a fun and easy way to cost-effectively refresh your style. What’s your favourite lipstick?

Belting long cardigans at the natural waist was very fashionable about six years ago. After that fashion surrendered the waistline more dramatically each season, making the unstructured billowing cardigan a far more on trend silhouette. I haven’t reported on 2015 Spring collections yet, but the defined waistline stood out in outfit after outfit that came down the runway. More on that later. For now, I want to focus on the “new” defined waist with the belted long cardigan. 

My clients had mixed feelings about belting long cardigans when it was fashionable several seasons ago. Those who wore the look tended to have relatively small waistlines that they enjoyed showcasing. The effect was slimming, conventionally flattering, and looked polished. Those who did not care for the combination found that reining in the volume of a cardigan with a belt created bulk on an area that they were already self-conscious about, making them feel the opposite of streamlined. It was uncomfortable when they sat down because the belt dug into their midsections. Plus, wearing a waist belt with low-rise jeans felt a little odd because there were waistbands on two different parts of the body. 

Wearing a waist belt with stretch is a more comfortable option. Belting a less chunky cardigan creates a more streamlined effect, especially from the side. Creating a low contrast between the belt and the cardigan offsets the strong horizontal line of the belt. It’s also a nice idea to match the colour of the belt with the bottoms for extra outfit cohesion.

Back when I had a long cardigan, I did wear it belted a few times and I liked the look. I didn’t find it uncomfortable, and it was streamlined and polished. These days I’m not a cardigan gal and don’t want to add any to my wardrobe. But I love looks like the ones below on others, and am pretty sure many of my clients will enjoy wearing belted long cardigans again. Both casual and dressy renditions are fab. Add a pair of trousers and heels and it’s a lovely way to wear a long cardigan for business casual. If you do like to wear cardigans and belts, it’s a great way to change up your look.

Over to you. What’s your take on belting long cardigans?

The new Apple Watch gets its first fashion magazine cover, Jean Paul Gaultier creates a budget-friendly capsule collection for Lindex, and other style news from around the globe this week.

• Miranda July has designed a “Mary Poppins-esque” bag for WelcomeCompanions that has some interesting tricks up its sleeve. 
• John Galliano becomes the new Creative Director at Belgian fashion house Martin Margiela.
• Tommy Hilfiger selects Alexa Chung to be the brand’s guest stylist for Fall and Winter 2014.
• For 2015, Gwyneth Paltrow is planning a Goop clothing line consisting of “basic wardrobe staples”.
• Vogue China is the first fashion magazine to feature the new Apple Watch on the cover. 
• Jean Paul Gaultier has created a budget-friendly capsule collection for European high-street chain Lindex that is predicted to sell out fast.

Fun Fashion Fact

Did you know that the renowned French movie director and writer Jean Cocteau also worked in fashion. He illustrated covers for Harper’s Bazaar, created sketches for Coco Chanel, and designed fabrics, embroideries and jewellery for Elsa Schiaparelli.

Combining jeans with a long sleeved T-shirt, tunic cardigan, booties and crossbody bag is a winning Fall outfit formula for my Mum on the Go clients because it’s casual, practical and comfortable. Some add a belt, eyewear, scarf and headgear for extra pizzazz, but these bells and whistles are not essential. Keeping the look simple is just as fab. 

It is, however, important to update the components of the outfit formula so that the combination looks fashionable and feels fresh. In this case the most important fashion pieces to get right are the cardigan, bag and booties. The tee and scarf can be classic. The haute baseball cap is the fashion forward cherry on top.

I’ve created three neutral renditions to get the ball rolling, each with a different vibe. An earthy and rich version on the left, a graphic look in the middle, and a hard-edged version on the right. 

Here are the components:

Long Cardigan: Make sure the style is current. You’re after a tunic length in a fluid or oversized fit. The volume of the silhouette can be created by round arty flounces that drape like a waterfall. Or by straighter lines that fall away from the body thereby creating a more angular drape. Cocoon shapes that taper at the hem are excellent, as are swing or trapeze styles. The toffee style here is extra long, angular and masculine. The grey is cocoon shaped. And the black is a little more flouncy and swingy. 

Layering Piece: A tailored or slouchy tee is ideal. A button-down shirt or knitted top is another way to go. Or even a lightweight pullover for added insulation. Leave the layering piece untucked, or partially tuck the front and add a belt. 

Jeans: Choose relaxed skinnies, skinnies, boyfriend jeans or straight leg jeans. Blue, black and grey jeans are the most practical for Mums on the go. White jeans can work for gals on the go who don’t have dear little dirty hands to deal with when out and about with kids. Leave the hems rolled or unrolled. 

Booties: Wear current casual booties to amp up the fashionable integrity of the outfit. Flat or heeled is fab. Go with a slightly pointier toe, almond toe, or longer round toe. Combine an all black rendition with non-black booties. I’ve chosen simple styles that are fairly refined, but chunkier, more ornate, and tougher styles will work well too. 

Accessories: Belts, eyewear, watch, headgear, jewellery and scarves are optional. Scarves add outfit interest, and hats are always eye-catching. I vote the Sporty Luxe haute baseball cap in tweed, wool or leather for the most trendy look. But beanies, newsboys and wool fedoras are fun too. Bags need to be extra practical for Mums on the go, so think crossbody, shoulder bag or upscale backpack. 

Build an entire MOTG Fall Capsule around this outfit formula, and wear a daily “uniform” if you want to keep your look super simple and easy to manage. Make sure you have a fabulous assortment of jeans, current cardigans, layering tees, and booties across the colours that tickle your fancy. Change up the look with scarves, hats and bags, and Bob’s your uncle. Top the lot off with a roomy coat for colder temperatures.