We have been enormously lucky with the weather in Seattle. We had the highest Summer temperatures on record in July and August, and the start of September is as mild as can be. The crisp Fall air has arrived, and I need a topper in the mornings and evenings. I also need to keep my feet cozy with booties or flat oxfords. But the days are sunny and warm at the moment, which means that a long sleeved shirt layered with a camisole is a comfortable option for up top. It’s a novelty for me to leave off my topper so frequently, and I’m loving it. 

This outfit is an example of my casual late Summer and Early Autumn uniform. It combines a roomy long-sleeved shirt tucked into boyfriend jeans with belt, booties, and a satchel or clutch. In hotter weather I substituted the booties for ankle strap pumps or loafers. For cooler days I add a moto jacket or fluid one-button blazer. This type of outfit can take me almost anywhere. From working with casual clients, running errands, and going out with friends, to relaxed suppers out at night, and working from home. It’s a versatile and very comfortable combination with a very high happiness factor.

I wear white boyfriend jeans a lot more than blue boyfriend jeans because they look dressier and more crisp, and are light in colour, all of which is a better match for my style persona. My go-to white jeans for two years straight have been the Catherine’s by KUT from the Kloth, which I wear roomier than the model. Surprisingly, they fit and are better quality than the numerous pairs of premium white boyfriend jeans I’ve tried over the years. I love the thickness of the white denim, their length, and lack of rips and tears. I have three pairs of exactly the same pair of white boyfriend jeans which are in constant rotation. They have become my wardrobe essential that I wear year round. Few bottoms make me as happy as a great pair of white jeans. You can call me White Jeans Girl. 

Here are two fluid shirts styled with exactly the same support act so that you get a sense of the versatility. The first is a slate blue chambray button-down with white trim that was a birthday present from a friend earlier this year. A cool slate blue is normally a bit blah on me, but the white trim livens up the blue and makes it more flattering. The plaid shirt from BB Dakota is brand new and has already been worn three times. I wanted to add a second plaid shirt to my wardrobe because I believe the item has lots of styling potential. I was after a tartan pattern that was rich with white so that the visual effect wasn’t too dark. This one fit the bill, and I’m thrilled with the fit and cozy texture of the flannel. 

I have to wear a belt with boyfriend jeans so that they don’t fall down. That’s why I tuck my shirts, which also gives the outfits structure, adds polish to a casual look, and makes the belt more visible from the back, showcasing three closely spaced belt loops. In this case I’m wearing an old studded cognac belt that coincidentally matches my new cognac booties. Matching a belt with footwear is a classic pairing that does a great job of pulling together an outfit. Adding cognac accents to my wardrobe was the first thing on my Fall shopping list, so mission accomplished on that front.

Oh, where do I begin with my biggest splurge of the year, these Prada boots. They are the most beautifully made boots I’ve had the pleasure of wearing. They have an ultra refined equestrian vibe — a look close to my heart — and are a true Modern Classic. Simple, current and with a high longevity factor. The heel height is ideal for my fussy feet, and the shade of brown sufficiently warm and rich. I’ve already worn these booties quite a bit, and my heart goes pitter patter each time I fit them on. They go the distance in terms of style and comfort. I’ve rolled the jeans to showcase the booties. 

I love bags more than shoes, so my handbags normally make more of a statement than my footwear. But for these outfits I wanted the shirts and the booties to take centre stage. So I chose a simple, bone white clutch. My specs, watch and wedding ring are all I need in the jewellery department. 

The pieces in this outfit formula are quite masculine. The cuts emphasize the straightness of my body, and my haircut is boyish too. My lack of bling jewellery and nail polish are the non-girly cherry on top. Yet I feel very feminine in this combination, which I think has to do with the softness of the colours and the power of lipstick. White jeans are also prettier than faded blue jeans, and there isn’t a hard edge to my style. 

I like both outfits equally. The blue is more striking and classic, while the plaid is a little more relaxed and fashionable. Both looks are ultra simple and easy to put together. I will wear the blue and white shirt version when we pick up Inge from the airport today, because she loves a cool slate blue. We are ridiculously excited to have Inge as our guest at the Cox Castle!

My in-house fashion stylist Greg alerted me to menswear Star Wars T-shirts that are available at Target for $12.99. Although he has a very strict wardrobe palette of black, grey and blue, he fancied the Star Wars Millennium Falcon Men’s T-Shirt in raspberry. So I ordered it, and it’s fabulous. It’s a cotton blend and runs true to size. It has a close fitting neckline and tailored sleeve shape. Greg does not like tees with wide necklines and sleeves that flap about, so the fit suits his preferences. He’ll wear it very casually as a layering piece under an open, striped, long-sleeved woven shirt with scrunched sleeves and jeans. 

There are many Star Wars T-shirts and colours to choose from, and a selection in boys sizes too. Greg wanted to be a Jedi Knight back in the ‘70s when he was little, so the movies hold a special place in his heart. These tees might make a fun and affordable gift for the Star Wars fans in your life.

The next three months will showcase the bulk of Fall and Winter 2014 retail. After that, collections are usually picked over and sizes are scarce. If you’re lucky, you might score during end of season sales in December and January. But for the most part, I believe that the best merchandise is available at the start and the peak of a retail season. 

Without further ado, here is my list of suggested must haves for Fall and Winter. The items cut across all body types, lifestyles, budgets, style personas, and age groups. It’s a question of finding the right version of the item that works best for you.

Fluid and Oversized Fits 

This is the most important way in which fashion has changed over the last few years. Wear your clothes a little or a lot looser all over, and move away from head to toe body con silhouettes. Fluid fits are brilliant because they’re roomier than tailored fits, but not as baggy as oversized cuts. Tailored clothing that skims the contour of your body is always in style, but wearing items a little looser than that is definitely more fashionable. Add just enough structure to outfits with fluid and oversized fits so that you don’t feel like your clothing is wearing you. 

Jeans with Movement

If you like to wear jeans, make sure you have an assortment of styles that move as you stride. In other words, add roomier jeans silhouettes to your capsule of skinny and straight leg denim. So think baggy boyfriend jeans, or relaxed skinnies for a slimmer boyfriend jeans look. Or wear flares, culottes and trouser jeans. Harem jeans, roomy denim jumpsuits, and jeans with crossover front flap details are another way to go. And don’t be afraid to wear white jeans year round. 

Current Booties

Booties go down as the most versatile and seasonless footwear style of all time. They can truly be paired with any bottom and any look right now. The best aspects of the bootie are its high comfort level, longevity factor, and weatherproof integrity. So make sure you have a current assortment across a range of styles, patterns and colours. Think heels AND flats. Think of shorter and taller shaft lengths. Refined and chunky soles. Pointy and round toes. Dressy and casual vibes. Hard edge and Softness. Think beyond black footwear and throw in an assortment of neutrals from dark to light. 

If booties are too warm for your climate, wear flat oxfords, loafers, peep-toe booties, slipper flats, d’Orsay flats, flat forms, ankle strap pumps and pointy toe ballet flats. These styles work as well in mild Autumn weather. 

Current Knitwear

Knitwear is still THE top to wear with any bottom, and the massive trend is in its third year. Think knitwear in all sorts of knitting styles, yarn types, yarn gauges, and colours. If you’re a neutral gal, think dark and light neutrals. Chunky knits are as fashionable as fine gauge knits. Make sure you have an assortment in tailored, fluid and oversized fits. Wear fluid and oversized styles with waist welts and high-low hemlines for structure. If you’re more adventurous, add cropped boxy knitwear to your capsule. Or stick to the preppy classic of wearing a sleeveless pullover over a shirt.

Current Toppers

It’s important to wear the right fit of outerwear over roomy knitwear because a highly tailored coat won’t work over a chunky knit or oversized style. Think coats with straighter cuts on the waist like man coats, peacoats, and military coats. Or wear voluminous styles like cocoon coats, swing coats, trapeze styles, and capes. Coats that tie at the waist tend to work best when you wear clothing that defines the waistline. They also look best when they are tied in front, which can be impractical. Make sure your coats are roomy enough to comfortably wear over all Winter layers, which for people like me, means wearing knitwear AND a jacket under a coat. 

Toppers like modern one buttoned blazers tend to work better over fine gauge tailored and fluid knitwear, or shirts, tees, and knitted tops. Moto jackets with a fluid fit are best because you can fit a larger variety of knitwear styles underneath them. Tuxedo jackets, either tailored or fluid, are best over much thinner layers. 

Sporty Luxe

Take advantage of the unstoppable Sporty Luxe Trend by adding bomber jackets, track pants, upscale sweatshirts, haute baseball caps, upscale track pants, utility anoraks, rugby stripes, drawstring details, neoprene, perforated textures, sneakers, and backpacks to your style. Wear these pieces with a dressy companion for a little extra Luxe. 

Brown Accents

Think brown footwear, belts, handbags and leather jackets, because the earthy neutral looks fresh after seasons of grey and black. Personally, I love a dark, rich shade of cognac with an orange glow. But choose any shade of brown to wear as “your black”, just to change things up. Brown is great worn WITH black, grey, ink and shades of white. So don’t think that you have to change the rest of your wardrobe to accommodate the “new” neutral. Wear brown just as you would wear black, and don’t worry too much about matching your neutrals. 

Whites, Pastels and Brights 

Dark neutrals, earth tones, and colours like dark red, forest green and eggplant are typical for cold weather dressing. I vote that you add atypical colours to your Autumn and Fall wardrobe, like summer brights, spring pastels, and light neutrals. As long as the items are cold weather appropriate and in the correct style and fabrication, sport any colour that tickles your fancy. 

Texture, Pattern and Shine

Cold weather clothing is all about gorgeous texture. Think mixed media pieces, tweeds, chunky knitwear, embossed fabrics, waxed denim, faux fur, cracked leather, and sueded fabrications. I’m also throwing in the need for shine to brighten and smarten up a cold grey day. Think patent leather, metallic footwear, belts and knitwear, lurex thread, and sequined trim. And last, cold weather dressing is incomplete without some sort of checked pattern. Think plaid anything: from tartan skirts, jackets, coats, pants and scarves, to flannel shirts, houndstooth toppers, and glen plaid trousers. 

A Wild Card

Add an item to your wardrobe that’s atypical for your style persona and speaks to you in some way. Just for fun. It might be a new silhouette of top or a colour you’ve never worn before. A wool or leather midi skirt in the dead of Winter. It might be a style of shoe or bag you previously disliked but unexpectedly tickles your fancy. Or dye your hair a completely new colour.

Create interesting outfit juxtapositions. Remix hard edge with a soft touch, or wear a soft look from head to toe. Add a good dose of Modern to a Classic look. And above all, have fun with fashion. 

A high-heeled wellie from Hunter, Twitter tests a “buy it now button”, Levi’s branches out into body-shaping denim, and more fashion news that made headlines this week.

• Twitter is testing mobile e-commerce service, with Burberry being the first fashion brand to jump on board.
• Levi’s is branching out into body-shaping denim with its new Totally Shaping Signature jeans with tummy-slimming panel. 
• Jane Birkin is auctioning off one of her namesake Hermès bags on eBay for the charity Anno’s Africa.
• Uniqlo is bringing back +J: 42 “greatest hits” from the Jil Sander collaboration will hit the stores this month.
• Kate Lanphear becomes the new Editor-in-Chief of men’s magazine Maxim.
• Target is teaming up with TOMS for a limited edition holidays collection that will include, footwear, apparel and home goods.
• This season Hunter wants to trendify the rainboot with the introduction of the high-heeled wellie (rubber and leather versions).

Fun Fashion Fact

The ingredient a perfume is named after isn’t always present in the scent you are buying. I love this quote from Jean-Claude Ellena, parfumeur exclusif for Hermès, from the book The Diary of a Nose: A Year in the Life of a Parfumeur:

“As a perfumer, when I want to evoke a smell, I use signs that — taken separately — have no connection with the thing I’m expressing: there has never been any tea in Bulgari’s Eau parfumée au thé vert, mango in Un Jardin sur le Nil by Hermès, or flint in Terre d’Hermès, yet the public ‘feels’ they are there. To cite Jean Giono, ‘all the work of expression takes place in the reader’s mind; from that he derives his pleasure and the satisfaction, gratification and joy it gives him’. Although perfumers are traditionally compared to musical composers, I have always felt like a writer of smells.”