KUT from the Kloth are into their third year of repeating the Catherine boyfriend jeans, and for good reason. These jeans are extremely popular with my clients. They fit most body types, are thick and substantial, launder well, and do not stretch out much during the day. The thick fabric ensures that the pocket lining doesn’t show through. They don’t have deliberate tears or holes.

They are also quite affordable, especially when you buy them on sale. And right now they are on sale at Amazon, available in white and white petite. They are also on sale in regular dark blue denim, blue denim petites, and light blue denim plus sizes.

They fit more like relaxed skinnies, tapering at the leg. You can size up for a baggier fit. 

I have two pairs of white KUT Catherine boyfriend jeans. I love the way they fit me, and wear them a few times a week.

I believe that for the most part we should wear outfits that makes us feel fabulous. After all, we’re wearing them. On the other hand, I also think that there is something to be said for adjusting your style a little for a loved one. If it’s no skin off your nose and makes them happy, then why not? I think it’s a respectful and loving gesture.

My 82 year old Papa visits us from the Netherlands once a year. He is a very charming and gentle man who will regularly compliment the wearer on their outfit. I do know that he prefers it when women wear dresses and skirts because he grew up in an era when women wearing jeans, shorts and trousers was not the norm. For this reason, I make a point of wearing skirts and dresses a lot more when my Papa is visiting. I wear a skirt or dress when I fetch him from the airport, when we have a dinner party, go out to a restaurant, or even during a day of errands.

So during his visit over the last fortnight I have worn a skirt or a dress at least half the times that I would have normally reached for my white jeans or black cigarette pants. Just for Papa.

When I wore white boyfriend jeans the first time during his visit, I partially tucked a boyfriend shirt I paired with them. My Papa came up behind me and sweetly alerted me to my untidy untucked shirt. Instead of explaining my fashionable semi-tuck, I thanked him, and tucked in my shirt. 

Greg is a lover of dark neutrals, and sports shades of black, grey and navy almost exclusively. He is not into wearing light neutrals or colours at all — apart from a pair of gorgeous white jeans, a pair of silver grey jeans and dark red sneakers. I, on the other hand, love to wear blinding brights. Greg enjoys seeing those brights on me because he knows they make me happy. But every so often, even if I feel like wearing my neon pink or citron cashmere pullover, I’ll reach for an ink or black fitted or fluid turtleneck or top because it makes Greg extra happy.

It is definitely not always the right thing to adjust one’s style to suit others. But in these cases it makes me happy. Greg and Papa are not requesting the adjustments, and I’m making them on my own terms. The adjustments are not permanent, but occasional and temporary. 

How about you? Do you make occasional style tweaks for other people?

This palette is one way to transition Summer into Fall because the colours represent a little of both seasons. The richness of dark red and cognac paves the way to Autumn. The light blue and white is a nod back to a crisp and fresh Summer. 

Combining shades of dark red with shades of light blue is at the heart of the ensemble, and there are many, many ways to interpret the formula. I’m kicking things off with three options to get your creative juices flowing. I’ve used cognac instead of black and grey to create a softer effect against the rest of the colours. If the warmth of cognac is not your cup of tea, opt for taupe as a cooler shade of lighter brown. Remember that faded denim and chambray counts as light blue.

Here are their components for each variation.

Red Dress with Faded Denim  

Choose any style of dark red dress and pair it with a faded denim jacket. Fluid and boxy denim jackets look more current these days, but a snug denim jacket will also work if that’s what you have. Finish off the look with a light blue bag, and ink or cognac footwear. Or throw in matching dark red shoes. 

Red Top with White Jeans & Light Blue Scarf 

I love dark red matched with shades of white. Remember that you can wear white or cream jeans year round, so all you need is a dark red top and light blue scarf to complete the look. I’ve chosen a cropped pullover to wear with roomy boyfriend jeans. The light blue scarf adds an icy cool effect to the richness of the red. The cognac footwear and belt warm up the palette. 

Red Skirt with Light Blue Blouse 

Choose any style of dark red skirt and pair it with a light blue top that works with the silhouette of the skirt. A chambray shirt or light blue sweater are good alternatives if you don’t have a light blue blouse. Finish off the look with cognac, white or dark red footwear and bag. A denim jacket, white moto or blazer works well as a topper. Add jewellery, watch and eyewear as desired. 

There’s ample opportunity to wear dark red with shades of grey, black and cream as we head deeper into Autumn and Winter. In the meantime, remix dark red with Spring pastels and Summer brights, just for fun.

Ruffles have been fashionable for hundreds of years, both for men and women. I remember them being a huge trend back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, but lying low in the ‘90s. They started reappearing in the mid ‘00s, and saturated the market a few years later. I remember how hard it was to find a blouse, top or dress without some sort of cascading or waterfall ruffle on it back then. I guess retailers thought that ruffles were an easy way to add garment interest. Ruffle Mania died down about six years ago. 

Fast forward to today and ruffles are a fringe trend that is gaining momentum. First there was the rebirth of the peplum, a subtle form of ruffle, a few seasons ago. And now, true to the ample variety that is characteristic of 2014 fashion, there’s a larger assortment of a straighter, simpler and more architectural ruffle alongside the flouncy, poufy and frilly variety.

Ruffles might not be your thing, but I believe that there is a ruffle for everyone. Soft, stiff, large, small, subtle, statement, gathered, cascading, flat, poufy — take your pick. Large flat ruffles made of soft fabric that drape well tend to look more subtle. Ruffles made of straight lines sans gathers look quite modern. And ruffles both in soft or stiff fabrications tend to look less precious and twee when they are in black. Small ruffles with lots of gathers and volume veer into frilly and poufy territory, and are often an acquired taste. 

My clients run the gamut with ruffles. Some love the frilliest of ruffles and happily wear them on all sorts of wardrobe items. Some prefer soft waterfall ruffles that are flat, and stiff architectural ruffles that are straight, because they make less of a statement. Some love a little romantic flouncy ruffle on a sleeve, the hem of a skirt, or down the front or side of a dress. Some draw the line after peplums and that’s it. And some won’t wear ruffles in any shape or form.

I have a complicated relationship with ruffles, and go through phases of liking them a little, and not liking them at all. I like all the ruffled items in the examples below, but don’t want to wear them on myself. I loved how Duran Duran wore ruffled shirts with hard-edge black suiting back in the ‘80s. That to me was the height of Ruffle Fabness. Seinfeld’s ruffled pirate shirt always makes me smile. I also like Valentino’s architectural rosette ruffles, which is one of the reasons my Valentino satchel is close to my heart. As long as the ruffles are large, flat, straight and subtle, I will probably like them in small doses. It’s when they become overly round and voluminous that I don’t like them for my own style because the effect is too maximal. But I can absolutely appreciate a voluminous ruffled look on others.

Over to you. Tell me about your relationship with ruffles?