This ensemble was inspired by clients who have been wearing lightweight and transparent pointelle, mesh, gauze or crocheted Summer pullovers layered over contrasting tank tops. In other words, they’re mismatching the colour of the sweater and the tank top to create an interesting effect. 

I’ve shown two ensembles here, but there are many, many ways to interpret the formula. The ensemble on the left is graphic, crisp and a little more dressy, while the ensemble on the right is soft, bohemian and quite casual. 

Here are the components. Choose any colour palette: 

Sweater: You’ll need a sweater that will showcase the colour of the tank underneath. A mesh sweater with extremely small holes, or an open weave sweater with large holes. A lace sweater works quite well too. 

Tank: Choose a tank in a contrasting colour to the pullover with strappy or built-up shoulders. The effect is not the same if you layer a sleeved T-shirt under the sweater. Proportions tend to look better, and more alluring, with bare arms. 

Bottoms: Choose a pair of bottoms that complement the layered tops. In both cases I’ve chosen jeans, but shorts, patterned pants, trousers and skirts work equally well. 

Footwear: Choose shoes that work with the outfit. I chose masculine black loafers for the graphic statement on the left, and a pair of casual suede wedge sandals for the earthier look on the right. 

Accessories: You’ll probably need a belt if you’re tucking or partially tucking the front. Or wear both the tank and sweater untucked over bottoms. Choose a bag that tickles your fancy, and finish off the look with jewellery, hat, eyewear and watch. 

Feel free to dress up the look with a pencil skirt, full skirt or pair of trousers, and finish off the look with dressy sandals or pumps.

After Angie’s recent blog post and this magnificent photo posted by forum member Transcona Shannon, my love for culottes has reached new heights. So I started browsing around for more culottes inspiration, and here’s what I found:

• The Guardian’s Lauren Cochrane shows us how she wants to wear culottes.
• Five different ways to style your culottes.
• Glamour has four tips on how to rock culottes — or the “midi-pants” as they are calling them.
• Seven women share how they styled their favourite pair of culottes over at Refinery29.
• Three inspiration photos: a fun pair of zig-zag culottes (easy to bike in, too), black and white fabness with checked coat, pointy toe pumps and crisp shirt, Caroline Issa rocking a lilac culottes suit and blue heels.
• Five pinboards for extra inspiration: Jennifer Yang, Ines B., Ratsudy Mori, Naomi K, and Susan Stowell.

Fab Links from Our Members

La Belle Demimondaine recently bought a cute and comfy pair of dENIZEN skinnies at Goodwill. Not being familiar with the brand, she googled them, and found this video review on Youtube. It is old — from 2011 — but La Belle loved what Fadra had to say, and the ending made her laugh.

Annagybe enjoyed browsing the Last Night @ The Met tumblr that shows us what people are wearing to the opera.

After reading Sally’s post “When does a signature style become a rut?“, Angie thought Sally nails it when she says: “You’ve developed a signature if you’re wearing the same things over and over again and feel pulled-together and perfectly like yourself”.

Alexandra is enjoying reading Refashionista. She thinks Jillian has an amazing eye/imagination and turns the frumpiest thrift store finds into cool pieces.

Dottie loves how Mary over at the Classy Cubicle styled the Club Monaco Caroline culottes this week.

Laurinda directs us to a thought-provoking article on wearable technology. She says: “It provides a strong commentary on current social and political issues, and is more than a little creepy for the Orwellian implications of limiting surveillance through our wardrobes.”

Theodora found “Are Malls Over?” an interesting read.

This Guardian article about jogging bottoms being the new skinnies focusses on menswear, but this is also what Vildy is craving to wear.

This frock outfit is little sister to the one I posted last week with big white sneakers and backpack. The vibe is almost as casual, but less sporty and a lot prettier. Topshop’s Boutique Silk Shirt Dress is the other dress I bought for summer. Its strict shirt integrity, luxurious fabric, longer sleeves, and sufficient length made it love at first sight. I also like the interesting breast pockets, the concealed button-stand that creates a vertical line down the front of the dress, and the way a softer shade of dark blue is created in sunlight. 

Unlike the denim shirt dress, which I altered to look different from how it was styled by the retailer, I wear this dress exactly as the online photo suggests: buttoned to the top and hanging like a shapeless sack. Wearing it with a belt would ruin the angular drape of the dress that I find so appealing. Wearing it with a topper would further ruin the silhouette. The dress looks best on its own and is therefore reserved for hot days without the arctic chill of air conditioning.  

Despite the billowing volume of the dress, there are two reasons I don’t feel like it’s wearing me. First, the silk is as light as a feather, which makes the dress look and feel dainty. The lightweight silk moves and drapes into all sorts of shapes, much like a flag blowing in the wind, which is why I call this my Flag Dress. A heavier cotton would not create the same type of movement that is a feature of this dress. And second, there is just enough structure created by the snug neckline fit, tapered elbow sleeves, and above-the-knee length. The immense volume also creates a slight asymmetrical line and tapering on the hem, which creates further structure. 

The shirt dress is made of dressy fabric, which makes heeled sandals and ankle strap pumps a good complement. But I haven’t worn it that way yet, and don’t know if I will. So far I’m more interested in styling it with a casual support act to create a modern and fashionable 2014 juxtaposition. This is the exact same dress that I used in three casual ensembles a few months ago, where I combined it with white sneakers and a backpack. Here I’m wearing casual white loafers instead of sneakers, but carrying the same backpack.

I love the outfit with white sneakers, but slightly prefer the loafers. These loafers have become workhorses that I wear many times a week. I find white more versatile than metallic shoes, probably because they make me happier and so I gravitate to them more frequently. Silver watch and wedding ring are all I need in the jewellery department.

A breezy dress made of a natural fibre is an extremely ventilating outfit option for a hot Summer’s day. Pairing it with comfortable walking shoes, a practical bag and sunglasses means I am ready to walk for miles in the heat and enjoy every second of it. A dress with billowing volume is not a conventionally flattering silhouette and quite the acquired taste. But there is something liberating and fun about delicate silk swooshing around as you stride.

Some of these items are appropriate for Summer, while others are more suited to Fall. Remember that white jeans can be worn year round and that slip-on sneakers look great with skirts and dresses. 

1. Circus By Sam Edelman 'Cruz' Slip-On: A trendy slip-on sneaker that is suited to a high volume foot. A versatile colour that is especially fab with white jeans that are rolled at the hem.
2. Current/Elliott The Boyfriend: White boyfriend jeans sans rips and distressing are hard to find, but this one fits the bill. Might need to size down a size.
3. ZINDA Boots: Some of our forum members have had great luck with these boots, which are available in five dark shades. They work for both a wider and regular shaped foot. The calf circumference fits a regular and narrow calf because the laces adjust the fit.
4. Talbots Denim Shirtdress: A denim shirtdress with extra length for taller gals. Suited to a curvier body type.
5. J.Crew Military Shirtdress: An easy slip-on-and-go military shirtdress that is fabulous with a pair of sandals.
6. Rebecca Minkoff Mini Jules Envelope Clutch: A powder blue baby crossbody that doubles as a clutch.
7. Chie Mihara Shoes Suspiro Wedge Sandals: Chie Mihara makes beautifully made shoes that are usually very comfy. I love the extra wide ankle strap.
8. Matiko Ursina Wedge Sandals: I haven't seen these in person, but the leather looks soft, and the heel height quite manageable.
9. Tildon Textured Knit Tube Skirt: A graphic pencil skirt that's an easy paring with a welted pullover or boxy cropped top. Nice with a silk shell top or T-shirt blouse too.

Remember that you don’t need to wear a shirtdress tied at the waist. It looks fabulously unstructured without the belt, if the length is above the knee and the hem is curved. Straight hems can work, but curved hems tend to provide more structure to a surrendered waistline.

Nordstrom

Circus By Sam Edelman 'Cruz' Slip-On

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Revolve Clothing

Current/Elliott The Boyfriend

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Yoox

ZINDA Boots

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Talbots

Denim Shirtdress

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J.Crew

Military Shirtdress

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Shopbop

Rebecca Minkoff Mini Jules Envelope Clutch

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Chie Mihara Shoes Suspiro Wedge Sandals

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Shopbop

Matiko Ursina Wedge Sandals

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Tildon Textured Knit Tube Skirt

$48.00 $23.98

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