Partially tucking tops into bottoms has been a mainstream styling option for at least three years, although it was a fringe trend a couple of years before that. J.Crew is partially to thank for this genius styling tool because their attractive catalogues have heavily featured the semi-tuck for years. Partial top tucking has become a world wide fashion phenomenon that most retailers have embraced, and there is no stopping the trend. 

There are variations on how to semi-tuck the front depending on your preference. Some like to partially tuck the centre front of the top and leave the sides and back hanging. Some like to partially tuck one side, and leave the rest untucked. And others prefer to faux tuck the front with a welted top. 

I am a huge fan of the partially tucked top for four reasons:

1. It’s an excellent way to overcome belt phobia if you are self-conscious about defining your midsection and worried about exposing muffin top. Partially tucking a roomy top is an effective concealer.
2. It adds structure to an outfit and lengthens the leg line, which in many cases takes it from unflattering to just flattering enough. The partial tuck goes hand in hand with fashionable roomy fit tops. 
3. It dresses down an outfit and adds a sense of comfortable ease to your style, which is suited to our age of casualization. 
4. It’s perfect for a fashionably “RATE” (rough around the edges) style persona. 

Over the years, I’ve been encouraging my clients, whether they are polished or RATE, to try partially tucking their tops. Most of them have embraced the look. I can’t tell you how happy my apple shaped clients are with this option, because it allows them to wear a belt without feeling self-conscious about their midsection.

My pear shaped and very curvy hourglass clients were a little more resistant to partial tucking because they tend to enjoy showcasing their waistlines with untucked tailored fits or fully tucking tops. But all they needed to do was wear looser bottoms, and wear their belts lower on the hip to create a more flattering silhouette with a roomy top. This strategy visually straightens the hip and thigh area, which evens out proportions. 

Some of my clients are not into partially tucking tops because they tend to feel a little silly with part of their shirt hanging out the back of their outfit. They are concerned that it doesn’t look or feel fashionably deliberate. In this case I suggest that it can be a question of getting used to the effect. You have to bite the bullet and road-test the look a few times to see whether it grows on you. 

Personally, I prefer to fully tuck a roomy shirt into looser bottoms because it’s better suited to my polished style persona and neat freak tendencies. Sometimes I do a subtle partial tuck with a roomy shirt — front and back tucked, with sides untucked — because it feels a little neater than leaving the back untucked. I also partially tuck one side of the front of a roomy silk tee, because to me that feels more natural than partially tucking the centre front. And last, I am a huge fan of faux tucking welted pullovers and upscale sweatshirts and wear them that way most of the time. 

Over to you. Have you embraced partially tucking tops into bottoms? If so, what’s your favourite way of semi-tucking? Or do you still feel a little odd leaving part of your top untucked.

Back to school advertisements are everywhere in the US at this time of year. And while some of the ads are for school supplies, most of them seem to be about shopping for a fresh and fashionable wardrobe before the start of a new school year. I wore a school uniform for the twelve years of my schooling, so wardrobe prep for the new school year was a non-event.

My mum would make sure that my school uniform still fitted and was in good shape, replenishing items as necessary. School shirts, dresses and shoes were refreshed every year or two. Socks and tights were replenished more frequently. School blazers, pinafores, ties and knitwear on the other hand, lasted forever. So there you go. No fun back to school shopping memories for me.

If you didn’t wear a school uniform, I bet you have fun back to school style stories to share. Was there an annual shopping event right before the start of school, and did you look forward to it? Did you take special care with what you wore on the first day back at school?

From left to right, my first day of school in 1975 with brother Hugo, Greg in his primary school uniform with sister Gail at about the same time, and Greg (left) at high school in the ’80s.

Judging by the excitement about my recent post on fab finds in shades of dark red, many YLF readers are glad to see the return of dark red for Fall. Although it’s not my favourite shade of red, I’m excited to help clients combine the colour in ways that feel current and fresh. So I hopped back onto my Fall & Winter 2014 pinboard for inspiration. 

Thinking outside of the box when wearing dark red is fun. Unexpected clashing colours work in perfect harmony. Matchy-matchy outfits look thoroughly modern. And there is no such thing as too much dark red. Let’s take a peek.

1. Dark red with dark red. WOW. Wearing a subdued non-neutral from head to toe looks ultra fresh.
2. Casual dark red from head to toe.
3. Combine dark reds with tomato red and shocking pink. One of my favourites.
4. Or choose one blinding bright to match with dark red, like shocking pink.
5. Wear dark red in a pattern with a mid-tone blue, black and pumpkin accents.
6. With burnt orange accents, if adding warmth to the palette is your thing. My next favourite combination.
7. Use dark red as an accent with graphic black and cream to create a clean and crisp effect.
8. Wear it with shades of chocolate brown and a dash of shimmer.
9. Dark red with white accents looks super fresh and is another personal favourite.
10. A psychedelic colour blocked feast of dark red with hints of mauve, coral and neon orange.
11. A little more traditional when combined with tan and black, although the shimmer adds a fresh touch.
12. Royal and rich with gold.
13. More gold with dark red and a touch of black.
14. Another classic with black and hints of white and light grey.
15. Dark red with ink blue, denim and lots of texture.
16. More ink blue and texture, plus shine.
17. A little tomato red goes a long way.
18. Combine dark red with blush and black.
19. Keep the palette cool with lilac and purple.
20. Shades of denim blue dress down dark red sparkle.
21. Textured red with textured charcoal.
22. Equal parts cobalt and black with dark red.
23. A smidgen of emerald green, tomato red, purple and light blue liven up the dark red.
24. Classic charcoal and black are always good.

I didn’t see any outfits that combined dark red with chartreuse and cream, or dark red with aqua and cream. But those combinations are gorgeous to my eye and I encourage you to try them too. And if you don’t mind looking a little ‘Christmassy”, pairing dark red with forest green is another way to go. 

Classic colour combinations are always great, but unexpected combinations pack more punch. So if you are creating outfits with dark red, consider going beyond neutrals like tan, brown, black, grey and white. The colour is a lot more versatile than you might think.

Opening Ceremony is bringing a bit of Broadway to New York Fashion Week, Target is launching a maternity activewear collection, Lucky Magazine heads into a new direction, and more fashion news that made the headlines this week.

• This is what Banana Republic for Fall 2014 looks like under new Creative Director Marissa Webb.
• Mary Katrantzou, Sarah Burton, Thom Browne, Carolina Herrera and Valentino are designing costumes for the New York City Ballet.
• Joe Zee, currently Editor in Chief of Yahoo’s fashion site, has been named Old Navy’s style ambassador for Fall 2014.
• Check out this behind-the-scenes look at the Altuzarra for Target collection. Or have fun browsing the entire collection.
• Lucky Magazine is heading into a new direction after joining forces with e-commerce platform BeachMint.
• Instead of a runway show, Opening Ceremony will stage a one-act play during New York Fashion Week, written by Spike Jonze and Jonah Hill.
• ModCloth is the first retailer who has signed the Heroes Pledge for Advertisers, a commitment to be transparent about their Photoshopping practices.
• This Fall, Target is launching a range of maternity activewear that will be available online at the beginning of October.

Fun Fashion Fact

Did you know that the traditional Marinière, the Breton shirt originally worn by French sailors in Brittany, has twenty-one stripes, a reference to each of Napoleon Bonaparte’s victories.