Skinnies, or slim-fit straight leg jeans and trousers, still have their place. Whether they are body-con, tailored or a little relaxed, the ultra mainstream silhouette, which is going into its tenth year since it resurfaced from the ‘80s, has incredible staying power for three good reasons. 

They Are Very Practical

Skinnies are the item to tuck into weatherproof boots in snowy, slushy and wet weather. Dry pant hems and feet are a wonderful thing, full stop. Plus, the snug fit around the lower leg is warm and insulating. Skinnies paired with all sorts of short or tall boot styles allow you to look fashionable and stylish in nasty weather, which is quite remarkable. 

They Look Great with Flats

The tapered leg fit of skinnies is a proportional match made in heaven with flat footwear (heels that are between half and one and a half inches). So if you gravitate towards very low heel heights, wearing skinnies makes sense. Wearing flat footwear with wider pant hems is not impossible, but the “stumpy feeling” sets in more easily, especially if you have a relatively short inseam. 

They Are an Effective Structural Tool 

The slim-fit of skinnies adds a tailored element to outfits with fluid and oversized tops, making it a handy structural tool. Wearing volume on the top and bottom is very fashion forward, but not everyone’s cup of tea because it can make you feel bigger than you are. Wearing slim-fit pants helps to create a streamlined effect.  

I am over body-con sausage-casing skinnies. But I love to wear skinnies, straight leg jeans and cigarette pants that aren’t that tight. A tailored or relaxed fit is crucial here. I wear them because of the three reasons above, but also because it is nice to have a change from boyfriend jeans, flared jeans, wide-leg pants and slouchy trousers. Plus, I have a soft spot for the classic equestrian look. The tailored and tapered silhouette will probably stay an integral part of my style. 

Over to you. What are your thoughts on skinny jeans and pants these days?

• This Fall, London’s Design Museum will stage an exhibit that explores the relationship between powerful women and their wardrobes.
• Here’s a teeny tiny sneak peek of the much anticipated Alexander Wang for H&M collection.
• I’m looking forward to Gwen Stefani’s return to New York Fashion Week, where she’ll be showing the L.A.M.B. Spring/Summer 2015 collection.
• This week Amazon launched a shopping section that focusses entirely on wearable technology.
• Eileen Ford, co-founder of famous modelling agency Ford Models that launched the career of Lauren Hutton and many others, has died at age 92.
• After Net-a-Sporter, Yoox is next in line to jump on the activewear bandwagon.
• Rag & Bone presents its Men’s Spring 2015 collection through a portrait series that features Jerry Seinfeld.

Fun Fashion Fact

Did you know that this year alone 6.9 million sunglasses were sold on eBay, with Calvin Klein being the most popular brand purchased by US shoppers (nearly 1 million pairs), and Ray-Ban the second most popular brand (over 200,000 pairs).

Casual Summer dresses are a joy to wear in the heat because they’re breezy, feminine, and an easy pull-on-and-go option. Add a bag, pair of shoes, and off you go. No topper required. 

An effective way of refreshing last year’s Summer dress is by wearing it with trendier footwear options. Casual high-heeled strappy wedge sandals and espadrilles are classic, and by no means dated. But flat and lower-heeled shoe options, in closed and open styles, seem more current at the moment. 

Choose neutrals or colours across patterns and solids. Here are the components of the ensemble: 

Dress: Think simple Summer dresses in tailored, flared or sack silhouettes. Silk, linen and cotton fabrications are extra ventilating, but blends work well too. I’ve shown a jersey fit-and-flare, a sleeveless watermelon shift, a waistless shirtdress, a fitted V-neck Grecian style, and a high-low T-shirt dress. High-low maxi dresses and strappy sundresses are other options. Remember to maintain structure by wearing voluminous dresses that do not taper back at the hem above the knee. 

Footwear: This is the crucial part. Think on trend Summer footwear like sneakers, Birkenstocks, pointy toe flats, slipper flats, loafers, ankle strap wedges, dainty thong sandals or gladiators. Sandal booties, ankle strap flats, d’Orsay flats, laceless flat oxfords, and cut-out booties are further options. Choose a colour that works with the dress. 

Accessories: Finish off the outfit with a casual tote, satchel, crossbody or upscale backpack. I chose a cognac tote because it’s extra casual, a nice break from metallic, and quite rich with just about any Summer dress. Add jewellery, watch, eyewear and hat as desired. 

I wore this outfit formula last weekend in gorgeous warm weather and loved it. I combined a boxy dark denim shirtdress sans belt with sporty white loafers and fashionable backpack. I scrunched the sleeves and added sunnies, silver watch and wedding ring. Next time I’ll wear the same look with white sneakers.

All of a sudden my feed reader and email inbox are filled with articles and tips about lipstick, so I thought I’d share the most interesting ones with you today:

• Refinery29’s Amber Katz shares her experiences with getting a permanent lip tint.
• J.Crew is teaming up with Bite Beauty for a trio of matte lip colours.
• Popsugar rounds up 10 matte lip glosses with great staying power.
• Here’s a how-to video on how to create your own custom lip colour.
• Feel like matching your lipstick to your sunnies? Here are some fun examples.
• Fashionista picked their 10 best lip products of the Summer.
• Trying Michelle Phan’s ombré lip tutorial.
• Happy, and some unusual, Summer colours with Nyx Cosmetics Macaron lippies.

Fab Links from Our Members

Ummlila loved this interview with Kim France, founding editor of Lucky magazine, in which she discusses her ongoing interest in fashion for women in their forties and what it takes to succeed in the industry. 

MsMary recommends this profile of Nina McLemore — the most powerful designer you’ve never heard of: she dresses Hillary Clinton and other leaders. MsMary thinks the clothes are a little grandmotherly, but found the article fascinating.

Laurinda applauds Free The Girls, a non-profit initiative that helps women rescued from sex trafficking to earn income from selling donated bras.

“With a rucksack you’ve never arrived, and at any moment might decide to leave.” Vildy tremendously enjoyed this Guardian article about the reinvention of the backpack.

Angie had fun checking out the 7 dresses that have defined the last century, and enjoyed browsing these street style pics taken during Men’s Fashion Week in Paris.

Angie also directs us to Sally’s post on closet organization for a large and varied wardrobe, which is helpful and spot on.

Geargirl found this video about how to use Google Image Search to match unmatchable clothing very helpful.

Neel thought that “10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying Something Expensive” might come in handy for the many forum members trying to minimize their purchases to keep their wardrobes from overflowing.

In light of recent forum discussions about wardrobe building and investment pieces, Joy thought Une femme d’un certain âge’s post about Mastering the Basics might be interesting.

Annagybe had fun reading this analysis of couture shoes, and thinks Angie and many others will love the pointy toe white go-go boots.