It gives me great joy to introduce darling Bridget, who graciously agreed to share some of her Seattle Summer looks with us. You briefly met Bridget three years ago when we celebrated my birthday with high tea. She’s client Karen’s youngest daughter and my very dear friend. Grace, poise, impeccable manners, a sense of humour and stunningly beautiful eyes run through the family. Bridget and I have been working together every season for eight years, and to say that it’s a pleasure is an understatement. 

Statuesque Bridget stands a few inches shy of six foot, wears a size 12, and turns 47 today. She leads a busy and casual lifestyle as a full-time Mum-on-the-Go. Unlike Mama Karen, Bridget loves wearing all sorts of colours and patterns, distressed denim, and unstructured clothing. She runs cold at the drop of a hat, has fussy feet, is super practical, and enjoys clothing that is insanely comfortable. But despite her need for casual comfort, Bridget manages to look polished, pulled together, fun and fashionable. An inspirational to us all. 

Bridget has evolved her style over the last few years. She’s a ‘70s gal at heart, which meant wearing bold empire cut tunics over straight leg or bootcut jeans with boho toppers and sandals or ballet flats. Now she’s into more of an ‘80s vibe, wearing cropped zippered jeans, boyfriend jeans, cropped boyfriend jeans and camouflage pants with upscale sweatshirts, oversized tees and moto jackets or gauzy cardigans. 

Her colour preferences are similar to mine, favouring citron, shocking pink, purple, turquoise and ink blue, as well as black paired with white. Bridget also likes to wear grey, which works well with her brilliantly blue eyes. She prefers outfits that are made of fewer pieces, and loves a hectic pattern. She is not into hard-edge or avant-garde looks, nor is she into anything dressy. Happy colours make her happy, and her favourite outfits are those that incorporate new pieces with trusted golden oldies. 

The first outfit is a tonal delight of blue, grey and white. We paired a mixed media tee with a high-low hemline that we purchased together at last year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale with a pair of faded zippered skinnies from the Loft. The lace trim on the tee appeals to her boho side and the length is a slam dunk on her long torso. Fitting oh-so-trendy cropped pants on Bridget is a delight because when you’re pushing six foot, they finish at a flattering length no matter what. Bridget prefers to wear her tops big and billowing for extra comfort, so she’s loving our current fashion. If an item clings uncomfortably in any way, she will not wear it. We have both learned our lesson with that one, and are sure to do all the sit-down and reaching tests before we commit to a purchase. 

Bridget’s height and broad shoulder line allows her to carry an oversized look to perfection, especially when there’s structure on the bottom with a fitted silhouette. In fact, Bridget has a soft spot for oversized silhouettes, and this is how it usually goes in the dressing room: “I love this, Angie! But I want to size up.” To which I reply, “Oooooh! I love it too, Bridget! But I’m not letting you size up”. “Darn! I knew it. Okay, Angie”. 

In a Seattle Summer you normally need a topper for at least some of the day, so we topped off the look with a pleather and cotton moto we bought at the Rack last year. It’s been an absolute wardrobe workhorse and cost $15. Bridget does not wear heels and makes no compromises when it comes to the comfort of her feet. So it’s supportive and comfy flats all the way. She’s into wearing loafers this year, and Munro’s white slip-ons are awfully kind to her feet. Soft, cushioning and on trend. A nice high-vamped modern touch to freshen her relaxed look. 

My handbags find the best homes when I pass them on because many of them begin their second life with Bridget. It’s a win-win: Bridget loves to sport them and it gives me joy to see her wear my dear little wardrobe pets with such enthusiasm. Here she’s sporting a Kate Spade satchel for a bright pop of colour. This is one of two bags she’ll wear all Summer long. 

The second outfit showcases Bridget’s love for pattern mixing. She’s quite fearless that way, and will happily combine three patterns without thinking twice. We matched last season’s dark camouflage pants with patterned flats from Paul Green. The satchel adds the third pattern. A new soft sweatshirt in citron and grey adds a pretty sporty softness to the military vibe of the pants. And yes, you guessed right. Bridget was not allowed to size up on the sweatshirt. It’s sufficiently roomy, while the welt provides structure. Rolling the hems of the pants provides further structure. The radiant warmth of the citron mirrors Bridget’s soothing warm persona. I just love it when she wears colours that bring out her inner beauty. Double fabness. 

Bridget, you are my client and I love working with you, but it’s your friendship that I hold dearest to my heart. You are gentle, thoughtful, friendly and down-to-earth, and you radiate charm. You are earnest and cerebral, but sometimes we also laugh so much together that our cheeks hurt. Thank you for being such a special friend, and know that I absolutely adore you. Happy birthday!

End of season sales are in full swing. Here’s another roundup of fab items that are well worth a look. Check all the colour options and also whether items are available in petite and plus. 

• Olivia Moon Three Quarter Sleeve Linen Blazer: It’s been a winner on clients and forum members. Excellent for Summer. Fitted, relaxed and $48. 
• Ivy & Blu Ruched Faux Wrap Dress: A tailored look with a bit of length and sleeve. The diagonal sleeve is not cap, and more flattering than you think.
• Paige Jimmy Jimmy Crop Skinny Jeans (Rebecca): Although they are skinny, they make a great pair of slim-fit boyfriend jeans for inverted triangle body types. So if you have narrow hips and a flat bottom, give these a whirl. 
• Halogen Open Stitch Linen & Cotton Sweater: Sporty, breezy and covered. 
• Current Elliott The Stadium Zip Detail Sweatshirt: A little current ‘80s fabness. 
• Lucky Brand Open Front Cardigan (Plus): An elegant topper that provides structure and interest with ample ventilation. 
• Vince Camuto Four Pocket Vest: Cool, casual and on trend. 
• Helmut Lang Meteor Print Silk Blend Top: A gorgeous asymmetric piece with a V-neck back. Do not ruin the lines by covering it up with a topper.
• Eileen Fisher Shaped Cardigan (Plus): A gauzy topper that works over a dress. 
• Escada Print Stretch Cotton Jacket: Bold and beautifully made. Check out the back pattern. 
• Rag & Bone Combat Cargos: Fab on an inverted triangle or rectangular body type. Wear them roomy. 
• Topshop Mixed Stripe Tie Dye Sweater: A trendy piece to wear with jeans, trousers and skirts. Might run small. 
• Pink Tartan Floral Print Trench Coat: A crisp piece for Team Floral. 
• Taryn Rose Sinai Wedge Sandal: A versatile sandal for Summer. 
• Sixty Seven Erika Pointy Toe Flat: Quite comfy. You might need to size down half a size. 
• Aimee Kestenberg Medium Tote: An interesting earthy pattern on a structured tote. Nice shape. Here it is in cream. 
• Helmet Lang Leather Biker Vest: A timeless piece. Great angular drape. 
• Prada Triple Buckle Gladiator Sandal: Soft, strong and simple. Size down. 
• Current Elliott The Letterman Paisley Sweatshirt: Perfect with white jeans. 

Browse through the men’s and kids areas at Nordstrom too. Lots of good stuff on sale at the moment.

Have you ever thought about what shapes your aesthetic preferences? I’m not talking about practical factors like the climate you live in, your dress code for work, or your Mum-on-the-Go lifestyle. I’m talking about a more abstract level, like why you might prefer bohemian clothing to modern classics. Why avant-garde silhouettes are more your cup of tea than East Coast Preppy. Why you gravitate towards complex outfits rather than simple ones. And why you prefer black over white, muted tones to brights, or moody florals over rugby stripes.

One big factor in my case is the work that I do as a fashion stylist. You might imagine that working with clients across a wide range of different style personas makes my own style preferences quite broad, but it actually does the opposite. I find that it makes my own preferences narrow and focused. I think that being exposed to so much fashion also explains my love of combining modern classics with more trendy pieces. The modern classics are timeless and the trendy items add newness, so I don’t get bored with my purchases very easily.

Another factor is my emotional reaction to bright colors: bright sour greens and yellows, tomato red, turquoise, shocking pink and coral. And white, which to me is a bright. My heart lifts when I see these colours and I am drawn to them over and over again. I don’t experience the same sense of euphoria when I look at an earth tone, a muted shade of pink or black. 

I’m sure that personality plays a role too. I’m drawn to clothing with straight lines and angular drape as opposed to flowing curved styles with arty drape. The big flared midi skirts that I wear are have box pleats — which are straight line constructions — and not curved, ruffled bustles. Perhaps the straight lines and angular drape are reflecting my strict and impatient personality. After all, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

Similarly, my preference for a polished as opposed to a deliberate RATE (rough around the edges) look must have a lot to do with my tendency to be a neat freak. 

And last, I’m drawn to a dressy style. Even my casual looks are dressier than most. I think this stems from being quite a formal person. I’m warm and friendly, but I’m not laid-back. I prefer a plan and don’t like things sprung on me. I’m “proper”, and this is reflected in my style. 

What shapes your style preferences? There are no right and wrong answers here. This type of analysis is not at all essential, and it’s all in good fun. Furthermore, your own style preferences might be narrow, but you can absolutely love a look that is outside your personal preferences on someone else. Knowing what you like for yourself, while at the same time appreciating a wide assortment of styles on others is not only fun, but truly reflects a love for fashion and style.

The Catrina sandal from Naturalizer is not a trendy sandal, but it isn’t dated or frumpy either. It’s extremely comfortable, and I’m not the only one who thinks so — read the rave reviews. The footbed is extra cushioning and the leather is buttery soft. The one and a half inch heel is supportive and manageable. The low vamp is flattering on the foot. Lightweight, spongy and casually versatile. 

The style is available in four colours, of which the white and black get my top vote because they look the most current. The pewter is classic, and the brown quite earthy. The style is available across four widths and up to a size 12. The narrow width fit my low volume feet really well, and I did not need to size down half a size. 

If you’re doing a lot of walking in hot weather this Summer, and the oh so trendy Birkenstock is not for you, try the Catrina. It looks a lot better on the foot and in outfits than you might expect, and the comfort level is astounding. Forgoing a little fashion for happy feet is NOT a bad thing.