Gap’s High-Rise Stride Wide-Leg Jeans have been an unexpected success for me, a dear friend, and some of my clients. Despite their description, they aren’t too high rise, and fit neatly on the waist anywhere on the spectrum from a straight to curvier fit. Pass if you prefer a wider width waist. They glide very fluidly over the legs without overwhelming the wearer.

They come in full lengths and ankle lengths, across petite, tall, and regular sizing, across a few washes, and black too. They hold their shape after laundry and do not bag out at all. Super comfy, on-trend, fab quality, versatile, and flattering. They are thicker than Summer-weight jeans, with 1% stretch.

Our friend who visited for Christmas got them in a light wash, and I got them with the slanted tuxedo stripe side seam insets. We wore them a lot over the holidays and felt fab. We are a similar height — around 5ft 6 — making them full length on us in a regular length when wearing low-heeled boots or chunky sneakers. Mine have a raw and distressed unfinished hem, while my friend’s version has a neatly sewn jeans hem. Bonus, we got them at a discounted price.

I haven’t worn Gap jeans in many years. I’m reminded to leave no retail stone unturned. If something looks potentially fabulous in a store where you haven’t shopped for ages, try it. You might be pleasantly surprised.

The right accessories will complete a look and take it from nice to fabulous. Jewellery, scarves, belts, eyewear, watches, hats, and handbags can all add interest and pull the outfit together. They are also easier to fit than clothes and footwear.

They can be large, chunky and bold, or small, refined and subtle. Sport many accessories at once for a maximal look. For a minimal style, less is more. Keep the things flattering by making sure that you shine as much as the accessories do.

Don’t give up on accessories too quickly. Give yourself time to get used to wearing the ones that tickle your fancy. At first, they might feel fussy or jarring, but after a while they will integrate seamlessly into your style. Once they do, remember to wear them.

You are on Team Short Puffer if you prefer wearing shorter puffers to longer puffers, and vice versa. A shorter puffer is no longer than hip length. A longer puffer covers the seat and thighs, and sometimes a fair amount of the lower leg. 

I much prefer wearing short puffer jackets as opposed to longer versions. I find them more comfortable, practical and versatile. Easy to pack and wear. They are well suited to my climate too. I have two short puffers that are in high rotation, and I feel fabulous in them. They fit wonderfully well, look a little cheeky, and the colours make me very happy.

I have a very old long and lightweight thermaball puffer that I used to wear to and from yoga practice. I haven’t worn it in years. I keep it just in case it’s useful for similar sporty settings. The other old long navy puffer is reserved for very cold snowy and icy weather, and consequently doesn’t come out much in Seattle. Only a few times a year. I bat for Team Short Puffer.

Interestingly, I bat for Team Short Puffer Jacket, but Team Long Wool Coat.

Over to you. Do you bat for Team Short or Team Long Puffer? Tell us why, and no batting for both teams. If you can’t pick a side, I’m serving vegetarian skillet pizza with white chocolate praline truffles for dessert.

If, like me, you find that dry indoor heat causes you to have static hair in the colder months, you might find this tip from my hair stylist helpful. She suggested I generously rub a dryer sheet all over my hair when it’s static. I tried that with Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Dryer Sheets, and it worked. It greatly minimized static hair all day.

My beanies can give me hectic static hair. So I keep a dryer sheet inside each beanie when storing them. I remove the sheet when I wear the beanie, and pop it back inside when I place them back in the drawer. This has helped quite a bit too.

Also, if an item of clothing is being particularly static, as in it crackles when I put it on or take it off, I rub a dryer sheet over the surface of the garment. It’s more successful than I expected. Has anyone else tried this trick? Maybe you have other ways of preventing static hair.