Here are three fab finds that look great worn together. They’re breezy, on trend and an alternative to wearing cut-off denim with a tee and Birkies. Be sure to look through all the colour combinations. 

• Athleta Prima Capri: They’re roomy and comfortable, but not overly slouchy. The built-in ruching on the side seams provides ample structure and a flattering length. They are sold as workout wear, but truly look great as fashionable casual wear. Do not be put off by their sporty integrity until you’ve tried them on. They are more refined and fashionable than you expect. 
• Lush Lily Side Slit Woven Tee: Our forum members are having great luck with this woven T-shirt, which is now on sale (see Vicki sport the look with panache). The beauty lies in the rounded and high-low hemline that provides structure to a boxy piece when worn untucked. Runs small. 
• Louise et Cie Apolla Leather Gladiator Sandal: A classic gladiator sandal that works pretty well for low volume feet because the straps hold your feet in place. Soft leather and a cushioning footbed make the sandal quite comfortable. Louise et Cie’s Menton leather sandal is another option if gladiators aren’t your thing. You might need to size down half a size. 

You don’t need a topper to create a fabulous casual outfit when the pieces are interesting to start off with. And use fashionable fluid and oversized fits to your advantage this Summer because they are a great way to stay as cool as a cucumber.

Athleta

Gap Prima Capri

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Lush 'Lily' Side Slit Woven Tee (Juniors)

$34.00 $16.97

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Louise Et Cie 'Apolla' Leather Gladiator Sandal

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Louise Et Cie 'Menton' Leather Sandal

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An asymmetrical top with a split hem is a style that’s longer on one side, and split on that side to create two V-shaped points that drape over the hip and thigh. They can be knitted or woven, sleeved or sleeveless, and range from casual to dressy. Lengths vary, but they’re usually tunic length on the longer side. Fits vary from fluid to very oversized. Some silhouettes are structured on the hips and thighs and fluid on the torso, and others are oversized from the bust down. Breezy, comfortable, forgiving and dramatic.The photos below are a good representation of the style. 

You probably don’t expect a roomy top with an asymmetrical split hem to be flattering, but it’s definitely worth a try. Almost every time one of my clients tries on this style, she loves it. The asymmetrical hem creates an interesting visual effect straight off the bat, but it’s the split with the points that’s particularly flattering. First, the effect creates symmetry for the eye because the top of the slit is usually level with the length of the hem on the shorter side. And second, the pointy parts of the hem that drape over the hips and thigh magically slim down curves, AND add curves to a straighter leg. Either way you win with your body type. 

Asymmetrical hems sans the split can look a little off because your eye can’t create the symmetry. Furthermore, they sometimes create an unflattering cut line across a curvier thigh, especially when the top is high contrast against the bottom. 

Wear asymmetrical split tops with skinnies, straight legs, cigarette pants, slim-fit boyfriend jeans, shorts and pencil skirts. They can also be worn with more voluminous styles like slouchy track pants, baggy shorts and flared skirts, but those proportions are a little tricker to pull off. Here’s how to add a little structure to those combinations. 

I recently bought the blush sweater with asymmetric hem from Zara, but wear it roomier than it is on the model. I love it with blue and white boyfriend and straight leg jeans. It also creates interesting lines when layered under a short jacket. I chose a style that was fitted on the hips because it’s longer. I also like the oversized cuts, but on my frame they have to be shorter for structure. 

Over to you. Would you wear an asymmetrical split hem top?

With these super soft and extremely comfortable knitted pieces you will feel like you’re wearing pajamas as daywear. Wear them together as a casual alternative to shorts and a tee. If you’re short in the torso, you might need to partially tuck the draped part of the tee into the waistband of the skirt to create a little more structure. 

• Trouve Pointed Hem Tube Skirt: The photo does not do the colours justice. They are a harmony of muted pink, olive and brown, creating a uniquely rich earthy palette for Summer. It’s one of the most flattering tube skirts I’ve seen on my clients because of the rounded hem, longer length, tapered fit, and pointed centre that does not ride up too high. Also available in black. 

• Bobeau Twisted Hem Short Sleeve Tee: A good tee for tall gals, or for those with long torsos. Best on broad shoulders and/or a larger bust in order to fill out the style. Fab diagonal sleeves and comes in three colours. Equally great over skinnies, straight legs, or slim-fit boyfriend jeans. 

Add casual sandals to the outfit and Bob’s your uncle. A breezy, pulled together relaxed look that does not require a third piece to make it look fab.

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Bobeau Twisted Hem Short Sleeve Tee

$36.00 $21.60

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Trouvé Trouvé Pointed Hem Tube Skirt

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I covered this topic last year, but the tips bear repeating and elaboration in the context of fluid and oversized fits, which are both extremely fashionable and completely mainstream. And judging by what’s coming down the runways during fashion week, they are here to stay for a while. Although larger fits are fabulous and interesting, sometimes they need to be reined in a little to make an outfit feel fabulous. That’s where structure comes in. 

To recap, structure is about two main things. First, it’s about accentuating the actual shape of your body, like defining the waist and hips, the shape of your arms and legs, or the shape of your shoulders. And second, it’s about accentuating those details. Like a sharp shouldered jacket that creates an extra strong shoulder line. Or the princess seams and welted pocket positions on a jacket that draw attention to a defined waist. Structured items are often tailored and formfitting. 

Here are twelve ways to add clearly defined or subtle structure to an unstructured outfit. Use one of these trouble shooting tips to make the look just flattering enough, or use them in combination for a more conventionally flattering silhouette. 

1. Pair a fitted top with a voluminous bottom or vice versa: Wear an oversized top with slim-fit bottoms like skinnies, straight legs, cigarette pants or a pencil skirt. Conversely, match wide-leg trousers and flared skirts with a fitted top or topper.
2. Add a structured jacket to an unstructured top or dress: Tailored toppers successfully rein in the volume of the layers underneath. So layer a structured blazer or jacket over a voluminous top or dress. The jacket needn’t be strictly waist defining, but simply structured on the shoulders and the top part of the chest. 
3. Scrunch the sleeves: I mention that “showcasing skin creates structure” because it reveals the natural contour of the body. Baring forearms is one way of showcasing skin, and an effective way of adding a tailored element to either a dressy or casual outfit. 
4. Wear a V-neck: A V-neck is another way of showcasing skin to create structure, and especially effective on a shorter neck, larger bust, or a broader shoulder line. Note that on some body types — like mine — a V-neck does the opposite of creating structure. My narrow shoulders, long neck and regular size bust need coverage to create structure, which is why turtlenecks, crew necks, boat necks, shirt collars, and slash necks are my friend. 
5. Tuck or partially tuck the top: Fully tucking or partially tucking a fluid or oversized top provides a little or a lot of waist and hip definition. It’s amazing how a partially tucked top is all you need to create structure when pairing a roomy top with a roomy bottom. 
6. Wear welted tops: The welt is the band on the hem of a pullover or top that tapers the silhouette to fit more closely to the waist and hips, thereby providing structure. It does wonders to create structure for untucked tops, and works just as well faux tucked in front. 
7. Wear high-low hemlines: Hemlines on tops, skirts and dresses that are shorter in front and longer in the back create structure by showcasing more of the natural shape of the waist and hips, or the legs. High-low hemlines on tops that taper at the hem provide even more structure.
8. Roll or cuff jeans and pants: Rolling up the hems of jeans and casual trousers showcases skin and creates a more tapered fit on the hem, both of which create effective structure. Roll and cuff pants before taking them to be tailored. It’s less expensive and often looks better too. 
9. Add a belt: Rein in the volume of a voluminous top by adding a waist cinching belt to create a lot of structure. Or create a more subtle effect by adding a hip slung belt to a loose top to showcase the contour of your hips. 
10. Wear tailored footwear: Wear sandals, booties, pumps, tall boots or loafers that are sleek and fit closely to the foot or leg. Tailored refined footwear — that means footwear that is not chunky — does an even better job of adding structure to a voluminous outfit. 
11. Wear a voluminous piece at a shorter length: Unstructured dresses are best at a shorter length because they expose more of the leg, and showcasing skin creates structure. Oversized tops without welts often look best cropped because they showcase the waist and hip. Voluminous sleeves that are cropped to showcase some forearm create a more structured look than voluminous sleeves that cover the entire arm. 
12. Wear a longer voluminous dress that tapers at the hems: Longer voluminous sack dresses that taper at the hem provide just enough structure despite their length and oversized fit. Although they cover more of the leg, they do showcase the shape of the thighs and lower legs, thereby preventing the unshapely sack look. 

Feel free to use some of these tips in conjunction with the strategies for elongating an outfit when you don’t want to sport conventionally flattering proportions that are structured from head to toe. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll find it practical and liberating to wear, and feel great wearing, both structured outfits and outfits with just enough structure. This flexibility is what makes today’s fashion particularly empowering and fabulous.