I seldom wear a hat for sun protection because I don’t like wearing them. But I slather my face in sunscreen daily, snow, ice, rain, clouds or shine. I use a moisturizer with SPF 20, and I apply an additional layer of sunscreen over that (SPF 30). I try to find shade in very sunny settings so that I don’t need to wear a hat in addition to the sunscreen.

These days I’m rarely in the sun for long periods of time, so batting for Team Sunscreen works out well. Greg, on the other hand, would much rather wear a hat than apply sunscreen, so he bats for Team Hat and applies sunscreen to any areas that are still exposed. 

Over to you. Do you bat for Team Hat or Team Sunscreen? This time round you can bat for both teams because if you’re out in strong sunlight daily, you’ll probably need to wear sunscreen with a hat. 

We’re approaching the halfway mark for 2014 so it’s a good time to check in on the style goals you set for yourself at the start of the year. Check back in the comments section of that post to compare what you wrote with how things are going. Or take an intuitive stab at your progress if you made more of a mental note at the time. 

I’ll start the ball rolling by reporting on my own progress for 2014: 

1. To wear simple outfits that are modern, bold, clean and dressy.

Check. I’m still content with the set of adjectives that I use to assess my own outfits each day. They also come in handy when I’m considering an item for purchase. For the most part I feel I’m achieving the aesthetic I aspire to given my climate and lifestyle. Depending on my audience, some days are dressier than others. And even my casual days are relatively dressy, which suits me just fine. 

2. To continue adding a soft and refined element to my style while I marry my favourite style personas, Modern Classic, Punk, Trendy Fashionista and Androgynous, into a cohesive style that is age appropriate and attractive.

Check. As I mentioned in yesterday’s outfits post, I’m staying away from hard edge by wearing lots of light and bright colours with shades of white. Some looks are tonal while others are high contrast. I’m using black as an accent colour, piling on the white, and wearing lots of ink blue. I’ve added a good assortment of trendy tops, continue to ground my outfits with modern classics, and strive to create proportions that are just flattering enough instead of conventionally flattering. My outfits get a small dose of built-in punk with my ‘do. I surprised myself by how much I like the sporty trend, and you’ll see more of that vibe in future outfit posts. I LOVE our bumper knitwear trend, the return to fluid and oversized fits, and that comfortable footwear has become very fashionable. 

Sometimes I wear outfits with a masculine integrity. Other times I go to the opposite extreme with ladylike looks. Although these vibes are polar opposites, both feel right for my style as long as they are refined and polished. Baggy tucked tuxedo shirt with boyfriend jeans and high vamped loafers or flat oxfords one day. Retro flared midi skirt with pullover and dainty heeled ankle strap pumps the next. 

3. To update my specs because they are my most important accessory. 

Check. I updated my eyewear five months ago with a pair of apple green specs. They are my favourite specs ever. At this point I can’t bear to wear my other specs, apart from my prescription Wayfarers which are my only pair of sunnies. My green specs have been a game changer for me, and make me so, so happy. 

4. To NOT over purchase in Spring because that’s my shopping weakness. 

Uh oh. Well, I probably didn’t stick as well to this goal as I should have because we’ve had the best Spring shopping season since I moved to the US more than ten years ago. I love where fashion is at the moment and it shows. As a result, I’ve bought a lot more Spring stuff than I usually do. Luckily though, we’ve had a warmer and sunnier Spring than usual, and I’ve been able to wear my new goodies more frequently. Plus I did buy Spring cashmere, booties, jackets and jeans at the start of Spring when it was much colder. AND I haven’t bought any lightweight flimsy blouses because I run too cold to wear them. The most Summery item I’ve bought is a linen shirt, which is still pretty covered. So I didn’t fall completely off the wagon here. 

5. To NOT purchase items with too much design detail because I tire of the aesthetic.

Check. I’m allowing the fabric and workmanship of items to shine more brightly through their simple designs. I’ve added one pattern and a few neutral high-contrast striped pieces to my wardrobe this year and the rest are solid. Clean lines, a crisp look, and no extra bells and whistles. 

6. To NOT purchase too many black and grey wardrobe items. 

Check. I have been the most strict about this goal. I purchased a pair of pointy toe barely black booties and a very simple boxy black clutch with subtle silver hardware. And nothing grey at all. I am off black as a statement colour at the moment, and this has come through quite strongly in my style. 

7. To NOT purchase any more body hugging pieces. As far as possible, tailored is as tight as I want to go this year, although I will continue to wear the tight pieces in my wardrobe that tickle my fancy. 

Check. Not one piece. I sized up in my new organza citron skirt so that it would not look body con. Everything else that I’ve purchased this year has been tailored, fluid or oversized. 

8. To add more ink blue to my wardrobe.  

Check. I’ve added a few pullovers and a blazer. I will continue adding ink blue to my Autumn and Winter wardrobe. 

9. To continue purchasing warm knitwear while it’s trending because it’s extremely practical for my lifestyle and climate. And because I love knitwear. 

Check. I bought Spring cashmere in blush and neon green. I also added sleeved slubby cotton knitwear from Boden, which has kept me warm and cozy from April onwards. My lightweight blush Zara asymmetrical piece, and yellow Kate Spade silk front pullover have come out to play over the last month as the weather warmed up. All pieces are sleeved and insulating. 

10. To continue mixing high-end and low-end pieces in one outfit.

Check. High-low style is not represented in every outfit I wear, but it makes a strong statement in my wardrobe. I vary my shopping sources by purchasing from mainstream retailers, designer labels, and throwing in those budget-friendly Zara pieces. This assortment really helps me to achieve the high-low style goal.

11. To continue exploring the world of trousers and looser fit jeans because they’re better suited to my climate than skirts and dresses when you run as cold as I do. 

This is one area where my style in practice has turned out differently to the goal I set in January. Skirts are playing a bigger role in my style than I thought they would and my excitement about trousers is tapering off a little. That said, I did recently purchase a pair of dressy high-waisted blush trousers that I haven’t worn yet, and I still do enjoy wearing my old black ankle pants with black ankle strap pumps. I also got a pair of casual chinos at the beginning of the year that will come out to play with rolled hems and sneakers now that the weather has warmed up.

As far as looser fit jeans go, I did purchase another pair of white boyfriend jeans, a pair of relaxed skinnies and a pair of flared jeans. I’ve been feeling my jeans more than trousers this year, perhaps because dressier white jeans are sometimes taking the place of trousers in my outfits.

12. To make my own style journey and those of my clients a fun and rewarding experience.

Triple check. I’m having more fun than ever with my style this year, probably because I’m loving 2014 fashion, and my style preferences are very focused. My clients are also thoroughly enjoying this season’s vast assortment of colour and style, comfortable footwear, and forgiving silhouettes. 

There are some items I would have loved to find for Spring and Summer, like a jumpsuit, a pair of culottes and a pink suit, but no luck so far and I think that ship has sailed. It’s end of season and our Summers are very short. But I have a few dresses on order so hopefully I’ll be able to sport some unlayered frock looks before our cold weather returns. 

Over to you. Have you achieved most of your style goals this year? I’d love to hear all about your progress and challenges.

We’re having another week of stunning weather in Seattle (highs in the low 70s, or around 23 degrees Celsius). It’s been sunny and mild, but not quite warm enough to leave off the topper for the entire day. In these temperatures I’m comfortable wearing lighter layers on top with jeans and more open shoes. No need to wear socks, and the topper can come off later in the day. 

This outfit combines old and new pieces, which I love to do, and is why I make sure that I can wear a new separate with several existing wardrobe items. The top and the jacket are new. The jeans, shoes and bag are last season. And my prescription sunnies are five years old. 

I’ve added quite a few tops in new-to-me styles over the last year thanks to the bumper knitwear trend, the sporty trend, and the resurgence of fluid and oversized fits. This asymmetrical split hem top from Zara is one of them and I’m thoroughly enjoying its clean, straight lines. I was attracted to the neatly fitting crew neck, fluid fit, crunchy fabric, raglan sleeve, warm pastel tone, and cropped sleeves. It’s breezy because it’s a viscose blend.

The blush is a little more peach, which actually works better than a cool blush against my skin tone. The colour is warmed up even further by wearing it with bright shades of white and nude lipstick. 

An asymmetrical split hem top creates interesting lines on the bottom half of an outfit. Even more interesting when you layer over a boxy cropped topper. The split hem restores some visual symmetry because the top of the split is the same length as the hem on the shorter side. And although this top accentuates the straightness of my shape, the diagonal lines of the top — along with the jacket — add architectural structure without fitting closely to the body. 

I wear white jeans frequently — at least twice a week — and have several pairs across an assortment of styles and shades of white. The reason I’m such a White Jeans Gal is manyfold. They are dressier than blue jeans, bright, provide a crisp and modern touch to outfits, and intensify the polish I strive to create in my style. I also love how they freshen up a pastel. So I chose my straight leg AG Stilts, which are an optical white. I rolled the cuffs to showcase the ankle straps of the shoes. I am extremely particular about the length and hem width of ankle pants because the look can turn into my poison eye very quickly.

I like ankle pants best matched with ankle strap shoes because I like the way the strap fills the gap. The low contrast between my top and bottom further lengthens the leg line, as does the shorter side of the asymmetrical top. I could have worn my silver suede ankle strap pumps, but my in-house fashion stylist Greg preferred the punch of the pony. 

The off-white Zara jacket was love at first sight because of its drape, colour, boxy cut, gold zippers, structured neckline, high-low hem, round shoulders and pointy front lapels. The style allows me to wear the round-shouldered trend in a subtle way that does not overwhelm my slight frame. I was thrilled at how well this jacket fitted my narrow shoulder line, while at the same time being brilliantly boxy and short. I love items that drape, but the drape must be straight, angular and strict, and not flowing, curved and soft. The jacket ticked all the boxes. I prefer wearing the jacket open to maximize the angular drape and boxy cut, but it looks nice closed too. I’m fine sporting bracelet length sleeves in Spring and Summer.

Although I bought a different white mixed media moto jacket earlier this year, I need white toppers in a variety of thicknesses and shades of white, so this one is not an unnecessary duplication. This one is cotton rich, lightweight and perfect for a mild Summer day. It might not be your cup of tea to mix shades of white in one outfit, but I like the effect. It adds depth to the look, works with my hair, and is less matchy-matchy. 

I finished things off with a pastel turquoise clutch that was a gift from a dear friend, sunnies, gold watch and wedding ring. The clutch introduces another colour, but the overall effect is still soft and tonal. My apple green specs make the outfit look more cheerful, but I can’t squint in the sun. So it was back to Wayfarers for this photo shoot at the Shilshole Bay Marina near Ballard. 

I’m deliberately lightening and softening my outfits even more for 2014 because that’s my style preference at the moment. I’m staying away from hard edge by wearing light and bright colours with shades of white. Some looks are tonal while others are high contrast. Of course, black and white outfits will always have a special place in my heart and I still wear them. But I’m using black as an accent colour instead of a statement colour, and piling on the white as well as wearing lots of ink blue. It will be interesting to see if I feel the same way about colour going into Autumn and Winter. Preselecting at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale next month will be telling, and the suspense of not knowing how I will choose is fun too.

Although most of the ensembles I did for May still reflect Spring dressing, the theme of many posts was about preparing for Summer. I think on some level I’m really just encouraging it to arrive as soon as possible! So this was the area I chose to highlight in the May recap. If you subscribe to the newsletter, then it’s probably already in your inbox. If not, please consider signing up. 

For those who aren’t signed up, here is the online version.

In the newsletter we focus on content so it doesn’t mention one big thing that happened in May: We launched the new YLF Finds feature. Many people are using it to create a collection of items and post about them in the forum. During the month we also made some improvements, adding to the list of stores supported, adding the ability to share finds and recommend them to other members, and adding the ability to organize your finds into folders.