This ultra casual ensemble was inspired by a client who showed me her new olive boyfriend skinny khakis from Old Navy. I loved them on her. They are a softer and more lightweight alternative to jeans, and fabulous rolled at the hems. They come in an assortment of colours and sizes, and cost $19. Coincidentally, I had recently pinned a street style shot of Gwyneth Paltrow in slouchy olive khakis, grey tee, black blazer and gladiators because I thought the look would go down well with some of my clients. I guess we were on the same wavelength. 

It’s a comfortable and pulled together casual look for Mums and gals on the go. The outfit on the left is the trendier version and sans topper, while the outfit on the right is a tad more classic. I’ve stuck to neutrals, but choose any colour palette that tickles your fancy. Here are the components: 

Bottoms: A pair of dead simple cotton khakis in olive or another colour will do the trick. Make sure they can be rolled at the hems for a current look. Camouflage print is another option. Cargo skinnies that are rolled at the hem are another way to go, but a looser fit bottom is more fashionable at the moment. 

Top: Think fluid tee, tank top, T-shirt blouse, or roomy blouse with diagonal sleeves and high-low hemline. A boyfriend shirt with scrunched sleeves will also work, as will a slouchy lightweight cotton or linen pullover. Tuck or partially tuck the top for structure. I’ve chosen white and light grey because I like those neutrals paired with olive, but black, blue, and all sorts of reds, purples, pinks, corals and citron work well with olive too. 

Topper: This is optional. The point of the ensemble is that it looks good without the third piece. I do like the masculine strictness of a crisp black blazer with this outfit because it’s a fun juxtaposition. Pop it on when it’s cooler in the morning or at night. A knitted moto jacket is a cozier way to go. 

Footwear: Classic brown gladiators are warm and earthy with the olive, but black and metallic work well too. I threw in white Birkenstocks as the trendy option to match the white top. Slip-on sneakers will work, as will any style of casual sandal, cut-out bootie, pointy flat, wedge sneaker or loafer. 

Accessories: You’ll need a belt to finish off the look. Matching it to the colour of the shoes is an easy way of pulling together the outfit. Choose a casual tote, bowling bag, crossbody bag or fashionable backpack. Add jewellery, eyewear and watch as desired. 

 

Hopefully, you’ll be able to pull together this outfit by shopping your closet. I’ll be doing so by combining my tan boyfriend khakis with a white roomy button down shirt or cotton pullover, white belt, white wedge Converse and an ink blazer or black moto.

Tankinis are popular with my clients because they offer the coverage of a one-piece and the practicality of a two-piece swimsuit. Here’s a roundup of tried and tested tankini tops. Match them with basic swimsuit bottoms, boy shorts, board shorts or a swim skirt. Be sure the check all the colour options. 

• Elomi Isis Layering Top (Plus): Slimming, streamlined and supportive. 
• Seafolly Coastline Tankini Top: A retro style that doesn’t offer much support, unless you opt for the version for a larger bust line. Fab on a rectangular body type. 
• Elomi Isis Bandeau Layering Tankini Top (Plus): I prefer this style to the Isis layering top because the swing silhouette is fun, forgiving on the midsection, and the white piping breaks up the expanse of black. Bandeau ties can be uncomfortable, so make sure you’re fine wearing a suit that has them.
• Lands’ End Beach Living Tapestry Shirred Tankini Top: A classic tankini style that does the job. Available in shorter and longer lengths.
• Lands’ End Beach Living Paisley Square Neck Tankini Top: This style is good for a plus size gal with a smaller bust. 
• Lands’ End Regular Beach Club Tiered Tankini Top: A tiered style is great for midsection camouflage. It isn’t all that supportive in the bust, but offers sufficient coverage. 
• Magicsuit Solar Eclipse Corynne Wire-Free Swim Tankini Top: A wire-free version for extra comfort. 
• Fantasie Sante Fe Plunge Tankini Top: Fantasie swimsuits lift the girls as well as their bras do, so if you’re after a particularly flattering shape on the bust, Fantasie is one way to go. 

Personally, I’m not fond of tankini tops because they just don’t create a tailored fit on my torso when the style is supposed to do precisely that. Of course, I could have them altered. But I tend to fit bikini tops quite easily now that we can purchase them in bra sizes, so that’s my preference. Do you like to wear tankini tops?

I typically haven’t been that adventurous when it came to tops. Each season I would try on all the new-to-me top styles that tickled my fancy, and although I liked many of them, I usually didn’t love them as much as one of my three staple styles: a button-down shirt, a turtleneck, or a crew/slash neck pullover in a fluid fit with a banded bottom. Granted, I do like a variation in fit, colour, fabric, stitch interest, weight and pattern across these staples. 

That changed over the last year. I have included a whole slew of new styles to my wardrobe thanks to the bumper knitwear trend, the sporty trend, and the resurgence of fluid and oversized fits. I’ve added chunky cropped pullovers, mixed media pieces, oversized pullovers with high-low hemlines, upscale knitted sweatshirts, a silk front sweatshirt, drape front blouses, a silk tee, and a pullover with asymmetric hemline. This feels like a significant style shift, and for the first time in a very long time, I love these new tops as much as my signature staples. 

This got me thinking. How does a style rut differ from a signature style? Can a signature style become a style rut? Are they mutually exclusive?

I firmly believe that if a component of your style continues to make you feel fab, there is no need to change it for the sake of change alone. After all, in addition to the new silhouettes I added a light blue tuxedo shirt, a basic linen shirt in coral and a cobalt and white striped shirt to my tops capsule for Summer — all tried and tested styles that I have been wearing for years in other colours. They fall into my “shirt staples” category. I enjoy wearing them as much now as I did before, and they are part of a signature look that I still find very appealing.

But there’s no denying that my overall taste in tops has shifted. Maybe I was in a bit of a rut without being conscious of it. Or maybe it is just a question of balancing the consistency of a signature style with some degree of change. An incremental evolution of one’s signature style that prevents a major style rut that is much harder to climb out of. 

Are there aspects of your style that have remained constant for a long period? To what extent do you view these aspects as a signature style versus a style rut? Do you consciously evolve your style over time to avoid feeling like you’re in a rut?

Sixteen year old Jayrah from Granite Falls suffers from a degenerative neuro-muscular disorder called Friedreich’s Ataxia, but that doesn’t stop her from being quite the fashionista. She thoroughly enjoys keeping up with the latest fashion trends and beauty products.

Make-A-Wish Washington was recently able to grant Jayrah her wish to be a fashion model. With help from the Gary Manuel Salon, Nordstrom and the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle, Jayrah was given a VIP model experience that made her feel extra special and very pampered. She was dazzling in a bright coral red carpet strapless dress, and equally stylish in denim cut-offs and Converse high-tops. Jayrah’s beautiful smile shone even more brightly than the bling on her gown. What a wonderful day.