Ensemble: Khakis, Tee, Blazer & Gladiators

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. 

 Khakis, Tee, Blazer & Gladiators

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.

Weekly Roundup: Tankini Tops

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. 

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?

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Style Rut versus Signature Style

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?

Roundups

Simpler Items

This week's list of top picks list is about basic pieces.

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Assorted Items

Items for Summer, both in and out of air conditioning.

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Casual Summer Vibes

This week's top picks are good for a casual Summer vibe.

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Summery Earth Tones

These items are for those who like to wear casual earth tones in warm and hot weather.

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Hints of Spring

Some tried-and-tested winning items to refresh your style for Spring.

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Dressier Items

An assortment of dressier top picks might be just what the doctor ordered.

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Jayrah Becomes Seattle’s Fashion Star

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.

Salon

Photo Shoot

Seated

Red Dress

Birkenstocks with Skirts and Dresses: Yay or Nay

There is no stopping the Birkenstock trend. Birkenstocks are featured on ultra trendy and fashion forward retailers like Net-A-Porter and Shopbop, in mainstream stores like J.Crew, and just read the rave reviews on Zappos. From Zara to Clarks, the double strap and buckled Birkenstock look-a-like is widely available at the moment. Apparently, the Nordstrom flagship in Seattle can’t keep the Birkenstock in stock because it’s selling like hot cakes. We had two warm days last week, and I saw many people wearing the ped downtown and in my neighbourhood. People generally love this ped. It truly is the season for the on trend Birkenstock, and I would not have predicted that. 

Wearing Birkenstocks casually with jeans, pants, cropped pants and shorts is a combination that I suspect most find quite acceptable, especially in super relaxed settings. But how about matching the ped with skirts and dresses? And in some cases with dressier skirts and dresses as shown in the photos here. The visual effect is not conventionally flattering because it shortens the leg line, not to mention that the juxtaposition of lovely dress or skirt with chunky “caveman style shoe” is a little jarring. Many people wear Birkenstocks as house shoes, so essentially the combination is like matching a pretty skirt or dress with fluffy slippers, but as an intentional fashion statement.

My clients are polarized on wearing Birkenstocks with skirts and dresses. Some think it’s possibly the worst combination ever, although they wear Birkies at home as house shoes. Others are rejoicing because they can finally walk to the Farmers Market in style with happy feet. Many enjoy wearing Birkenstocks with jeans, cropped pants and shorts, but draw the line at skirts and dresses. 

Although I don’t wear Birkenstocks, I fully support the trend and am a yay for wearing them with skirts and dresses — with conditions. To my eye, the outfit must look intentionally fashionable, which means wearing current clothes with a particular style of Birkenstock. I like the original two strap Birkenstock best because it covers more of the foot, and because it’s the on trend style. But I only like them in black, white or metallic because they look dressier and more graphic in those colours. I especially like white Birkenstocks because they look the prettiest and the softest of the lot. I like all the outfits below except for the last one because the Birkies are bright blue.The jarring juxtaposition is 2014 fashion, which supports our liberating and empowering fashion era. Plus I am always in favour of happy feet.

What’s your take on wearing Birkenstocks with skirts and dresses? Stylish, different and fun, or frumpy and awfully unattractive.

J.Crew

Zara

ASTR Body Con Dress