A fun new bag is one way to refresh your wardrobe in the middle of a long and dreary Winter. It doesn’t need to break the bank and it doesn’t need to be in a neutral. 

• Bowling Bag with Zips: The ‘90s bowling bag is back and looks fresh and fun. Relatively small and casually dressy. Semi-structured. 
• Leather Shopper with Laminated Interior: This is one of Zara’s best selling bags that they offer every season in a variety of colours. At the moment it’s available in ink, white and cognac. It’s the most modern shopper I’ve seen, and quite large. The handles and stiff structured leather are robust. Great for work if you carry a lot of stuff, and super for travel. 
• Mini City Bag with Zip Details: A fun way to add a pastel to your wardrobe. Small and structured. I have both the light blue and the pink on their way to me so that I can choose between the two when I play with them in my wardrobe. Inge just bought the blue and is thrilled with her new little wardrobe pet. 
• Citybag with Zips: Crisp, professional and minimal. An interesting light colour that is neither grey nor taupe, but something in between. Light and refreshing with dark neutrals. 
• Parkside Satchel: A simple satchel with clean lines and lots of room. It’s larger than you might think. Well made, and fab in emerald green. 
• Flavia Foldover Clutch: A super copy of the Clare Vivier clutch at a fraction of the price. Love the roses and checkerboard option.
• Vince Camuto Mila Satchel: Graphic, modern and structured. Fabulous sturdy handles, textured body, and lots of room. 

The bags I have pictured are all from Zara, who generally make great quality bags at affordable prices. Always worth a look. And their online shipping service is stellar so by all means go that route if you don’t have a Zara close by.

Remember that the tags, tassels and straps that come with the bags can often be removed for a more minimal visual effect. I strip those off immediately.

Style bloggers starring in international fashion campaigns is no longer a new thing, but this one is a little different. Italian fashion label Diesel picked 26-year old Jillian Mercado to be one of the faces of their Spring/Summer 2014 campaign. On her personal blog MANUFACTURED 1987 Jillian writes about style and trends. She is also the executive editorial director of We the Urban digital magazine. But the thing that has the style world abuzz, is that Jillian was born with spastic muscular dystrophy and is in a wheelchair.

With artistic director Nicola Formichetti, Diesel has been working on a reboot of their brand. For the new Spring ad campaign, to be published in Vogue and Interview in March, he cast 23 people, most of whom are not professional models. Formichetti told Women’s Wear Daily that it “was much more about the group, the gang, the tribe, the community. The people got to us in different ways but they’re connected visually, physically, mentally and denim is the thing that unites all of them. And that’s the theme and the tag line — We Are Connected.”

Jillian, who knew Formichetti through work, entered an open casting call with some friends but never expected to be selected. Over the last few years, the fashion industry has been making an effort to embrace a wider range of beauty, but there is still a long way to go. In The Guardian, Jillian said:

“People should have an open mind. If I’m helping to make it move forward, that’s awesome. It means so much to me because it’s the fact that someone who is different is representing Diesel. [It shows] anyone can rock the clothes and look beautiful. For me it represents way more than just a campaign. A lot of people will see it and will have a change of mind of how they see people who have a disability.”

Here is some additional coverage of this story from around the web:

• Jillian’s ad photo and some personal snaps on The Huffington Post website.
• Watch an interview with Jillian discussing the campaign, her work in fashion, and life in a wheelchair.
• Read more about how Jillian navigates New York Fashion Week.

One consequence of being in my profession is that I’m always paying attention to what people are wearing. Whether I’m shopping in stores, running errands, walking down the street, waiting in line at the airport, enjoying a dinner party or arriving at yoga, I notice the outfits worn by the people around me. 

And, yes, I evaluate the outfits I see. It isn’t a conscious effort, but I find myself making mental notes about things that I’d like to try myself, replicate with one of my clients, or share here on YLF. 

Of course, my thoughts aren’t always positive. Sometimes I don’t like what I see, and I find myself thinking about what it is that isn’t working in the fit of an individual item, or in the combination of an ensemble. Or I might question the appropriateness of the outfit for the setting.

But even as I’m evaluating the outfits around me, I’m very conscious of two things. First, fashion and style are very subjective. Sure, there is a general consensus on what’s in and what’s out at any given time, but even so, my opinion is just that: an opinion. My clients and longtime readers of YLF might value that opinion, but there are also people who don’t. Mine is only one way of viewing the world.

And second, while I evaluate the outfit, I never judge the wearer. It is so easy to fall into the trap of jumping to conclusions about the reasons behind an outfit that seems inappropriate, unfashionable or unflattering, but I don’t go there. I don’t know the person. I don’t  know their circumstances, and I don’t know what motivates them to dress the way they do. My private thoughts on their outfit have nothing to do with what they are like as a person.

I’m sure most of us have caught ourselves making snap judgements about people based on what they were wearing. A while back I found myself doing that and really wanted to get out of the habit. So these days I have a little mental trick to keep things focused on the outfit and not the wearer. When I’m evaluating an outfit, I imagine that I’m seeing it on a mannequin. That way I am free to formulate an opinion about the aesthetics without making unfair and inaccurate judgements about the wearer.

Observing street style: Tokyo and Yokohama in 2012.

Here’s a selection of pullovers that aren’t basic. They are neutral, and for the most part fluid or oversized. All are non-scratch. Be sure to look through all the colour options. 

• Club Monaco Franny Sweater: Fantastic asymmetrical cut and textured knit. I love the heavy weight of the drape and the sheen on the yarn. A little avant-garde and very comfy. 
• Club Monaco Meryl Sweater: Awfully pretty with its sheer insets, and swingy high-low hemline. Romantic and modern. Runs small and tight under and on the arms so you might need to size up.
• J.Crew Stripe Sleeve Merino Sweater: Colour blocked lilac with graphic black and white. Nice sporty piece in a fairly fluid fit.
• Club Monaco Claudia Striped Sweater: Oversized and visually widening all over, especially from the side, so consider yourself warned. The photo makes the style look more streamlined than it is so you might need to size down.The genius lies in the tailored short sleeves that provide just enough structure. On trend and a silhouette that is all over Fall 2014 fashion runways right now. I loved this top, but the neckline wasn’t high enough for my liking so it didn’t follow me home.
• Club Monaco Kimberly Top: Not technically a sweater but I’m including it anyway. I don’t wear knitted tops, but if this was in a colour other than grey or black, it may have been the top that followed me home. It’s modern ‘80s fabness all the way. Flattering oversized fit in front, and interesting low back detailing. A fun, alluring and unique piece. 

Right now knitwear is the fashionable choice of top to wear with any bottom. We’ll continue to see knitwear offered throughout the year in countless styles, fabrications and colours. Best top trend ever.