Fab Links from Our Members

Care2 sums up seven ways clothes can be bad for your health. Joy says some of these dangers are obvious, but she hadn’t given much thought to the fact that jewellery and clothing could contain dangerous chemicals.

Annagybe was intrigued by this article on how spandex almost ruined America’s money.

E recently discovered American Age Fashion, a blog written by a retired historian that gives us a fascinating look into historical clothing choices of women over fifty in the US.

Makeup artist Tal Peleg creates miniature works of art with eye makeup. Her Princess and the Pea is Manidipa’s favourite.

Geargirl has been enjoying the capsule wardrobes and Style Advent Calendars on Into Mind.

Angie thinks the brilliant proportions in this outfit are genius: “An A-line midi with flat high-vamped shoes is hard to wear, yet this wearer makes the proportions look flattering. I attribute that to three important details: pointy toe shoes, a defined high-rise waistband in the same low-contrast colour (black), and a high-contrast, waist-revealing crop top. All of which elongate the leg line to prevent the ‘stumpy-factor’.”

Pil would like to share an envy-inducing article about tailoring.

Ironkurtin disapproves of feminism being linked with marketing, but finds it interesting that it is in fact a trend, examples of which you can see in “The 7 Most Inspiring Campaigns for Women in 2013“.

As an inherently RATE person, Shevia found “The Politics of Looking ‘Sloppy” very interesting.

Here are two books that Vicki thinks will put some humour into the holidays and new year: Freeman Hall’s “Retail Hell: How I sold My Soul to the Store“. And for those who love cats in character: “Downton Tabby” by Chris Kelly.

Caro enjoyed this clip about the collaboration between Yohji Yamamoto, one of her favourite designers, and former editor at Vogue Paris, Irene Silvagni.

Linda Grant’s article “When Mods Grow Up” caught Vildy’s attention because she describes how youthful style tends to evolve, and postulates that hippies have aged the worst by “despising what fashion is all about: surface, appearance”.

“Why I Love History“, the latest post at The Fashion Historian made La Belle Demimondaine giggle and think at the same time.

FlorenceFearne discovered The Brain Scoop, an awesome science-y YouTube channel hosted by Emiliy Graslie who in this episode addresses some of her concerns about sexism and internet bullying.

Your “wild card” for Fall and Winter 2013 is an atypical item for your style persona that you’ve added to your wardrobe, just for fun, because it speaks to you in some way. J.Crew’s wool cashmere turtleneck is my wild card for the season, not because of the silhouette, but because of its toffee colour. I don’t wear earth tones. Well, that’s no longer true. 

Fond memories of my late Mum were rekindled when I saw the toffee turtleneck on a mannequin in stores. Mama loved earth tones, and wore a waist defining version of this pullover back in the ‘70s. I was a little girl at the time and remember it well. Powered by nostalgia, I tried on the earthy pullover and to my surprise, I liked it. It’s heathered, which livens up the toffee against my complexion, and I was wearing cream jeans in the dressing room, which freshened up the earth tone even further.

I also loved the shape of the neckline, which can be described as a loose turtleneck or structured cowl. It’s high, which is a must for my long neck, and tidy, which makes me feel polished. This super soft, warm, and non-scratchy jumper was definitely following me home. After 13 years, memories of my late Mum are fading, and wearing a piece that reminds me of her is one way to keep them alive. 

Shades of white add life to colours, which is why I like the toffee pullover best paired with white or cream bottoms. The Banana Republic cream skinny jeans I’m wearing are brand new, and I’ve already worn them four times because they are long, light and comfortable. They fit more like straight legs on my body type, which suits me because I prefer a roomier silhouette on the lower leg.

I absolutely rejoiced that these tapered jeans are full length. So I’m embracing extra leg scrunch because of it, which to some might seem sloppy and ill-fitting. At first, I thought about hemming them a few inches, but decided against it. I’m making a statement with exaggerated leg scrunch amidst a world of body con cropped pants in the middle of Winter. The cream denim is soft, so the scrunching drapes more easily than stiff blue denim. I like the effect of the textural folds and the fluidity of the fit, but will understand if it’s not your cup of tea.

I finished off the look with an old cream coat, cream booties, and a cream bag. I deliberately wanted the pants to melt into the booties without pattern or contrast to make a modern and minimal statement. That means that the entire outfit is cream, except for the toffee pullover, the heels on the booties, and the black buttons on the coat. I chose white specs, a gold watch and my gold wedding ring. No further accessories or jewellery needed. 

By swapping out the toffee pullover with last years chunky cream cabled Gap pullover, I created a white on white outfit. I also swapped out the cream bag for my old black doctor’s satchel for a bit of black button and bag bookending. Apart from a change in bag and jeans, it’s the exact same outfit I wore for the holidays last year.

I’m a fan of wearing shades of white from head to toe throughout the year. It’s not a practical look for being out and about in our wet climate, but I’m not overly concerned about that. I’m careful, and simply wash the pieces when they get grimy. I love shades of white and they brighten my mood on dreary grey Seattle days, so impracticality is simply not a good enough reason to exclude them from my wardrobe.

Life is too short to pass up wearing items that make you happy. If that means being a little impractical from time to time, go for it. And don’t be afraid to follow your emotions when making a purchase. Sometimes the reason an item makes you happy has nothing to do with fashion or style.

Great casual boots needn’t cost hundreds of dollars. If the boots fit well, look great, and are kind to your feet — wear them. With that in mind here’s a selection of casual boots that won’t break the bank. Be sure to look at all the size and colour options. 

• Trotters Blizzard Boot: This Chanel-esque and comfortable weatherproof boot comes in wide widths and goes up to a size 12. Here’s the shorter version if this style is too tall. 
• Sole Society Delma Wedge Bootie: A dressy desert bootie in earth tones. Great in casual settings with jeans, stretchy pants and sweater dresses. Read the rave reviews. 
• Sperry Top Sider Falcon Rain Boot: A rare brown boot for slush and rain.
• Naughty Monkey Chaotic Boot: A quick and stylish pull-on-and-go over skinnies and jeggings. 
• Sole Society Aileen Boot: A vegan moto boot that works well with flirty dresses and slim-fit pants.
• BP. Trolley Leather Ankle Boot: A streamlined casual bootie that goes up to size 13. Read the rave reviews. 
• Dolce Vita Krynn Bootie: Casually perforated, super soft and streamlined at the ankle. 
• MIA Odette Bootie: A slouchy and rugged combat boot that runs half a size large, so size down. 

Remember that suede and leather can be insulated with weatherproofing spray, and that adding cushioning insoles can make a pair of boots a lot more comfortable. I add $2 drugstore bought insoles to all my boots and booties. A couple of dollars that are very well spent.

Wearing skinnies and jeggings tucked into tall boots is an extremely practical combination for the dead of Winter because it’s warm and weatherproof. We end up wearing this uniform, season after Winter season, sometimes for weeks on end. So we’re bored and we need ways to shake things up. Here are six ways to do that. 

Chunky Knitwear

Although the tailored equestrian look with fitted top and blazer is a classic and always in style (check out this gorgeous street style shot of strict equestrian perfection), think further than that combination. Knitwear has exploded this year, and there are lots of new and interesting options to wear on top. By adding these on trend pieces to existing skinnies and tall boots, you’ll refresh the look.

You’re after fluid and oversized silhouettes with high-low hemlines in semi-chunky and chunky knits that make a statement on their own. Think mixed media and a little or very slouchy. 

The picture above is one inspiration, but by all means wear pullovers longer if you prefer to cover up part of the hip and bottom. Remember that roomy tops visually narrow the hips and thighs, creating an inverted triangle silhouette just like they did in the ’80s. No topper required other than a coat for when you head out to brave the elements. For more visuals refer back to yesterday’s sweater post, and check out this chic street style example with hectically oversized poncho. 

On Trend Outerwear

Matching skinnies and tall boots with on trend outerwear instantly refreshes the uniform. Think cocoon coats, round-shouldered styles, capes, maxi coats, and man coats. Look at how stylish this lady is in her Winter cape. 

Wearing a trapeze-poncho silhouette like the one below is another way to go. No need to wear bold patterns if that’s not your thing. Stick to solids and create a low colour contrast between all the pieces in your outfit for a more streamlined effect. 

Patterned and Colourful Bottoms

Sleek black ponte pants and blue skinnies are NOT your only options when it comes to bottoms. Think cobalt and burgundy skinnies, and patterned skinnies like tartan, camouflage, geometric designs and florals across a variety of fabrications. There is metallic denim for Team Magpie, and flocked and waxed denim for Team Texture. Moto jeans, leather jeggings, and white jeans are another way to go.

Recently I’ve been tucking last year’s gold jeans into tall black boots and finishing off the look with a fluid untucked black turtleneck, just to change things up.

Baggier Bottom Fits  

Wear bottoms that are looser than skinnies, like streamlined boyfriend jeans or slouchy skinnies. This combination is an acquired taste because it creates poufing, bagging and creases on the leg line. Skinnies are sleek and look like a second skin when tucked into boots creating a polished effect, whereas baggier bottoms create a more RATE (rough around the edges) vibe. 

My boyfriend jeans are too baggy to tuck into tall boots, so I’ve been going the slouchy skinnies route. You may remember this outfit from last year when I paired stripes with checks and an ink military coat. The skinnies are baggier all over creating an extra relaxed vibe. 

Try tucking slouchy, harem trousers into tall boots if the bottoms are adequately tapered. The vibe is much like wearing breeches with boots, as demonstrated by this lovely lady. By all means try a less slouchy version too. I like to tuck my jodhpur jeans into tall boots to create a similar silhouette without the dropped crotchpoint. 

Mid-Calf Boots

Wearing shorter mid-calf boots is the fifth way to refresh the uniform. The two pictures below showcase casual mid-calf boots, which is one way to achieve the vibe. Create a low contrast between the colour of the boots and bottoms if you’re concerned about the leg shortening and “stump factor” of shorter boots. Wear heeled versions for an even longer leg line. 

I plan to embellish these ideas in ensemble posts over the next few weeks so that we can break down the components even further. Do you tuck skinnies into tall boots? Have you felt a need to refresh this outfit combination because it has begun to feel stale?