There were variations on the “split skirt” or culottes theme on the Spring 2014 runways of New York, London, Milan and Paris. Styles were slim fitting, or wide and voluminous. Drapey or stiff. Lengths were above the knee, knee-length, or midi. Patterned, textured or solid. Bright or neutral. Lightweight or heavyweight. Pleated or flat front.  

Take a peek at some of my favourite combinations: 

• Above the knee with inverted front box pleat and matching coat.
• Narrow slouchy culottes with roomy tucked blouse.
• Fitted high-waisted culottes. 
• Fitted, slouchy matchy-matchy culottes with cropped sweatshirt.
• Harem pants and culotte hybrid.
• Midi culottes two-piece dress.
• Colour blocked culotte suit. 
• Flowing culottes with bare midriff.
• White culottes suit.
• Matchy-matchy patterned culottes from head to toe.
• Textured white culottes with boxy top.
• Slim-fit midi culottes with round shouldered jacket and peplum top.
• Wide culottes with unstructured crop top.
• Sporty culottes with crop top.
• Drapey knee-length culottes with long sleeved tee.

I’m glad that culotte styles shown here are varied, because there is something for everyone. They’re more practical than flouncy full skirts when the wind blows (no flashing), and make a nice change to trousers and pencil skirts. The wider styles swoosh as you stride, which is an added bonus if you like clothing with movement. And furthermore, some styles require a double-take. Is it a skirt or a pair of pants? That makes it a pretty fun piece. 

We have seen culottes as a super fringe trend for a few seasons, and I wonder whether they will gain popularity over the course of the year. It’s anyone’s guess how well they will be received at retail. The slim-fit styles that look more like baggy long shorts have great mainstream possibility to my eye, as do the wider styles with flat fronts. The super wide styles that pleat from the waistband are harder to wear because they pouf out, and are “a lot of culotte”. Chances are high that you will feel larger than you really are in those versions, although thin drapey fabric will help to streamline the silhouette.  

I like culottes. They bring back fond memories of when I wore them in the ’70s and I’d love to add a pair to my wardrobe. The closest I got was a pair of cobalt, slightly wider long shorts, but still, they aren’t real culottes. 

I would like to see culottes go further than a fringe trend because they are very wearable, and provide a change from skinnies, straight legs, pencil skirts and cropped pants, that have been dominating the market for a while. What are your thoughts on culottes? Would you wear them?

You are on Team Blazer if you prefer wearing blazers to leather jackets and vice versa. Note that all styles of blazer and leather jacket count. Blazers can be knitted or woven, shrunken, tailored or oversized, mixed media, patterned or solid, tuxedo, tweed, or plaid. Anything at all. Leather jackets can be moto, aviator, shearling, belted, Chanel-esque, or whatever tickles your fancy. 

I love blazers and leather jackets. I wear both styles of topper as frequently, and virtually throughout the year across different weights to suit the weather. And when it’s really cold, I wear blazers and leather jackets under my coats. 

I cannot choose between these two styles of topper so I’m sitting this one out on the bench with fresh Maine lobster rolls and homemade strawberry frozen yoghurt. Over to you. Are you Team Blazer or Team Leather Jacket? Tell us why and no batting for both teams. 

I’m attracted to patterned wardrobe items. I enjoy wearing them and buying them because they make my outfits look punchy and alive, which in turn makes me feel alive. I particularly like classic patterns like stripes, checks, polka dots and animal print. I also like romantic florals, and have a thing for animal print footwear. When I wear a solid top and bottom, I will often match it with patterned belt and/or shoe. I love to pattern mix belts with tops. And when I haven’t worn patterns for days, I rectify the situation because I miss wearing them.

At the beginning of the year I stopped purchasing patterned items for a while. I’d overdosed on them. My closet was looking chaotic and I missed seeing enough clean, calm and crisp solids. So for a while I purchased items only in solid colours. I still happily wore patterns, individually and in pattern mixed outfits. I just didn’t buy any new ones. 

I’ve realized that although I love the minimal and simple effect of solids, I also need a fair amount of pattern in my style because it packs a punch and makes me happy. The tricky bit is establishing just the right amount of pattern in my wardrobe. Too few patterns and I miss their lively presence. Too many patterns and I miss the calm serenity of solids. I’m constantly feeling my way on this one. I am aware of my tendency to overdose on patterns, so from time to time I go on a pattern diet. That’s my way of creating the right mix in my closet. 

Working with clients, I’m also very aware that not everyone feels the same way about patterns that I do. And that patterns play a different role in our respective wardrobes. My clients’ approaches to pattern run the gamut. Some won’t wear them at all. Not even in a belt, scarf, bag or shoe. For them, patterns make an outfit less attractive. Other clients don’t feel stylish unless they’re wearing a pattern. For them, patterns are an easy way to make their outfits feel interesting and bold. Some prefer to wear patterns only in footwear and accessories, while others are adventurous pattern mixers and wear multiple patterned pieces daily. 

How does pattern fit into your wardrobe? Do they add or subtract from your style? Note that there is no right and wrong answer. Only a preference that might even change over time. 

Glitzy items with sparkle and shine make us think of formal wear and dressing up. While that’s true, the ongoing fashion movement towards wearing “daytime sparkle” and casual items with shiny textures and surfaces is growing stronger. It’s fashion’s way of adapting dressy to our age of casualization. For this reason describing an item as casually glitzy makes sense. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that the juxtaposition of dressy and casual elements in one outfit is a style that is defining our fashion era. 

These casual pieces for Team Magpie are shiny, juxtaposing a formal wear concept with a very relaxed vibe.

• Generation Love Yoko Combo Jacket: A mixed media piece that needs nothing more than a layering top, jeans and boots. Oversized with just the right amount of tailoring. 
• Juicy Couture Metallic Pullover Hoodie: Wear it under a blazer, over a leather bottom or checked skinnies. A glitzy nod to the sporty trend.
• Three Dots Sequin Top: An upscale sweatshirt with many possibilities. Wear it with bootcut trousers, a full skirt, a pencil skirt or jeans. 
• Monserat De Lucca Large Botevara Pouch: A rough textured clutch with casual tassel in platinum or rose gold. Perfect with a pair of jeans. 

I like shiny things because they look dressy, so I am all for wearing casual glitz. How about you?