Now that the days of going sockless are over in my neck of the woods, I had fun browsing Refinery 29’s roundup of cute socks for Fall.

What is the etiquette of wearing tights to work in 2013? Some still believe that “the more skin you show at work, the less influence you have”.

According to the Guardian, showing the toe gussets of hosiery is considered edgy and fashion forward again, just like in the mid-’90s. At least, the way Carine Roitfeld has styled them for a Harper’s Bazaar shoot.

Fab Links from Our Members

Deb wishes she could go see the “Suffragettes under Surveillance at Art Under Attack” exhibition at the Tate Britain. At the same time she was shocked to hear that “of the 2,300 works of art in the National Gallery in London, only eleven of the artists are women”.

Angie loved browsing Tommy Ton’s final shortlist of street style shots across New York, London, Milan and Paris fashion weeks for Spring 2014. Lots of fun and over the top outfits to peruse.

This blog posts explains how the Dress Spot works, a search engine for your colour palette. Vildy especially likes the feature that shows you an additional colour palette that is close to what you are looking for, so that you can refine your choice further with more “off shades”. 

Laurinda likes Kate Spade’s library-themed accessories, but is a bit downhearted that the common items of her schooldays are already fashionably retro.

This article really resonated with MaryK because her body image and self-esteem skyrocketed once she started taking daily WIW photos and got used to seeing herself in pictures. Plus, the point that Mums should get out from behind the camera and be in those family photos, can’t be made often enough.

“Women’s Fashion Turns to Menswear for Tips“. Pil found this article very interesting, especially after Angie’s post about the man coat trend.

MsMaven recommends reading this San Jose Mercury News article about harmful substances in cosmetics, a topic of concern to most women.

L’Abeille thought this survey of the history of eyebrow fashion, demonstrated via Loretta Young, was riveting.

A sweater with a sequined Santa Claus, and another one with sequined holiday baubles. CocoLion is in a state of semi-shock that the holiday sweater is now a high fashion statement. Would you wear them?

The man coat is a subtle way to wear an oversized coat because although shapeless and straight through the back and torso, it’s structured on the shoulder and hip. Other fashion forward and trendy coat styles are a lot more oversized. Dropped shoulder seams, waist surrendering cocoon silhouettes, round shoulders, roomy sleeves, low stances and generally huge lapels. Some styles are collarless, and lengths vary from mid-thigh to below the knee. Most styles taper at the hems for structure, but some styles are wide from the armholes down. 

I am a cautious yay on the oversized coat trend. I love some of the styles, but others seem a little too oversized to be attractive, like the Zara example below (bottom, left). The styles that look fab to my eye are sufficiently structured. They are less oversized because there is less fabric, the silhouettes taper at the hips, and to some extent the sleeves taper too. I especially like the versions with the more tapered sleeves. For those reasons, I like the Vintage Asos, Kai Aakmann, Kaelen and Reality Studio best of the selection below. 

It’s hard for an oversized fit not to be mistaken for poor fit, and therein lies the challenge. An oversized coat has to look intentional, fashion forward, drape in just the right way, and be worn with a structured support act. You also have to feel great in the shape of the coat, and not like it completely overwhelms your frame.

Here are runway outfits with oversized coats from Fall 2013 collections that work well: 

• Celine’s soft blush boiled wool coat worn over equally soft separates.
• Issey Miyake’s magical double-breasted mango coat worn open with a slim column of colour.
• Carven’s hectically oversized light blue coat. Its shorter length gives it structure, as does the leg skin on the model, streamlined turtleneck and tonal outfit. Very clever.
• Cedric Charlier’s shocking pink coat with super straight lines and tapered hem. Gorgeous architectural drape.
• Paul Smith’s opera coat over slouchy separates. The structure is created by wearing the coat open. And the sleeves look scrunched because the model’s hands are in her pockets. Not very practical in real life, but these details are effective on the runway.

I don’t think you need to be tall to wear an oversized coat. I have petite clients in cocoon and other oversized coat styles that have just enough structure to pull off the silhouette with panache. They also wear them shorter than knee-length. A broad shoulder line does help “carry the coat”, but is not essential. 

The oversized coat is ideal to wear over chunky knitwear and extra layers, like a jacket and huge scarf. It provides ample room on the arms and shoulders, which for some is the only way to feel comfortable in a coat. It’s also a great idea for those who want to draw attention away from their midriff. So while you may feel chunky in an oversized coat, it has its practical advantages. 

Over to you. What’s your take on the oversized coat? Would you wear one, or do you prefer a tailored fit.

A cropped sweater or sweatshirt in a fine gauge, chunky knit, mixed media silk blend, or sweatshirt fabric is what I call a cheeky pullover. The fit is fluid or oversized, and in most cases has a welt or high-low hemline. I particularly like the styles with raglan sleeves. 

• Topshop Embroidered Sweater: A versatile and sleek cropped pullover with a retro flavour. 
• Rebecca Taylor Embellished Sweatshirt: Texture rich and oversized. 
• Topshop Floral Sweater: You’ll look pretty and huggable in this little darling. 
• Halogen Leather & Cashmere Sweater: A mixed media and slightly edgy option for Team Grey. 
• Leith Fuzzy Crop Pullover: Cute and cuddly. A major lint warning must accompany this style if you intend to wear it with dark bottoms. 
• Topshop Angora Sweater: A little more cropped and fitted. Also retro. Great on a short-waisted lass, but might be itchy if you’re sensitive to wool. 
• Rag & Bone Mariah Merino Wool Sweater: A super way to pattern mix with other geometric patterns. Fab with slouchy bottoms.  
• Pink Tartan Two-Tone Sweater: Nice with fluid black bottoms. Winter white looks fresh throughout the cold weather season. 
• Milly Colourblock Turtleneck: I have my eye on this one. 
• Rubbish Embroidered Marled Sweater (Juniors): V-necks are perfect on a larger bust line while the roomy fit across the torso is forgiving on the midriff. The lightweight nature of the sweater creates a flattering drape against the contour of the body. 
• Theory Kuno Yuno Sweater: Chunky, round-shouldered, and very short in front. Trendy deluxe and great with a high-waisted skirt. 
• Jessica Simpson Bellis Intarsia Sweater (Plus Size): Graphic Mary Quant fun and really flattering. 

In the online pictures many of these pullovers are matched with body-con skinnies and jeggings, which I don’t think is the most attractive way to wear them because of their short length. To my eye, short cheeky pullovers look best with less tight bottoms like tulip and full skirts, fluid or slouchy trousers, roomy bootcuts and straight legs, boyfriend jeans, or wide leg jeans. Faux tuck the top with a belt if desired. That said, I do like a cheeky pullover worn over a tight pencil skirt because skirts and shorter tops are generally a great pairing.

Over at B. Jones Style, California-based blogger, video host and brand ambassador Beth Jones (32) writes about her daily outfits, fashion inspirations and how style seeps into every nook and cranny of her life. Her style is fashion forward, dramatic, daring and trendy. Style preferences that she effortlessly combines with a love for all things vintage that started very early on in life: 

“I would describe my style as eclectic and modern vintage. I love creating looks with a character in mind, stepping outside the reality and having fun playing dress up. This has been the core of my style for a very long time. The biggest changes have come because of getting pregnant, learning to dress that body and then after having the baby, learning to dress my new body. My love for vintage pieces started a little in high school, but I grew up on a small island in South Carolina so we didn’t have many resources around. In college it grew more, but when I moved to California in 2002 it exploded. California has so many thrift and vintage stores and I was addicted… and still am.”

Beth is undoubtedly an early adopter of new fashions, always eager to incorporate new trends into her look. Here she’s wearing a very off-the-moment round shoulder jacket with short sleeves, which were all over the runway for S/S 2014. And what a striking way to wear denim from head to toe this is! Beth is sporting three different shades of blue, but by keeping them all relatively light, she has created a harmonious and sophisticated whole. The light wash denim jacket is quite the unique piece, don’t you think? The large pockets and longer length remind me of a dressy utility jacket. Wearing the jacket open accentuates the unbroken vertical line of the denim on denim underneath, and at the same time gives the outfit structure. As does the roomy denim shirt underneath with its more rigid looking fabric and buttoned-up look. Showing some skin with the bare forearms and ankles breaks up all the blue. Beth has chosen her denim carefully: the slouchy boyfriends appear to be made of a softer chambray fabric that looks more refined than regular denim. She’s achieved great proportions with the longer jacket by rolling the boyfriends at the ankle and tucking in the shirt. She’s accessorized everything in her favourite shade of ’70-ish cognac brown, which keeps things streamlined and polished. A feminine shoe like the towering cage sandals provides a nice contrast against the masculine integrity of all the denim. And last but not least the arty ethnic-inspired necklace, a unique thrift find, showcases Beth’s trademark flair, and breaks up the column of denim.

Beth wore this romantic look for the first day of New York Fashion Week last month. It was inspired by the Dolce & Gabanna Fall 2013 runway show where the models accessorized with crowns. Isn’t this vintage full skirt pure retro heaven? Be sure to check out the close-up to admire the vibrant red colour, quilted detailing and beautiful print in all its splendour. The full silhouette is feminine and quite dramatic. The just-below-the-knee-length is elegant and adds a touch of old movie star glamour. This is further emphasized by the dressy integrity of the tailored lace button-down. Tucking in the shirt defines Beth’s waist. Skin peeking through the lace fabric adds subtle allure. The crown is also vintage, and is a good example of Beth’s quirky side that’s allowed to come out to play during Fashion Week. The gold of the crown is repeated in the chain strap of the small crossbody bag, manicure detailing, and the oversized Madonna-esque cross necklace. The sleek black booties provide just the right amount of modern edge, plus they fit perfectly around the ankle. Animal print sunnies and bright red lipstick finish off this look that was made for twirling all around the city.

Sporting a long, boxy top over full wide-legged bottoms that completely surrenders the waistline isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s right up our fashion forward blogger’s alley. Beth has a bohemian element to her style, and wears this flowing, voluminous look with panache. A casual, easy breezy combination ideal for an afternoon of Summer fun. She absolutely gets fit and proportion and how to create an attractive outfit despite defying traditional figure flattery rules. Actually, I’d say it’s one of her trademark skills. Both top and bottom are unstructured, but the soft fabric of the palazzo pants helps to create a loose, flattering drape. The open crochet top is also oversized, but collapses back onto the body, creating a structured visual effect. As do the longer diagonal sleeves. Bless Beth for sporting PPL (perfect pant lengths) with her tan flat sandals! The openwork footwear refers back to the crochet top, while the floppy straw hat and woven tote add earthy drama. Accessories are a pair of iconic Aviators, light blue nail polish that matches the blue of the floral print pants, a bronze cuff bracelet and a bold pendant that’s a statement in itself.

Here’s Beth’s tip for finding striking and unique jewellery:

“I love antique stores for jewelry. They always have cases and cases of it. My favorite pieces are usually from the ’60s -’80s. Big gold and bold!”

A pretty straightforward ladylike outfit consisting of skirt + top + jacket. What makes it special in my book is the colour combination and antiqued finish effect of the leather skirt. Pairing this kind of deep, rich brown — it almost reads like a yummy plum colour on my screen – with bright yellow wouldn’t immediately occur to me, but it looks modern, fresh and strong. The leather midi skirt with subtle flare is another vintage find. Tucking in the top exposes the entire skirt from natural waistline to hem, which lengthens the leg line, as does sporting platform sandals. Both colours in the two-toned sandals reappear elsewhere in the outfit. First in the cognac bag and leather cuff that add another rich shade to the mix. The black is repeated with the black bomber-esque jacket, thrown over Beth’s shoulders for a tad of nonchalant chic. A gold chain link necklace, eye-catching oversized circular shaped earrings and Beth’s wavy ‘do finish off the look.

Here’s our vintage hunter extraordinaire’s tip for creating modern looks with vintage and thrift store treasures:

“Invest in classic new pieces like a great pair of skinny jeans, a denim shirt, a white button up, black pumps, etc. Then use thrift and vintage to add the pizzazz to those basics. Start with accessories like a vintage statement necklace and pair it with skinnies, a basic tee and a blazer. Then get more daring by finding a quirky vintage skirt, pair it with a great knit sweater and throw on some pumps.”

This edgy camouflage print look illustrates Beth’s advanced outfit creation skills, and is my personal favourite. It is daring, fashion forward and a fab example of the two leading fashion concepts of the moment: irregular item juxtaposition and unstructured structure. The knee-length, baggy camo print shorts came straight of the army base, and have a cheeky rough around the edges “utility” vibe. They might feel a tad too masculine on their own, but as soon as you pair them with a floaty, on trend top it becomes an entirely different story. The relaxed fit blouse features an asymmetric high-low hemline that lines up with the bottom of the shorts in the back. Very modern and gorgeous. Buttoning up the blouse all the way gives it a slightly androgynous feel, but the airy fabric and white colour keep it girly. The cream fitted blazer has that thoroughly modern longer length, and together with the high-low hemline provides structure. Opting for high-heeled ankle strap wedge sandals with metallic detail further amps up the girly factor. As do the blush-y tan bag, piled on arm candy and Beth’s long blonde hair worn down.

Biker gal meets bohemian rocker. Another unusual colour combination that fits right in with yesterday’s blog post about the versatility of blush pink. The earthy blush-apricot-y shade of the blouse is not easy to wear to begin with. Combining it with yellow ochre is even more daring and unexpected, but Beth pulls it off splendidly. The vest is actually a silky sleeveless blazer that fits fluidly over the flowy blouse, giving the top part of the outfit a fun ’70s bohemian rocker vibe. I love how she then added some modern toughness with the black biker jeans and tiny gold chain strap bag. The sandals cleverly echo the colours of the outfit. Bright blue nail polish, arty rings and bracelets, two statement necklaces in cool silver and warm gold, and a pair of sunnies complete this modern take on the retro rock star look.

Check out the rest of Beth’s outfit archive on her blog, and peruse her pinboards to find out what inspires our fashion forward blogger. But first let us know in the comments what you think about her striking and dramatic style.