Last month’s talk about Fall capsules extended to the YLF forum, with forum members showing off their own Fall capsules based on items from their closet. I loved reading about their process, which outfits were their favourites, the wardrobe holes they discovered and the epiphanies they had along the way. 

Without further ado, take a peek at some wonderful real life casual capsules for Autumn: 

Suz created three sleek and simple capsules in different colour palettes. One in taupe, cream and shades of cranberry. Another is black, white, navy and fuchsia. And a third in refined dark neutrals with a dash of bright white, which was her favourite of the lot. 

Pill, pulled together a tight little capsule mixing up jewel tones and earth tones with lots of handbags. Why not! Wear white jeans year round and increase the outfit options of your wardrobe. 

Day Vies cleverly pulled together a versatile taupe, white and plum capsule that she could wear on casual days at work, date nights, and to run errands over the weekend. She discovered the important role patterns play in livening up her outfits.

FireCracker mixed up waxed skinnies with bling-y trousers and a bit of boho to come up with a casual capsule that reflects her eclectic style persona.   

Ingunn, our Queen of Capsules, creatively cooked up lots of options throwing a skirt, dress and white jeans into the casual mix. She stuck to neutrals and added in a dash of green and cranberry. She then had fun creating a versatile red capsule for early Fall that she can wear before temperatures get really cold. 

Kellygirl‘s compact capsule mixes up tough with preppy in a neat and polished way. She can add many more tops to this capsule to create further outfit combinations.

Makrame created a capsule with her Nordstrom Anniversary Sale purchases. Jewel tones and dark neutrals reigned supreme, while white jeans were thrown into the mix too. 

Lisa did a great job pulling together two capsules. The first featured on trend camouflage pants, daring pattern mixing and black footwear. The second showcased simpler outfits in neutrals with green and blue. 

Joy, created a fun capsule complete with fun graphic tees of Bob Dylan and Shaggy Doggie in shades of white, black, blue and red. She later opted to replace the cargo pants with white jeans for a crisper look. 

Last but not least, Texstyle had a ball putting together her ultra casual capsule with animal print and flat footwear, using brown as her base colour. 

Actions speak louder than words, and visuals of people of all ages and body types wearing outfits is ultra compelling. It’s always fun to see the blog post topics come alive in our forum. Well done, ladies, and thank you for providing us all with inspiration.

We are finally seeing knee-covering skirts in voluminous styles at retail level. Pencil skirts are still the order of the day in the fashion world, but a wider assortment is on the horizon. These six styles are examples of the change. 

• Pink Tartan Print Pleated Midi Skirt: A watercolour floral midi that’s just as on trend as it is retro and classic. I love it when classics become trendy. Surprisingly, the pleats on this skirt lie quite flat around the waist and tummy, and there is plenty of length. Just beautiful and ever so romantic. It sold out at the Flagship Nordstrom in Seattle in a few days, we are that starved of this style of skirt. 
• Rachel Roy Lace Trim Floral Print Pencil Skirt: Gorgeously unique because the front and back lace overlay creates an interesting mixed media effect over the floral. I love the placement of the print and the romantic feel of the floral. It was love at first sight when I saw this skirt, which is why I had it stripped off the mannequin and that was that. Runs a size small. 
• Classiques Entier Leather Trim Jacquard Pencil Skirt: Chic and structured for the office. 
• Halogen Leather A-Line Skirt: Trendy and fun matched with a soft upscale sweatshirt or cropped cable pullover. Great twirling ability as it balances romance with edge. Sits lower on the hip and runs large. If this were midi length, it may have ended up in my closet. Read the rave reviews. 
• Topshop Mixed Print Tube Skirt: A striking pattern in a longer length that is easy to style.
• Leith Town Pleated Skirt: Another extremely on trend look for Fall and Winter. Match it with booties or ladylike pumps, and with something soft and cuddly on top. The faux leather looks very faux, like plastic. But I’ve come around to thinking that’s a fun look in itself. Polyurethane fabness. Why not? 

Now that skirts are becoming longer and in some instances fuller, I’m giving them more attention. Great with pumps, booties, and dressy knee-high boots, while adding in the flair with hose.

Tanesha Awasthi (32) of Girl With Curves has a penchant for punchy lipstick colours and is a big believer in the power of Modern Classic pieces. Our budget-conscious blogger, who lives in the SF Bay Area, also has the most striking black curls that provide built-in textural interest with everything she wears. Tanesha is proud to rock her curvy figure, and passionate about promoting positive body image to help other women embrace their own curves:

“In the two and a half years since I started the blog, my style has been constantly evolving, but I always gravitate towards classic silhouettes with modern elements of trend. Lately, I’ve been loving classic ladylike pieces in timeless black and white. I initially started the blog as a creative outlet outside my career in the tech industry, but realized I could help women by aiming to be an example of confidence to wear what I love. My mission behind Girl With Curves is to impact lives through fashion, by showing women they can look and feel amazing, regardless of size.”

I do so love a bold stripe and bold stripes clearly love Tanesha! Plus the black and white combo, a true classic, never fails to add a deliciously graphic touch. This striped number is actually a Kate Spade dress worn as a skirt by layering a simple black tee over it. Quite a clever way to increase the wearability of a frock by adding some extra warmth without too much bulk for when it’s chilly outside. The full skirt is a flattering length on Tanesha, the black pumps further elongate the leg line. Our statuesque blogger is 5’10”, by the way, and a big fan of high heels. Also, if anyone needed proof that there truly are no limits to the versatility of a cheeky denim jacket, then look no further. Pick a tailored, fairly short style, roll up the cuffs, turn up the collar, et voilà: instant easy-going spunk. In fact, this entire outfit screams youthful, fashionable sass to me. It puts me in such a good mood, I’m voting this my favourite. Where accessories are concerned, Tanesha doesn’t think twice about mixing her metals. Here she’s pairing a gold rose watch with silver rings and a yellow gold link necklace and bracelet. Modern and stylish. A streamlined tote is all that’s needed to finish off the look.

The first thing that struck me is how luxe the camel looks with the shades of blue. In fact, the colour palette reminds me of the rich golds and blues found in baroque paintings. Very chic and elegant. A wool camel coat is a classic, and Tanesha is one of the lucky gals who wears the colour well. The single-breasted belted style with soft self fabric ties is a great option for hourglass fuller figures, giving you plenty of definition. This vintage coat is also quite fitted on the shoulders, providing extra structure. The print in the scarf and slightly darker hue of the sweater both complement the coat perfectly, creating a tonal look up top that is eye-catching yet surprisingly simple. Tanesha often favours more minimalist outfits consisting of only a few components. It’s the way she puts them together, her eye for proportion, fabrics and colour combos that keep it interesting. A few well-chosen accessories further amp up the high style quotient. The leopard print pumps, a classic, bring another pattern into the game, while simultaneously picking up the cognac of the sleek Zara shopper. A gold-toned sculptural cutwork cuff adds an arty touch. Tanesha’s simple updo reveals small drop earrings, and is perfect for showcasing the fab scarf and coat collar. Plus it draws attention to her beautiful features, as does the bright fuchsia lipstick. 

Who says curvy women can’t wear culottes! Or white bottoms, for that matter. I practically screamed with delight when I saw Tanesha sporting this ladylike black and white outfit. Stunning! It’s all about fit and proportion, and our blogger has that down pat. Like all classic culottes, these have a wide leg, but there’s not too much excess fabric. Just enough to create the new type of fluidity. They’re a fab length too, covering the knee, yet leaving the rest of the leg bare. The fitted high waist accentuates the narrowest part of her torso. This is emphasized again by the cropped mock turtleneck top hitting her midriff. An alluring, very sophisticated way to show some skin. And very on trend, Angie says, if you look at what’s on the catwalks for Spring 2014 right now. The black pointy toe pumps are part patent leather, part suede, adding both subtle texture and shine to the ensemble. A classic black tote bookends Tanesha’s dark curls and top, while the gold hardware is repeated in the chunky link bracelet. Both also made an appearance in the first outfit, demonstrating that Tanesha is an expert remixer. Love that! Two silver rings, one with turquoise stone, draw attention to Tanesha’s white nail polish — a subtle hint back to the white culottes. Neon pink lippy is the playful finishing touch. 

Tanesha’s advice for everyone who’s a little hesitant to break the “fashion rules” and experiment with bending body type guidelines:

“I’ve always been one to step outside the box when it comes to fashion and style, but it wasn’t until I turned 30 that I had the confidence to love the skin I’m in and flaunt my curves the way I do now. In the past, I was too self-conscious to truly wear what I loved, so I stuck to what I knew looked good on my figure. The best advice I can give to curvy women who aren’t comfortable wearing what they love, is to start building self-esteem and self-love by focusing on one part of the body they love, which will help them accept the physical parts of themselves they can’t change. Once a stronger sense of self-love is present, they’ll have the confidence to wear things they love, versus what the fashion industry says is appropriate for their particular body type or size. Confidence to wear what one loves, starts with loving oneself from the inside out!”

Utility goes glam. Opting for an olive green utility jacket with a faux fur collar is an easy way to instantly add a bit of glam and textural interest. The drawstring style emphasizes Tanesha’s small waist. A white blouse with silver sequined overlay further dresses up this casual ensemble, by bringing some daytime sparkle to the mix. The round hem of the blouse works beautifully with the dark wash skinny jeans, elongating the leg line and providing extra structure. Pointy toe pumps in a delicate blush pink provide more softness, a fun contrast against the tougher jacket. As do the girly bubblegum pink lipstick and the white clutch with sweet diamond patterned quilting and playful tassel. Unique vintage earrings with retro design peeking out from Tanesha’s gorgeous curls echo the white of the blouse, adding some lightness around the face.

A predominantly neutral colour palette gets an oh so pretty kick from the yummy pastel peach blazer. Doesn’t it look amazing with Tanesha’s gorgeous black curls. Our blogger is so elegant in this type of flowing midi and tailored top. That feeling and shape is repeated in her bouncy long hair. A romantic, feminine look that suits her so well. The silhouette is again very much in line with what we are seeing on the runways right now for S/S 2014. It’s all about fluidity and movement. I love the just-below-the-knee length and drape of the gauzy full skirt, you can just imagine it swishing from side to side as she walks by. The pastel blazer looks super fresh paired with the simple tucked white V-neck tee. The sharp shoulders of the blazer contrast nicely with the flowy feel of the outfit. Notice also how the blazer nips in at the waist and hits at a flattering point on her body. It’s hard to wear a long blazer with a flowing midi skirt, but these proportions are spot on. The accessories, taupe textured sandals, skinny brown belt, vintage Louis Vuitton clutch, oversized watch and conversational cocktail rings, each in their own way bring subtle interest to the look. Last but not least, the two simple pendants, worn at different lengths, continue the vertical line created with the V-neck tee and blazer lapels.

A strict ladylike look that means business. Tanesha wore this dressy outfit for London Fashion Week, but it would work just as well as a day-to-night look at the office. The juxtaposition between soft and more severe is straight up my alley. So is the refined dark colour palette with touches of white. The midi flared coat, crisp button-down and flattering fit-and-flare dress are structured and tailored. They create a polished, authoritative feel that is then softened by the feminine floral pattern on the frock, girly sparkly necklace and Tanesha’s luxuriant locks. Because her hair is black, the opaque tights act as a natural bookending tool, which counterbalances the harshness. Fab choice of footwear too: the suede shooties are more modern and playful than a classic black pump would have been. Add in pearl stud earrings, a minimalist black handbag and one of her trademark pink lip colours, and Tanesha was ready to take the city by storm.

Let us know what you think about Tanesha’s style, and then hop on over to Girl With Curves to browse the rest of her outfits. Or have a peek on Pinterest to find out what inspires our blogger. Also, be sure to check in regularly on the blog in the coming months to see how our super stylish mom-to-be dresses her growing baby bump. Big congratulations to you and your husband, Tanesha!

My clients have been favouring low heels and flats to kick off the new season, and there’s been a great selection in stores. A new pair of trendy shoes does wonders to refresh the look of existing items in your wardrobe. 

Here are some on trend winners we found this week.

1. Ivanka Trump ‘Carla’ Flat: My client described this little darling as having a “sweetheart foot line”. She’s spot on. The cut on the foot is very flattering, and the toe box pretty roomy for a pointy toe. Love the metal toe cap. Runs true to size and has a small built-in wedge. I found the shoe quite comfortable, but not overly so. Also available in black.
2. Cosmo Como ‘Maude’ Bootie: A comfortable Beatle bootie that is sleek and tailored. No huge gaping spaces around the ankle. Available in black and animal print. Wear it with tapered jeans and trousers, or with skirts and dresses if you dare. You might need to size up half a size. 
3. Corso Como ‘Mirage’ Flat: Very spongy and cushioning. More comfortable than the Carla flat, but not as dressy. Could probably work for a wider foot too. Also available in black, and runs true to size.
4. BCBGeneration Boots, Wallace Booties: A refined cowboy boot with hardware. Tough, yet quite polished. Check out the metal heel inset from the side view. No gaping spaces around the ankle and very comfortable. I love the pointy toe and stable heel.

Animal print, although very on trend, is also a classic. So animal print shoes won’t look dated or have a short life span.