Link Love: Recent Fashion Reads

From a behind-the-scenes look at the field of textile conservation, to tips on how to end your relationship with your hairstylist, today I’m sharing 10 articles that caught my attention or gave me food for thought lately.

Fab Links from Our Members

Nuancedream lets us know that two-time Oscar winner Dame Maggie Smith is now featured in Loewe’s 2024 spring pre-collection campaign. That Puzzle handbag!

Roberta enjoyed browsing Lorenzo’s picks for knee-high boots this Fall.

If you’ve seen the TV series Our Flag Means Death, she also recommends this interview with the designer of those amazing costumes.

As a loungewear fan, Carol liked this vlogger’s “reverse” approach to wardrobe building. Instead of finding your style words, you start with what your days realistically look like.

Jaime directs us to this comprehensive consideration of what it means to have a slow fashion wardrobe.

Be Spontaneous with Fabulous Formal Wear

Occasion wear is often bought under pressure. And finding the right formal outfit at the right price – and in the right season – ends up being a compromise on silhouette, colour, quality, fabric, or price. Instead, buy an outfit when it finds you.
 

Let Formal Wear Find You

Make it warm and covered if you might need formal wear in Winter. Dressy pantsuits, metallic knitwear, long sleeves, long skirts, patent boots, hosiery, wool coats, and invisible lightweight long underwear are chic and dressy ways to stay insulated.

By purchasing formal wear ahead of time, you can have items altered, find the right accessories, shoes, and toppers to go with the look, and score items on sale. Say YES to that formal invitation because you have the right outfit to feel fabulous.

Weekly Roundup: Assorted Items

Autumn and Winter collections are in full swing here in the US. There’s lots to choose from across a range of dress codes, colours, and price points. From super casual to dressy formal, and everything in between. Holiday attire is out too. Here are this week’s top picks, many of which have worked well on my clients. Be sure to browse the different colour and size options. Nab the items on sale if you can.

  • HOBBS LONDON Sidonie Turtleneck Sweater: A fitted metallic turtleneck that is great with a black skirt or wider bottoms. Lovely quality.
  • Clarks Torhill Rise Bootie (Women): This bootie-sneaker hybrid caught my eye so I ordered it. The toffee sole is interesting, and might work with my new honey blonde hair. The colours were excellent for my style, yet I returned them. They run short and a larger size would be too wide. Also, too chunky for my preferences. Super cute, comfy, soft, supportive, and unique for someone else.
  • French Connection Azzurra Tweed Cropped Blazer: This boxy short jacket looked AMAZING on my petite client with a larger bust. Fluid with structure in the right places. It was quite the surprise to both of us. The sleeves are long, and she's having them altered. Runs a size big.
  • French Connection Faux Shearling Oversized Coat: Boxy shearling aviator jackets are an iconic classic to my eye, and this one is fab. I have a similar one I got five years ago in bright red. It adds that special something whenever I wear it. Super cosy too.
  • Boden Oversized High Neck Sweater: Fab for Team Tall. Great boxy fit that is not overwhelming. Crisp and cosy. Comes in solid neutrals.
  • Boden The Marylebone Velvet Blazer: Boden does velvet blazers every year, which tend to work well if you are not broad in the shoulder. Impeccable quality. There is a fun bright pink too.
  • Polo Ralph Lauren Buckle-Detail Plaid Herringbone Skirt: A kilt that's not a kilt, and drapes like a dream. Works on a range of body types. Great on a curvy bottom half. Versatile.
  • M&S Collection Recycled Blend Star Crew Neck Jumper: Stars on a metallic sweater are one way to wear a festive sweater. Nice neat neckline, and not scratchy.
  • REFORMATION Mallori Closed Toe Heels: Classic Silver Ankle Strap Pump Fabness. They are relatively comfy. Not too hard, yet not soft either. Not for wider feet. Pretty on the foot.
  • L'AGENCE Dani Chain Link Print Silk Button-Up Shirt: If you like to wear pretty silk blouses that pack a punch, I can't rave enough about the ones from L'Agence. They are pricey, so try to get them on sale. I have two in playful patterns, and feel like a million bucks in them. They are my favourite blouses of all time. GORGEOUSLY luxe and fluid. Check out the novel patterns online.
  • Mango Puffed Sleeves Floral Shirt: A moody floral blouse for Team Purple. Best on a broader shoulder. Long in the arms.
  • Boden Heather Jacquard Sweater: A fun classic sweater for Team Cat. Easy to pair with a range of navy and blue denim bottoms. Works quite well over skirts. There's a raspberry doggy version too.
  • Vince Camuto Belted Faux Leather Jacket with Removable Faux Fur Collar: A '70s topper for Team Tall and Team Long Torso. The faux fur collar comes off.
  • Jeffrey Campbell Lavalamp Bootie (Women): '70s Booties Fabness. The brown and toffee version looks even MORE '70s. The black patent option has a '90s vibe. Groovy and gorgeous if you can manage the high heel height.
  • Anne Klein Popover Blouse: Tunics are an easy option to pop over slim bottoms for those who like the "long over lean" look. Comes in bright red.
  • Zella Cozy Faux Shearling Jacket: A fab super casual faux shearling topper that works across a range of body types. Great over Athleisure bottoms, corduroy pants, or jeans. Comes in Winter white.
  • Boden Eloise Long Sleeve Tie Waist Stretch Cotton Corduroy Shirtdress: If you like olive and classic shirt dresses, give this one a go. It's thick, soft, substantial, and with stretchy comfort. Looks good worn boxy without the self-tie belt too.
  • M&S Collection Pure Merino Wool Crew Neck Jumper: I'm impressed with the simple and lightweight merino wool offerings from Marks & Spencer this season. They are warm, layer well, cosy, not scratchy, aren't too baggy, and have neat and tidy necklines. Size up if you want a slouchier fit. Lots of colours.
  • COACH Cara Satchel: GORGEOUS satchel with a pebbled texture that straddles the line between casual and dressy. It has a guitar strap and slouches against the body when worn as a crossbody. It's pristine and structured when held by the satchel handles. Comes in tan and black. I have my eye on the chalk.
  • Zara Cylinder And Pearl Link Necklace: A uniquely casually dressy chain that mixes metals with a pearl. It's better in person, and runs a little big.
  • KUT from the Kloth Ana Fab Ab High Waist Corduroy Flare Jeans: Great on both a straighter and curvier bottom half, and in an unusual seafoam slate blue. Might need to size down. Doesn't grab at the knees. Comes in bright cinnamon. Super cosy.
  • Boden Chunky Chain Pearl Necklace: Click the link to see the chunky integrity of this super cute pendant necklace. Great for V-necklines.

You can see the descriptions alongside the items on the collection page.

Zappos
COACH Cara Satchel
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Roundups

Simpler Items

This week's list of top picks list is about basic pieces.

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Assorted Items

Items for Summer, both in and out of air conditioning.

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Casual Summer Vibes

This week's top picks are good for a casual Summer vibe.

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Summery Earth Tones

These items are for those who like to wear casual earth tones in warm and hot weather.

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Hints of Spring

Some tried-and-tested winning items to refresh your style for Spring.

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Dressier Items

An assortment of dressier top picks might be just what the doctor ordered.

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Trend: Metallics

We see metallic items every season, and this year they’re having an on-trend, fashion moment. Think metallic clothing, footwear, and accessories in gold, silver, bronze, gun metal, and pewter. You’ll see metallic non-neutrals across all sorts of colours too. Metallic clothing is fringe and has its futuristic appeal. Metallic footwear and accessories are mainstream. 

This collection shows some examples.

Shopbop
ByTiMo Sequins Top
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Shopbop
A.L.C. Tori Skirt
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Mango
V-neck Foil Sweater
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Mango
Cable-knit Sweater
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Mango
Cable-knit Sweater
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Mango
Metallic Bodysuit
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Mango
Metallic Denim Shorts
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Mango
2 Pack Lurex Socks
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Mango
Wideleg Foil Trousers
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Mango
Lurex Knitted Top
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Zara
Metallic T-shirt
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Mango
Short Foil Skirt
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Zara
Cropped Metallic Top
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Zara
Metallic Ribbed Top
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Zara
Metallic Heeled Boots
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COS
Coated-denim Maxi Skirt
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Zara
Pack Of Coin Necklaces
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Zara
Heart Earrings
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Zara
Thin Leather Belt
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Zappos
Old Gringo Nevada
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Shopbop
A.L.C. Tori Skirt
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Zara
Metallic Pencil Skirt
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Boden
Mia Metallic Top
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Loft
Sequin Bomber Jacket
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Metallics can be more subtle when shimmery threads are woven through the fabrics of any wardrobe item, in any pattern, solid or colour. This makes them less shiny, and might be more to your taste. On the other hand, sequined clothing forms part of the metallic trend and is very shiny.

If metallic clothing is too much, sport metallic accents with shoes, bags, and jewellery. There is no need to sport them at once unless that’s to your taste. Metal belt buckles are having a fashion moment, and count as sporting the trend. So does chunky and statement metal jewellery.

Gold is my metal, I enjoy wearing gold bags, belts, dressy shoes, loafers, knitwear, and sneakers throughout the year, and have those items covered. I’ve worn gold jeans, sandals, and boots in the past, and would wear them again. The shimmery gold lurex thread that runs through metallic knitwear can be scratchy so watch for that. Make sure it’s comfortable, soft, with the right amount of shine.

Over to you. Do you wear metallic wardrobe items? If so, which wardrobe items, and in which metal?

Fab Finds: Corduroy and Velvet Pants

A deserving shout-out to Talbots for supplying a diverse set of sizes. They stock petite, regular, plus, and petite plus in most of their items. Furthermore, they are one of the few retailers to showcase a large component of their petite collection in brick-and-mortar stores. A number of my petite clients have had a ball shopping there this season, and with big discounts too. 

Corduroy bottoms are having a fashionable moment. Here are some classic and trendy corduroy pants silhouettes that have been winners on my clients. Many are on sale. There’s one velvet style too.

1. Talbots Velvet Slim Ankle Pants

These velvet pants have been magical if you enjoy a slim and lean but not too skinny fit on bottoms. They fit like a tailored cigarette silhouette and are not “calf-sucking”. They’re longer in person, and fit full length on petites in the petite size. Surprisingly, they’ve worked well on curvier figures and straighter figures because the fit is that good. Luxe substantial quality, and cosy warm. They come in red, and no other colours for now.

Velvet Pants

2. Talbots Stretch Corduroy Straight Leg Pants

These are the winning classic corduroy pants of the season. They are slim, but not overly skinny. Tailored in a lovely flattering way. Easy to style with a sweater, boots, or loafers, They come in twelve colours, and span petite, regular and plus sizes. They also come in a curvy fit. Cosy and nice quality.

Classic Corduroy

3. Maeve’s The Colette Wide Cropped Corduroy Pants

The corduroy Colette is a repeat style that continues to be great on clients who enjoy a cosy, warm, super soft, and very comfortable pair of on-trend wider corduroy pants. Comes in ten colours across petite, regular, plus and tall. They work on a range of body types because of slightly stretchy fabric and a forgiving fit. Rise is not too high. Some straight-hipped clients sized down. The crops look fantastic with high-shaft booties, or taller boots. They come in full length across fewer colours if crops aren’t your thing.

Corduroy Colette

4. Gap High Rise Corduroy ‘70s Flare Pants

These ‘70s flares aren’t that high rise. The front rise is 11 inches. They work well on curvier and straighter body types, and fit a little roomy. Might need to size down. They don’t grab tightly onto the knees like many flared styles seem to do this season. A welcome skimming fit on the thighs and knees, and come in short, regular and tall lengths. The brown is lighter in person, and there’s a Winter white too.

'70s Flares