With my top picks for jackets and coats down, it’s on to tops and bottoms. I’ve covered knitwear, blouses, shirts, knit tops and activewear, as well as jeans, trousers and skirts. 

Be sure to check alternative colour options if the ones I link to are not to your taste. Many of the items are also available in petite and plus sizes. I’ve fitted every item onto a range of body types so feel free to ask questions in the comments section.

Knitwear 

• Trouve Metallic Sweater: Subtle daytime sparkle for work and play. Size down. 
• Trouve Wild Knit Sweater: A way to create the fashion forward “round shoulder silhouette” at an affordable price. It’s huge so size down two sizes. 
• Nic & Zoe V-Neck Pointelle Sweater: Pretty, breezy and comfy for Team V-Neck. 
• Alice & Oliva Two Tone Wraparound Sweater: A dramatic arty piece that makes a statement. Bulky, but beautiful. Works for petites with a broad shoulder line, so no, you do not need to be tall to wear this item. 
• Press British Intarsia Snap Front Cardigan: Just for fun. Scrunch the sleeves for structure. 
• Rubbish Fair Isle Long Sweater: A touch bohemian and not all that long. Fitted and casual. 
• Curio Mix Knit High/Low Sweater: This one is for trendy Mum on the go. Fab with sleek bottoms. But just as nice with tailored slacks and a pencil skirt. 
• Hinge Pointelle Sweater: Retro and adorable. Pretty neckline and fluid fit. Wear it over a full skirt. 
• Hinge Front Lace Sweater: An upscale tee. 
• Michael Kors Mixed Media Cardigan: An arty piece with structure and volume. Fab over frocks. 
• Vince Leather Trim Blanket Sweater: As cozy and warm as a blanket. Casual chic, and must size down. 
• Amber Sun Zip Trim Colorblock Crewneck Sweater: Cute! Zips and colour block. A fun piece for work and play. 
• Only Mine Cashmere Blend Crewneck Sweater: Not itchy and a great little basic. It runs quite small, so size up if you prefer a roomy fit. I bought the cream and white polka dot and most of my clients did too, as well as the grey kitty. A no-brainer for a Seattle climate. 
• Sejour Fine Dine Merino Wool Cardigan (Plus): A refined business casual basic that’s versatile and streamlined. 
• Max & Mia Short Sleeve Knit Sweater: Fab layered under a blazer, or on its own. Size down.
• Eileen Fisher Wrapped Cotton Nubble Sweater: Luxurious fabrication in a beautiful weight. Pretty oversized, although the lines are clean and fluid. Also in plus.
• Halogen V-Neck Cardigan: A good basic. 
• Joie Malena B. Mixed Media Sweater: An upscale sweatshirt in silk, just how I like it. Very fluid and refined. 
• Raga Animal Print Sweater: Fashion forward, cozy and fun! If the neckline was higher, this style would be mine.  
• Theory Jillian Wool Sweater: Stunning quality and fluid fit. Also available in navy. 
• Two by Vince Camuto Open Knit Sweater: Great layered over a tank top with fitted jeans. Too long for petites.

Tops & Tees

• Trouve Graphic Print High/Low Top: Fun for trendy Mum on the go with Ponte pants and boots. 
• Caslon Knit Tunic: A pull-on-and-go tunic over leggings or skinnies. Read the rave reviews. 
• Eileen Fisher Ballet Neck Tee: An excellent top in a thick knit that can be worn with just about anything on its own or layered under a topper. Forgiving on the midsection. Also in plus.
• Trouve Animal Print Blouse: A great fit on a narrow shoulder line. Breezy and comfortable. Comes in purple too. 
• Wildfox Diamonds Are Forever Raglan Sleeve Top: A diamond tee to match your diamond ring. Fun for Mum on the go over skinnies with boots. 
• Michael Kors Drape Neck Studded Side Top: Body con structure and perfect for the full busted hourglass. Comes in patterns. 
• Halogen Tie Neck Sleeveless Top: A breezy blouse for the office. Or over cut-off shorts in casual settings. 
• Free People Graphic Lace Sleeve Tee: Lacy, long and boho. Fab on tall ladies with broad shoulders. 
• Foxcroft Roll Sleeve Chambray Shirt: For the arty eclectics who prefer a bit of structure. Check the fluid back detail. 
• Tory Burch Hadley Printed Henley Top: Refined and beautifully made. Subtle detail that’s a great match for a pencil skirt or a pair of classic trousers. 
• Vince Boatneck Tee: A simple basic for Team Long Neck and Dainty Shoulders. 
• Zella French Terry Hoodie: Nice active or lounge top. Fitted. Also available in plus. 
• Pleione Faux Wrap  Stripe Blouse: Fluid, interesting, soft and elegant. I love the diagonal angle of the stripes. I bought this in black and white, and enjoy wearing it untucked over black cropped pants with dainty heels. 
• Sejour Embellished Ponte Knit Top (Plus): So elegant! Super sleeve length and tailored fit. 
• Sejour Shirred Tee (Plus): Great tees are hard to find, but this one fits the bill. Also available in prints. 
• Vince Camuto Jersey Wrap Top: A fluid beauty that does not cling. Modern ’40s fabness. 
• Hinge Jacquard Dot Top: Romantic and playful. I liked it best in black.  

Bottoms

• Halogen Seamed Pencil Skirt: A sale staple that’s comfy and flattering. I vote black and grey colour-block. 
• Nic & Zoe Denim Skirt: Swooshing light denim against your legs with boots for fall is a good thing. Nice length. You might need to size down.
• Elie Tahari Kelsa Mixed Media Skirt: It matches the Minka jacket and is elegant deluxe. The back zips right through, so you can adjust the length of the back slit. Very ladylike.  
• Jag Jeans Miranda Metallic Coated Print Skinny Jeans: A little sparkle for Team Magpie. Nice fit for curvy gals. 
• NYDJ Leeann Stretch Skinny Boyfriend Jeans: If baggy boyfriend jeans aren’t your thing, try this slim fitting style. Also super flattering on a curvy lass. Here’s the darker wash and a grey wash. 
• NYDJ Meagan Faux Leather Trim Stretch Skinny Jeans: Gorgeous and trendy! Exceptional quality and fit, looking good on both straight and curvy body types. The tuxedo stripe is fabulous, and the leg not too tapered.
• Two by Vince Camuto Camo Cuff Jeans: Many of my clients bought these jeans, even when they don’t normally like camo print! They are that fab. The pattern is subtle, and the style super when rolled to well above the ankle. Size up for a slightly roomier fit.
• NYDJ Zip Trim Skinny Stretch Ponte Pants: One of the best structured Ponte pants styles on the market. Streamlined, but not overly tight. Thick fabric adds structure to the style. Also available in plus. 
• Joie Mariner B Tuxedo Track Pants: Fashion forward and fluid. Fab drape, and gorgeous with dainty heels.
• WAYF Piped Plaid Pants: Fashion forward pajama fun! I loved these on my petite clients because the length was longer. But they also look nice with heels on non-petite lasses.
• Zella Live In Zebra Print Leggings: Fab for workouts or lounging. 
• Halogen Taylor Etched Plaid Pants: These match the Etched plaid jacket and are great for business casual or business formal. Flattering fit across the thighs. 

My favourite item that I picked up at this year’s sale has sold out online. It was Diane von Furstenberg’s Tinkit Sweater in blush and black animal print. It might come back into stock, so keep stalking the style if it tickles your fancy. On to dresses and accessories! 

Lots of mixed media and dark colours in the outerwear and jacket assortment this year, which makes for a nice change to the brights we saw last year. 

Be sure to check alternative colour options if the ones I link to are not to your taste. Many of the items are also available in petite and plus sizes. I’ve fitted every item onto a range of body types so feel free to ask questions in the comments section.

Jackets

• Mural Quilted Bomber Jacket: One of the best ways to spend $65 at the sale. The knitted sleeves are comfy, the back detailing slimming and interesting, and the quilting NOT black. This was one of my fun purchases. 
• La Marque Funnel Neck Leather Jacket: Hello Team Purple and Team Long Neck. Great tailored fit and crisp design. The funnel neck will rub your chin if your neck is on the short side.  
• June Double Zip Leather Moto Jacket: A gorgeous designer piece in a rich merlot. It zips two ways, both as a single breasted style, and as an asymmetrical moto style. Genius. 
• Olivia Moon Knit Blazer: An excellent tailored, affordable and comfortable piece. Great over jeans, trousers, skirts and dresses. Scrunch the sleeves and leave it open. The fabric does differ across the options: both stripes, the grey and navy dot were best. You might need to size down. 
• Zip Front Tweed Jacket: Fitted, nice neckline, and fab leather piping. Great on an apple shaped body with a larger bust when left open. 
• Amber Sun Ponte Moto Jacket: A great way to wear a black moto at the fraction of the price. Cozy, stretchy and runs big, so size down. 
• Halogen Cutaway Leather Jacket: Gorgeous in the taupe. Perfect on an apple shaped frame and larger bust. The front diagonal lines are slimming. Fun back detailing. Also available in plus. 
• Trouve Stitch Detail Leather Jacket: Sci-fi peplum fabness. Cute zipped and unzipped. 
• Zella Featherweight Quilted Jacket: A fashionable active jacket. Size down. 
• Michael Kors Two Tone Washed Leather Jacket: Extra rugged. Lots of bells and whistles, but super in the two tones, which add back in a bit of softness. 
• Elie Tahari Marta Leather Scuba Jacket: It’s hard to find an ink blue leather jacket and this one is sublime. Extremely slimming and streamlined. Beautifully made and ultra soft leather. One of the best at the sale. 
• Halogen Faux Leather Trim Tweed Jacket: An excellent tweed jacket for the petite apple with a shorter neck. 
• Helmut Lang Razor Leather Jacket: Avant-garde fabness with sharp shoulders. Very cropped at the back, which adds to the drama.
• Rudsak Rabbit Fur Trim Leather Jacket: Another dramatic piece with great back detailing. Perfect over a plain sheath dress, which is how my client wore it. And I fainted because the combination was ultra stunning. 
• Yigal Azrouël Lambskin Leather Moto Jacket: Beautiful high-end piece with sleeves that zip off to transform the jacket into a vest. It’s very short though, so consider yourself warned. Exquisite layered over a column of colour. 
• Elodie Jacquard Bomber Jacket: A nice way to wear a trendy piece at an affordable price. Runs small. 
• Elie Tahari Minka Metallic Tweed Jacket: Extremely structured and polished. Size up. The sleeves are narrow, but the Ponte knit insets keeps them comfy. Super back peplum detail, and has a skirt to match. 
• Halogen Etched Plaid Suit Jacket: The front and back have a super piping detail that is not that visible in the photo. Great structured fit. Has trousers and skirt to match if you are looking for a suit. 
• Sejour Gibson Piped Suit Jacket: Fitted and flattering. The piping adds a polished touch. 
• Sejour Nappa Lambskin Leather Jacket (Plus): A tailored modern classic with a little edge. Love the nipped in back waist detail. The knitted side panels add extra comfort. Perfect for business casual and casual
• Trouve Mixed Media Leather Jacket: The subtle grey houndstooth colour blocking makes this jacket different and special. It does not appear structured in the photo, but it’s actually quite fitted.
• Burberry Ravenfield Quilted Jacket: A timeless classic with an equestrian kick. I vote blue or camel. 
• Zella Terra Nova Jacket: A fun way to wear activewear. Sweet peplum. 
• Sam Edelman Zip Front Military Tweed Jacket: Loads of bells and whistles, but really fun. It’s fitted and playfully dramatic. Richly toned in burgundy. 

Coats

• French Connection Stand Collar Double Breasted Textured Coat: An on trend cocoon coat that runs large. If you like to have a lot of room around your arms in outerwear, this might be the coat for you! Perfect over oversized knitwear, and wonderfully structured on the hip. Fun with elbow length gloves. 
• Michael Kors Trench Coat with Detachable Hood: A classic sale staple each year. It’s well made and has a hood, side entry pockets, and detachable lining. Fit is roomy so size down. Love the single breasted styling, which hangs open with style. Also available in plus. All colours are fab. 
• DKNY Double Breasted Military Peacoat: Another coat with lots of room around the arms and shoulders. A little Sergeant Pepper. Looks fab buttoned and unbuttoned
• Guess Asymmetrical Textured Wool Blend & Faux Leather Coat: A classic coat with a trendy mixed media twist. 
• Sam Edelman Aster Two Tone Anorak: Sporty avant-garde. Adjust the waist toggles for structure. 
• Ellen Tracy Double Breasted Trench Coat: A fab trench for over dresses because of its length. Fits a little like a classic Burberry. 
• BCBG Knit Inset Quilted Coat: Perfect for Mum on the go. Fitted, weatherproof, hooded, fashionable and robust. Love the high-low hemline. Runs large. 
• Laundry Quilted Sleeve Mixed Media Peacoat: A beautiful, chic piece with just the right amount of sporty. Check out the back box pleats. So fun! Might need to size up. 
• Calvin Klein Colorblock Houndstooth Coat: A bold retro coat that’s roomy in the arms so you can reach, stretch and drive no problem. 
• Rudsak Raven Asymmetrical Mixed Media Coat: A new to me Canadian brand that I fell in love with. I bought this coat as a nod to the Ladylike Bond Girl fashion persona I’ll be incorporating into my style for Fall. It’s beautifully made, and more streamlined than in the photo. Elegant, crisp and a touch sporty. Looks great open and closed. And the sleeves are long enough for my gorilla arms.

Next up, top picks for tops and bottoms.

From purple Ice Pop Wayfarers to floral rimmed round sunnies, Refinery29 has a roundup of sunglasses to up your Summer style quotient even further. Mirrored sunnies are everywhere this season too, The New York Times is showing us how people in the street are wearing them.

New Zealand designer Karen Walker is promoting her line of sunnies with a campaign featuring models between the ages of 65 and 92, styled by Advanced Style‘s Ari Seth Cohen.

With e-llume, the world’s first and only plant-based, bioplastic lens, Zeal Optics is taking the health of our eyes and the health of the planet seriously. These bio-based lenses offer protection from UVA, B and C rays and are said to block a negative light range called High Energy Visible light, a possible cause of cataracts and macular degeneration. EcoSalon is reviewing the sunnies, that also feature Z-resin frames, made from an environmental-friendly castor oil-based material.

Fab Links from Our Members

Regina over at Southern Girl on a Mission wrote a post on “45 Lessons Life Taught Me“. Glory thought all were inspiring and thought-provoking, and found 17, 21 and 43 especially relevant for YLF readers.

Tracina came across this study in face distortion. Give it a try and let us know what you think.

“I always start from posture. I think of how I want this woman to have the bag and how she’s standing, and I build that bag. I think of how she walks away, and how she will hold the bag.” Sarah A finds the approach of designer Jason Jones, of leather goods brand Parabellum, very interesting and refreshing.

Vildy loves Sally’s approach to wardrobe evaluation because she focusses on the importance of understanding the reasons why we are wearing what we are wearing. She found this recent blog post especially useful because it helped her realize mix and match capsules aren’t for her, as she is the kind of person who prefers to wear the same go-to outfits over and over again.

The fact that Nordstrom has a greeter and is keeping an elderly employee on staff — acknowledging that older employees still bring value to the workplace — is yet another reason why Lisa likes the department store so much.

MaryK encourages us to read this powerful post about losing one’s beauty while undergoing cancer treatment. She adds that the following quote: “I realised that my previous refusal to engage with what I saw as unnecessary and excessive grooming was a luxury afforded to me by the fact that as a healthy 27 year old woman of average looks, height and weight, I didn’t need to do much to look all right”, dovetails nicely with a recent forum discussion about conventionally pretty Lauren Shields who decided to experiment with “modest dressing”.

This is by far the most popular Mom on the go casual Summer outfit formula for my clients this year. It’s also perfectly translatable for any gal on the go in a casual setting, and one way to dress when you work from home. 

You’ll need boyfriend jeans. Remember that boyfriend jeans needn’t be baggy and slouchy if that’s not your thing. Choose a slim-fit silhouette, or size up with a pair of straight leg jeans and roll up the hems to achieve a more structured look.

The components: 

• Boyfriend Jeans: Choose blue or white boyfriend jeans, and no need to sport a style with rips and tears. Follow the fit guidelines, and here’s a roundup of winning silhouettes.
• Top: Lots of options. And you’ll be tucking, semi-tucking, or faux tucking the tops with a belt. Don’t think you can’t semi-tuck a top because you carry a little extra around the middle. You’ll be surprised at how camouflaging the semi-tuck can be when the top has ample drape. Semi-tucking with the right shape top has been revolutionary for my apple shaped clients. Trust me! You’re not allowed to say you can’t until you’ve given the semi-tuck thing a go. Think drapey tees, soft blouses, linen knitwear, and mesh pullovers with a fluid or oversized fit.
• Belt: Wide belts work best for boyfriend jeans. No need to match the belt and shoes, but it can help pull together the outfit if you go the matching route. Tan, white, animal print and metallic get my top vote for most versatile belts. 
• Footwear: Think ankle strap sandals, low wedge sandals and gladiators for breezy options. And D’Orsay flats, boat shoes and slipper flats for closed shoe options. 
• Bag: An attractive diaper bag is a win if your kids are infants, as is a comfortable crossbody bag for a hands-free day. Or a tote, hobo, and wicker bag. Any casual bag at all. 

Finish off the outfit with jewellery, hat and eyewear as desired. Use any colour palette that tickles your fancy. Boyfriend jeans work well in air-conditioned situations, or at night when it’s a little cooler. But if they’re still too warm in your climate, try boyfriend shorts. They look particularly cute when you size up a size.