I thought we could have a fun poll on this American Day of Independence. Which of these three colours is your favourite. Note: Any shade of red, white or blue counts. For red it might be burgundy, tomato red or crimson. For white, cream, bone or bright optical white would all count. For blue it might be cobalt, ink or French blue. 

Tomato red is one of my favourite colours. I love shades of white with all my heart. My style would not function without white shirts and jeans, and cream outerwear, bags and footwear. I’ve rekindled my affection for light blue, and ink blue is a new favourite neutral. And I absolutely wear red, white and blue together in one outfit. 

So I can’t possibly pick a side. But I’m not allowed to bat for three teams, so I am sitting this one out on the bench with corn on the cob, veggie burgers and strawberries with ice cream. You are welcome to join me if you can’t pick a side. If you can pick a side, will you be batting for Team Red, Team Blue or Team White?

Happy 4th of July!

As I mentioned in a recent post, ankle strap footwear is on trend and likely to remain that way. In fact, I have a hunch that the silhouette will become a modern classic. Here’s a selection of my current top picks. Remember to look through the colour options. 

1. Steve Madden Lesliee Ankle Strap Wedge Sandal: Suede shoes are soft and therefore comfortable, and that’s what makes this style quite wearable despite the very high heel. 
2. Sam Edelman Okala Pump: I bought these darlings and am over the moon with them. I finally have a pair of ankle strap pumps that work for my feet! Although the heel is below three inches, ideally I’d have preferred a lower heel. That said, their comfort, fun pattern, and elegant silhouette sold me lock, stock and barrel. Their cushioning footbed and soft leather was key, as was the elastic insert on the ankle strap that makes it easy to stride. They are not eight hour shoes, but I’ll thoroughly enjoy them on shorter trips. Also available in cheetah. 
3. Splendid Sage Sandal: A casual wedge with fab crisscross front strap detailing. 
4. Charles David Impresa Sandal: Dressy and alluring. Must have high volume feet to fill out the silhouette. Also available in silver. 
5. Sole Society Savannah Sandal: High vamped, striking, and an excellent price. 
6. Nine West Callen Pump: Sleek and ladylike. Not soft, and I didn’t find them all that comfortable, but bear in mind I have fussy feet. Others found this style quite comfy. I vote white all the way. 
7. See by Chloé Hera Pump: I almost bought these instead of the Sam Edelman Okala Pump, because I love the lower heel height, and it’s a beautifully made shoe. But I preferred the pattern and strap width of the Okala. Runs small so size up at least half a size.  
8. French Connection Vicky Flat: A lovely Marc Jacobs look-a-like at a fraction of the price. Super soft suede, and dainty on the foot. 
9. Sole Society Penelope Sandal: Fun red sandal at a great price, which is why I am featuring it for a second time. Read the rave reviews. 
10. Sam Edelman Dakota Sandal: A sandal that is repeated season after season. I did not find this style comfortable, but am in the minority. A handful of clients are wowed by its comfort level, and it looks great on the foot. 
11. Born Delano Sandal: Another style that is repeated season after season because it’s casual, robust and comfortable. Read the rave reviews. 
12. Born Crown Landis Sandal: My clients love this sandal, which also comes in black and white and gold. It’s casually dressy and versatile. The gold goes right up to a size 13, which is a scarce size in women’s footwear. Super comfy and pretty on the foot. Read the rave reviews.

Although we’re having an unexpectedly warm Summer in Seattle, it will be short-lived. I’m going to wear my new ankle strap pumps as much as possible before I’m in boots and socks all over again sometime in September. Wear the heck out of your Summer footwear with me, ladies! 

With Alterations Needed Kelly Tucker (30) has created a go-to source for petite women looking for tailoring suggestions that will help them to achieve great fit. Being very petite herself, at 4′ 11″ with a slender build, she’s also pounded the pavement researching clothing brands that will work for a smaller frame. Kelly is a Modern Classic dresser with a small, well-curated wardrobe full of investment pieces. She has a preppy element to her style and likes to throw touches of boyish charm into the mix. All those years of clothes not fitting straight of the rack have played a crucial role in developing her current style persona:

“When I began making a conscientious effort to build my wardrobe, keeping it small and curated was done mostly by force. My size is not widely available or produced by many companies so my choices are already quite limited. If I happen to find an item that meets my style and size preferences, it is not uncommon to see it sell out quickly due to limited production of my size. This causes me to pay full retail for pieces I really covet and takes a big chunk out of my shopping budget. Tack on the added cost of alterations to make it fit perfectly and my shopping choices become very considered. If I’m going to throw another $100 at the retail cost of a blazer to alter it down to fit me, it needs to last and be in line with who I am, stylistically speaking. For this reason, I’ve taken a pretty strong stance on personal style and lean towards uniform dressing that I can embrace for years to come. It’s become important for me to develop a distinct personal style so that I’m not spending money to tailor fleeting trends.”

Burgundy is Kelly’s favourite neutral, and you’ll see it pop up regularly when you browse her archives. It goes well with her preferred colour palette of blues, whites, creams and blacks, allowing her to effortlessly mix and match to her heart’s content. This cardigan over flared skirt look perfectly illustrates the classic side of her style persona, showcasing impeccable, traditional fit and a keen eye for great proportions. Petite women rock a shorter hemline like nobody’s business. This is a fun, girly silhouette that gets its sophisticated air from the bold stripe and kick of saturated merlot — I love how crisp it looks against the white in the skirt. The gold lace bib necklace and link bracelet add a certain richness to the whole. The two-toned tonal pumps provide a tad of texture. One of Kelly’s bag beauties, the iconic black Chanel 2.55, also makes her first appearance. Now that’s what I call the icing on the cake!

“Jeans go with everything.” It’s one of Kelly’s style mottos, and she has spent a lot of time and effort scouring stores to find the perfect pairs. Getting the fit right on straight legs has proven a little tough for this ultra petite lass, as the scrunching and the way they rest on top of her shoes was never exactly right. So it’s skinny jeans to the rescue! Here she’s paired them with a drapey cream crêpe de Chine shirt with contrasting black cuffs and collar. A simple, sleek look for the weekend. Funny surprise: the bow is a snap-on bowtie from ASOS, and not actually part of the blouse. For me, the star of the show is that little red darling dangling from Kelly’s shoulder — the twin to her black 2.55 handbag and one of Kelly’s most prized possessions:

“I really love learning about brand heritage, and Coco Chanel has such an interesting (and controversial) story that I really fell in love with her brand before I got my hands on these handbags. I wanted deeply to own something Chanel, and so my holy grail handbag quickly became the timeless classic flap. Both my Chanels were found while on vacation, which is sweet because I have those warm fuzzy vacation memories attached to them. I’m very satisfied with my little Chanel collection, but have definitely considered adding a third. I’d be tempted if the perfect shade of turquoise were to pop up. Or maybe a black Classic Flap with gold hardware (both of mine have silver and a girl’s gotta have options, right?). I was tempted by the Boy bag recently too. Chanel handbag collecting is a slippery slope!”

The pale blush pink pumps were the first thing that caught my eye in this smart casual shorts ensemble. Don’t petites look fab in short shorts! By keeping the footwear low contrast Kelly’s gams look miles long. These spiked heels are a clever contrast in themselves, the soft colour being a quite unexpected pairing with the tough spikes. The studded wrap ring and spiked bracelet continue the refined tough vibe. Yet the outfit as a whole has Kelly’s polished, ladylike signature written all over it. She’s also rocking one of her trademark pieces, a great fitting tailored blazer. The white is fab with the blue chambray shirt, a super flattering colour on Kelly. The tan bag and blush skinny belt tie this soft colour palette together. While the seersucker shorts and cheerfully bright brue-green nail polish scream Summertime. Let’s all go for ice cream!

Boarding school prep meets Euro Chic. I knew I wanted to feature this smart casual outfit the minute I saw Kelly sporting her Cordovan penny loafers — or her “grandpa shoes”, as she affectionally calls them. The colour is an unusual mix of deep red and brown hues. The shine adds a dressy touch to the look. And have you noticed how Kelly’s curls provide built-in textural interest? This continues with the studs on her fabulous Valentino Rockstud double handle tote bag (a statement piece for sure) and the marled fabric of the sweater vest. Beautiful blues and burgundy reds play the main role here. Combining modern classics like the gold-buttoned blazer and striped button-down with playfully rolled skinnies keeps everything looking modern and fresh. Accessories have been kept simple: a ladylike pearl bracelet, trusted men’s size watch and a vintage brooch that adds to the schoolboy vibe. Check out the detail shot to discover a delightful dandy-esque feature: the polka dot pocket square hidden under Kelly’s curls. 

The perfect length tan Burberry trench, a timeless item with great fashion staying power, takes centre stage in this Modern Classic Spring outfit. Kelly likes to wear the double-breasted coat open in milder weather, but finds that the extra fabric tends to swallow her up. That’s where this clever trick comes in handy: fold back and button in the extra fabric on itself. Then cinch the belt at the back to complete the slimmer effect. I adore this head-to-toe ladylike look because every little detail is just right. From the happy yellow colour of the pleated skirt (it even has pockets!), to the well-chosen graphic looms print on the blouse and the touches of black repeated throughout the outfit that don’t feel heavy in the least. Folding over the collar of her blue print blouse and finishing off the ensemble with a coral bubble necklace adds a delicious splash of subtle colour against Kelly’s face. 

Another brunette that looks terrific in blue! Kelly collects dress shirts and has a soft spot for traditional menswear fabrics and clothing. She likes to experiment with androgynous looks as long as the end result is tailored with a feminine shape. I call this her cheeky tomboy in designer heels outfit, it’s my personal favourite. It’s a tad RATE (rough around the edges) with the distressed denim —  found after much hunting around as she’s very particular about placement of faux scuffed knees — yet still put-together. The Glen plaid waistcoat is sassily boyish, the suede pointy toe cobalt heels dainty and fun. Kelly is not a swap your bag all the time type of gal, preferring to keep her beloved investment pieces into constant rotation. So, Le Fabuleux Chanel Noir comes out to play again. An über versatile piece with a sky-high longevity factor for sure!

I had a ball browsing Kelly’s super polished modern classic outfits, and I’m very curious to hear what you think. If you need advice on clothing alterations and fit issues for petites, then do check out the Alterations Needed forum and the info underneath each blog post. Or you can also follow Kelly’s pinboards, which are an excellent representation of our petite blogger’s style sensibilities.

I can’t believe that I haven’t officially shared the magical powers of BodyGlide. It’s usually used by athletes on areas of their body where they are prone to chafing. But I use it on my feet on the areas where I’m prone to blistering, like on the side of my pinky toe, the top of my big toe, and at the back of my heel. It works wonders in areas that can rub raw. No more plasters for shoes that are prone to rubbing, like strappy sandals, dressy pumps, or any shoe worn without socks. 

I use BodyGlide on days when I’m wearing footwear sans socks and doing a lot of walking, like on a full shopping day with clients when I’m on my feet for ten hours, at Fashion Week, or sightseeing on holiday when I’m on my feet for up to fourteen hours. 

Apply the stick directly to blister-prone areas of the foot and pop on the shoe. It’s that simple. It feels a little slippery at first, but that goes away in no time. Do not apply to the underside of your feet. It’s far too slippery for that and I nearly broke my ankles after making that mistake. I have never tried using BodyGlide with boots and socks, but that should work just fine too. 

I use the original BodyGlide Anti-Chafe solution as shown here because that’s what was recommended to me. But there’s actually a version made just for feet called FootGlide. I haven’t used that version yet, but it sounds even better.