I usually wear knee-length denim cut-offs or city shorts that are tapered and formfitting in silhouette. But I’m bored with that shape, and felt the need to refresh this aspect of my Summer style. That’s why a pair of long slouchy dressy shorts went onto my warm weather shopping list in January. I liked the long shorts shapes I saw coming down the runways for Spring 2013, like this white shorts suit from Tommy Hilfiger. Inspired by that silhouette, the hunt was on to find a similar pair. 

Well, it’s been hard to find long dressy shorts because stores are obsessed with short shorts and cropped pants this season. That elusive in-between length just isn’t popular, despite rumours that it would be trending. I thought of hemming a pair of cropped pants to this length if all else failed. Then I spotted the Grace shorts from Club Monaco. They aren’t slouchy, but they are roomy, loosely tailored, drapey, knee-length, and wider at the hems. They’re just what I was looking for, providing a change from the shorts silhouettes I’ve been wearing for years. So I snapped up a pair in cobalt blue because the white was quite transparent and I’ve reached my saturation point with black bottoms.

I love their longer length, which may seem off to those who prefer to see knees and thighs when sporting shorts. I wear my skirts this length. Why can’t I wear shorts this length too!

I like cobalt with orange, or with black and white. I chose to go with a black and white top to debut these shorts because it’s Greg’s favourite combination. He particularly likes what he calls my Tin Tin-esque outfit — with the black and white collared top. I agree with his assessment. Good thing we like Tin Tin. 

The shorts do not have belt loops, so I’m not fond of tucking tops into them. But I like to wear untucked welted Summer knitwear with the silhouette so that I can blouson the tops to shorten their length. That creates the illusion of a tucked top, which makes me happy. 

The combination of a shorter roomier welted top over loosely tailored pants or shorts looks fresh to my eye. The roomy drape is essential to create flattering proportions, which would have been lost had both top and bottom been formfitting. The pullover, complete with attached Karl Lagerfeld inspired collar, is also new and was love at first sight. It’s the Riley Collar Crew, also from Club Monaco. It matches the strict and formal aspects of my personality. 

I also like to wear these shorts with my favourite lace blouse of all time, which is the one my Papa bought for me last year. It’s finally warm enough to wear it as is with a camisole, which I much prefer to covering its retro boxy shape with a topper. The short and roomy top once again provides fresh proportions when worn over loosely tailored shorts or trousers. I have no intention of wearing these shorts with a regular length, untucked top. 

I finished off the outfit with current wardrobe workhorses: white pointy toe pumps and a daytime clutch. No jewellery apart from my watch and wedding ring. My sunglasses are prescription so I only have one pair. And since I only have one pair of sunnies, they had to be iconic Ray-Ban Wayfarers. They’re a nod to the matchy-matchy trend in this outfit. As a lover of mismatched style, it’s taken me a while to get used to the matchy-matchy trend. But I literally woke up one morning and loved it. Just like I woke up one day and loved gold. Style preferences can change.

I am not an early adopter. Once I find a system that works, I use it until things break down or Greg tells me that I need an upgrade. So when I first heard about the opportunity to road test the LG Optimus G Pro, I was anxious and not all that excited about switching to something new. But that all changed as soon as I saw and held the phone. I thoroughly enjoyed using it for a few weeks. My favorite feature is its HUGE screen, which is fantastic for viewing photos and browsing the web. It is also surprisingly light.

Showcasing how I use my smartphone in my work made me realize just how essential this little tool has become. YLF and my consulting business are all consuming, and there’s no way I could get everything done without a small and very accessible computer and camera in my bag while I’m out an about. And that’s the other thing that surprised me. The phone really isn’t about phone calls anymore. I use it much more as a computer and a camera than as a traditional phone.

Clearing My Email

I receive a lot of work related email that requires filtering and action. Blog post comments are delivered to my inbox so that I can monitor and respond to them. Then there’s email from Greg and Inge, queries coming through the general contact form, potential advertisers looking for information, conversations with business partners, and the list goes on. The ability to see messages immediately and respond to some of them while I’m out saves me from tackling a huge pile of email when I’m back at my desk.

Chatting with YLF’ers

I like to answer questions that come up in the comments section of my daily posts as soon as possible. If I can steal a few moments to respond while I’m waiting in a queue or for a client, I do just that. I like to stay connected with the bustling YLF forum during the day, particularly when urgent questions are posted. Some of our members use the YLF app to post their outfits and get feedback. Often they have posted that minute from a store dressing room somewhere in the world, and I love the fact that I can give them immediate feedback right there and then.

Sharing Things I See

Whether it is an interesting store display, a trend coming alive on the retail shelves, or a particular item that is fab because of its price, color or fit, I love sharing what I see with people on the Internet. I snap a photo or two and then post that on the YLF forum, on Twitter, or both. I do also go through stages when I post photos using Instagram, like when we’re at Fashion Week. 

A lot of my sharing is also with individual clients and friends. I often see something that I think is perfect for someone and send them a photo and a text message.

Sharing My Thoughts

I never switch off! My head is always buzzing with thoughts about fashion and style. It might be something that occurs to me while working with a client, while I’m shopping for myself, or when I see an interesting trend on the streets. I used to save these up and write about them later when they coalesced into a bigger topic, but a few months ago I started using Facebook to post individual thoughts before they even found their way into a post. The phone is with me all the time and therefore ideal for this.

Saving Things for Later

The phone is an extremely convenient way to save things for later. Occasionally I’ll see something inspiring in a magazine that I want to remember to share with my readers or clients. So I snap a picture and come back to it later. More often I am in stores and find an item that I want to write about later on YLF, show a client when next we meet, or just consider for myself. Again, a photo is my way to remember the item, including close-up shots of design details, size labels and price tags.

I love the way my phone helps me think, remember, work efficiently, stay organized, keep my finger on the fashion pulse, and share information with people. Ever since I became more savvy with my phone’s camera I rarely take notes, because as long as I have the picture, I can usually remember the information that went along with it. A picture does speak a thousand words.

Here is the second video we shot of the LG Optimus G Pro in action during my workday. Enjoy!

A big thank you to Nordstrom for letting us shoot parts of this video in their Seattle flagship store.

Renowned London department store Selfridges already offers a “click-and-collect” service that allows customers to reserve items and then pick them up at the store. In 2014 they will also be launching the world’s first department store drive-through, enabling you to collect your purchases without even having to leave your car.

From a members-only site for the Etsy fan to a beauty product store that only intends to carry products that really do what they say, Refinery29 introduces us to six new websites that may change the way we shop online.

“Creative fashion entrepreneurs are rejecting traditional retail models, choosing instead to make a mark on the road with their mobile fashion trucks.” The Genteel interviewed Stacey Steffe and Jeanine Romo of Le Fashion Truck — one of the first mobile stores in Los Angeles.

Fab Links from Our Members

SHINE discusses the season’s best leg baring trends. Skirts and shorts always come to mind for Summer, but Lisa had not considered a high slit in a skirt as an option.

Vildy has always wondered how Carine Roitfeld famously carries no handbag, and just discovered one way to pull it off: the Scottevest trench, aka “The Fashionista’s Secret Weapon”.

Watch Already Pretty’s Sally and Kenyatta Jones, fashion designer and star of “House of Curves”, discuss plus size fashion in the context of Full-figured Fashion Week. Angie enjoyed Kenyatta’s candid perspective on designing her plus size clothing line, and on being a plus size person in the fashion world.

Marilyn Vos Savant’s take on first impressions is a reply to a negative question, but MNSara liked the reasoning behind it, and how it affirms why we put thought into choosing our style and dress each day.

Milehighstyle thought this cost per wear article over at Being Geek Chic was helpful and thought-provoking. You have to figure out what price per wear you are comfortable with and how long you imagine you will keep the item. She’ll be coming up with some guidelines for herself based on this method.

By pajama-esque, I mean styles that have been inspired by traditional pajama silhouettes and prints. They are not meant to be worn as sleepwear, although they look very similar to pajama tops and bottoms. It’s the lack of structure, silky fabrication, piping detail, and overall silhouette that makes these items pajama-esque. 

The fringe trend has been around for a few seasons, although in some cases the solid blouses look like seasonless classics. The pictures here provide an accurate visual of the look. The first model is wearing pajama-esque items both on the top and bottom, and the rest have incorporated one pajama-esque item into their outfit. 

The vibe reminds me a lot of the early ’90s. I remember wearing soft viscose pull on pants with an untucked matching blouse, patterned from head to toe. It was like wearing a waist surrendering jumpsuit, but one that was a lot more practical in the restroom. 

I liked the vibe then and I like the vibe now, both head to toe and remixed with non-pajama separates. But the bottoms must have tapered hems because I have poison eye for pant styles that are wide around the ankle or a few inches above it. I prefer the patterned versions as opposed to solids, especially when wearing pajama style both on the top and bottom. That said, I’d wear a collared pajama blouse in a solid colour with jeans, belt and pumps. 

I love pajama blouses and can’t believe I don’t have one yet! There is something about these silhouettes that is alluring and pretty. And I don’t mind the elastic waist on this style of bottom, as long as the elastic part is covered, or worn uncovered with hard and structured toppers. 

I think pajama-esque clothing has the potential to be fab, even if it’s just for the novelty of it. But most of my clients would probably vote drab. A handful of them enjoy re-mixing pajama blouses and pants with other separates, but none have ventured into the look from head to toe. Choosing to wear items that look like silky sleepwear generally seems like an off style concept. How on earth can it be fab, most people think. What’s your verdict?