Recently LG asked me to participate in a project that showcased how I would use their new smartphone, the LG Optimus G Pro, in my work as a fashion stylist. This was a perfect match because my smartphone is an indispensable part of my workday, and an invaluable tool when I work with my clients. So for about 3 weeks I used the new smartphone exclusively and then we captured how I use it in two short videos. 

Creating an efficient wardrobe is hard because it is not only about individual items, but also the whole collection of items in your closet and how they relate to one another. The smartphone is a tool that my clients and I use to record, collect, compare and share items and outfits throughout the process of closet review, shopping and outfit creation. 

Here are a few specific examples of the pictures we take:

• Existing wardrobe capsules: It’s great to have a flexible shopping list to keep us focused while we shop, but having photos of my clients’ wardrobe capsules on hand is even better. So I snap pictures of the most important capsules during a closet review and refer back to them when we shop. That way we make more informed mixing-and-matching decisions, work within a colour palette, and prevent unnecessary duplications. 
• Items that need to be replaced: These are my clients’ wardrobe workhorses that are worse for wear but cannot be passed on until there’s a replacement. Having a photo of these items on hand keeps them top of mind. 
• Items for reference: I snap photos of items that need to be incorporated into an outfit. For example, if we’re looking for a formal frock, but my client wants to use the shoes she has already, I snap a photo of the shoes and make sure they work with the new frock. 
• Winning items that are put on hold: I cover many brick and mortar stores when shopping with a client. Instead of purchasing potential winning pieces straight away, I snap photos of the items before we put them on hold and move on to the next retailer. That way we have a reference of items we’ve loved that we can remember and compare with other items along the way. 
• Items we need to find elsewhere: I’ll snap photos of items that were not available in the size and colour we wanted so that we can find them online back home. I’ll also snap photos of items that my clients want to stalk until they go on sale. 
• Outfits: My clients usually use their own phones and cameras to document the outfits that we create together. But once in a while, I’ll document the outfits with my phone and send them back to the client. 

Occasionally, I’ll shoot a short video of a client wearing an item she’s fitting on in stores so that she can see it in motion. Seeing an item move can make all the difference and I think I will probably do this more in future. The large screen on the LG Optimus G Pro makes this particularly worthwhile. 

Another thing I noticed is that it takes great close-up pictures, not blurring the shot when I took photos of the inside of a shoe from just inches away.

Beyond taking photos and shooting video, the smartphone is also very useful for browsing online stores while we are shopping in brick and mortar stores. Sometimes for price comparison, but more often to look for sizes, silhouettes and colours that aren’t available. And more and more I find myself referring to things like my Pinterest boards while I’m out with a client.

My gorgeous friend and client Meredith, who you’ve met on YLF before, agreed to let us use one of her sessions to shoot video of the smartphone in action. Meredith is a natural in front of the camera and it’s always a pleasure to work with her. A very big thank you to Nordstrom for allowing us to film in their beautiful flagship store, making Meredith and me feel right at home. Enjoy the video!

If you are using Google Reader to get your YLF fix then you probably know by now that Google is retiring the RSS feed reading service on July 1, less than a week from now! Hopefully you have already found an alternative feed reader, but if not, there is still time to switch. 

One very easy option that will be ideal for a lot of people, but not all, is a service called Feedly. Feedly offers most of the Google Reader features you probably care about, but if you use Internet Explorer or if you use your feed reader from work where the IT department doesn’t allow you to install browser plugins, then it might not work for you (yet). 

Perhaps the biggest advantage of Feedly is the ease with which you can migrate from Google Reader. They have a one-click migration tool that worked like a charm for me.

Feedly started out as a mobile app. So arguably you get the best experience by using their free Android or iOS (iPhone and iPad) app. When the demise of Google Reader was announced, they also started working on a web version for the millions of people that would be looking for something to replace it. If you use Chrome, Safari or Firefox, then this web version will give you all the features you cared about on Google Reader and then some. It has some nice additional features, like more visual feed layout options and ways to register feeds.

One important point is that making the switch to Feedly (or an alternative) will be much easier before July 1. After that there will still be ways to migrate some of your data but it will definitely be less convenient. 

Of course, you also have several other ways to keep up with YLF if you aren’t into RSS feeds.

• Daily updates and newsletters via email: We send daily updates for both the Blog and Finds, and a monthly newsletter. You can subscribe to any combination of these email updates.
• Twitter: Angie sends notifications when she publishes new posts and also tweets some of her thoughts on new trends and what she’s seeing on the street and in stores.
• Facebook: Angie notifies FB readers about new posts on YLF and also posts some thoughts. Often when what she has to say is a little long for Twitter’s 140 character limit.
• Pinterest: Angie keeps boards on street style, trends, outfits, items she loves, and of course, Yorkies.

If you have any questions about Google Reader, Feedly, RSS feeds or any of the other options above, please feel free to ask them in the comments and I will do my best to answer.

When harem pants started surfacing in stores in 2008, I did not fancy the look at all. I couldn’t get my head around that dropped crotch point. 

Then I went to Israel in 2009 and saw many women, across a variety of ages and body types, wear harem pants with sass and panache. I was mesmerized by their easy chic in this drapey and slouchy style. The penny dropped, and I started to notice how interesting and attractive the lines were when the drape is right, and when they are paired with a flattering top or topper. Hip, comfortable and arty. Shame on me for being closed minded about the style in the first place. Styles do grow on you once you see them in stylish action.

So I came back home, ate my words, and bought a pair of silky harem pants as soon as I found a pair that fit the bill. Granted, mine are silky and dressy, which made them better suited to my style. Here on YLF I have worn them casually with denim, with a tuxedo blazer, and with boots and a jacket. The possibilities are endless, and I look forward to wearing my harem pants each year when the weather warms up. 

We see a varied assortment of harem pants every season, but the trend remains fringe, and I doubt it will go mainstream. I don’t think of the item as trendy or fashion forward anymore. Instead I think of harem pants as avant-garde and therefore always in style. Change up their support act to keep the integrity of the silhouette fresh and current, and you’re in business. For that reason, I will never let go of my harem pants. Plus, I love them, and enjoy how they pouf out when I sit down. 

Clearly I vote yay. But very few of my clients and friends will give the style a glance, let alone try it on and like the look. After four years, there is still little love for a silhouette that is thought of as unflattering, silly, and not remotely fun or chic. What’s your verdict? Has the style grown on you too?

“Two-piece dresses” were shown in Spring and Fall 2013 runway collections. I’ve pinned a plaid example, a textured and colourblocked example, and a soft example which provide good visuals of the concept, as do the pictures below. 

Simply put, a two-piece dress is an outfit made up of a matchy-matchy top and skirt. The top is NOT a jacket, so it’s not a suit. The top is usually a blouse, shirt, pullover or on-trend sweatshirt. Usually the top is made of the same fabric and pattern as the skirt, but sometimes it’s made of a softer version of the skirt, thereby embracing the mixed media trend. In the white floral example below, the skirt is made of woven silk, and the matching top of a knitted silk blend.  

The skirts can be any style, although pencils reign supreme. The two piece sets are often printed, but solids, false plains and texture-rich versions are other options. 

Whatever the combination of top and bottom, it’s like you’re wearing a dress that’s been split at the waist to create two pieces, which is how the look gets its name. The concept has several advantages:

• It’s easier to fit a two piece dress when you wear different sizes on the top and bottom.
• Sleeved options are more abundant.
• There is extra mix and match versatility because you can wear the pieces with other separates.
• Fit can be more forgiving on the midsection because of a structured skirt waistband and untucked top.
• In some ways, the visual effect of two pieces is more interesting than a one-piece dress, and almost makes you do a double take. Look at that dress! No, it’s a skirt and top. No it’s a dress! What is it? 

I love this trend and I think it works well in both Summery and Wintery fabrications. I’m drawn to the concept because the combinations with pullover and long sleeved top are warmer and more substantial than most dresses. Most frocks, even Winter styles, are still pretty flimsy and lightweight, which doesn’t work for my climate or lifestyle. I’d welcome a two piece dress into my wardrobe with open arms.

Over to you. What’s your take on the trend?