Frequently worn wardrobe items can fall out of favour because newer items that tickle your fancy even more take their place. As a result, newer pieces become the wardrobe workhorses and older items go into hibernation. It isn’t that you dislike the items that are in hibernation. In fact, you probably still love them. That’s why you hold on to the darlings, allowing them to vacation in your closet while other stuff does the heavy lifting. 

A year or two goes by, and for a variety of reasons some of the hibernating items come back into rotation. The vacation is over, and it’s work, work, work. 

I’ve found this often happens when I can refresh the look of the hibernating item. For example, I barely wore my animal print booties in 2012 because I favoured two pairs of cream booties and wore them all the time. But I’ve worn the animal print booties a lot in 2013 because I like to pair them with new white boyfriend jeans that are rolled at the hems. In this way, they look refreshed and feel “new”. 

Similarly, I haven’t worn my bright gold satchel in years. But now I’m wearing it again because I like the way it matches my new gold pointy toe pumps. It’s nice to break up my daytime clutch style, and be all matchy-matchy for a change. 

Is it really a good idea to pass on wardrobe items that have gone unworn for a year? I’m not so sure and that’s why I don’t suggest a specific timeframe for letting things go. Some items do swing back into rotation after a good long while, and it would be a pity to lose them. Of course, there are some items that definitely should go if you haven’t worn them for a year. 

So how do you know when to keep and when to pass on a wardrobe item that you haven’t worn in a while? It’s tricky, but I usually suggest that if you still LOVE the piece despite not wearing it for a while — hang on to it if it fits, is in good shape, and isn’t overly dated. Chances are high that you will find a way to remix the look and wear it again. 

Cap sleeves can look unflattering, especially when they are extra short and tight. That’s why I’m quick to suggest sleeveless or elbow length as the more flattering option. Or I suggest what I call “diagonal sleeves”, although I have also seen the silhouette referred to as a short dolman sleeve. 

Diagonal sleeves are a mix of a short and a cap sleeve. They’re like an oversized cap sleeve with a much looser fit around the upper arm. The hem of the sleeve creates a long diagonal line across the bicep, which is how it gets its name. The drapey fit and longer length of the diagonal sleeve make it easier to wear than a short tight fitting cap sleeve. The diagonal lines also minimize the size of the bust, especially when the neckline is V-shaped or scooped. Furthermore, the diagonal integrity of the sleeve has a more interesting and structured visual effect than a wide short sleeve, which can look a little frumpy. 

As seen below, diagonal sleeves work with an assortment of necklines and fabrics. Some top styles are more roomy than others, and the sleeves vary in length. Something for everyone. Have you tried diagonal sleeves, and do you find them flattering?

Over at The Genteel, Amanda Coen reports how several devout, young Orthodox Jews are offering personalised contemporary clothing that respects cultural traditions.

It turns out that the young rabbi mentioned in the article also happens to be an apprentice tailor at Savile Row’s Maurice Sedwell, who keeps a tumblr blog with menswear inspiration shots. Very dapper looks!

Photographer Sarah Shamsavari’s recent exhibit “London Veil” features a series of women wearing colourful hijabs tied in lots of different ways. With this project she wanted to “steer clear of the debate surrounding the hijab, and instead focus on her subjects’ individuality”.

Fab Links from Our Members

Deborah found this guest post on Already Pretty quite confronting, and added: “I am ashamed to say that I never considered that I am in fact privileged that I can dress the way I want, in public, and without fear”.

TraceyLiz had fun browsing these music festival looks throughout the years, starting with Woodstock.

White shirts and points. This photo of Audrey on her points absolutely blew Angie away.

Annagybe enjoyed the BBC article about Matthaeus Schwarz, a 16th century accountant who for forty years recorded in detail what he wore by commissioning watercolour paintings of himself. The original fashion blog perhaps?

“It’s tempting to dismiss fashion as mere fluff. Until, that is, we start to decode its many meanings and marvel at what it reveals.” Caro agrees wholeheartedly with this quote from a blog post on the woman in the red dress at the recent Istanbul protests.

Vildy recently read up on American designer Claire McCardell, creator of the “American look”, who introduced affordable and stylish sportswear looks. She also popularized flats for women, and, inspired by men’s clothing, used rivets.

Short, boxy, collarless, “Chanel-esque” tweed jackets like the first two styles shown below are not an easy style to wear. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve fitted the silhouette onto clients, only to return it to the rack immediately because it wasn’t that flattering. 

I have found though, that body types with short necks and broad square shoulders generally wear collarless jackets extremely well, and therefore stand a better chance at making this style of topper work. It’s harder to generalize about the bust because I’ve seen an assortment of sizes fit the bill, especially when the front of the jacket is left open. Furthermore, collarless jackets tend to work a whole lot better on a longer neck with long hair that is left down, thereby adding structure to the neck and shoulder-neck point.

If you like the idea of wearing a fairly short, collarless tweed jacket, but can’t seem to make proportions work, try a variation on the style like one of the four silhouettes below. These shapes seem to create flattering lines on many more of my clients. The silhouettes are more tailored and a little longer, which makes all the difference on most body types. Showcasing a little shape is conventionally flattering, and the increased length prevents the body from looking “chopped in half” or overly short waisted. Some of the necklines are more structured on the shoulder and around the neck, which makes the rest of the jacket drape better on the body. Wearing a column of colour underneath the topper has a further flattering effect.

I don’t mind the boxy part of this type of topper, but I look dreadful in widely cut collarless style jackets because I have a long neck, short hair and narrow shoulder line. But as soon as there is a “Mandarin collar” cut closely to my neck, the silhouette looks a whole lot better. The added coverage on my shoulder-neck point is the necessary structuring ingredient that makes all the difference. 

Do you wear boxy, collarless jackets? If you don’t like them boxy, will you wear them sans a collar? Or have you found the Chanel-esque tweed jacket hard to fit, full stop.