I believe that evolving our style can have a positive impact on our appearance and on our life in general. Here are five things that a healthy style evolution helps us to do. 

Adapt to Changing Needs

This is the most important and practical reason to evolve your style. The internal and external factors that impact your style are never static. Our bodies, lifestyle, work setting, environmental norms, climate and style preferences change as we move through life. Our styles need to adapt to these changing factors if we are to feel appropriately dressed and fabulous in our own skin.  

Stay Out of the Style Rut

After wearing the same combinations and colours repeatedly you can get bored with your outfits and feel boring in them. This is the dreaded style rut. The best remedy is to refresh your look by wearing new-to-you items and outfit combinations. I’ve found that a refreshed style does wonders for my own psyche, making me feel energized in many other aspects of my life. 

Avoid Being Dated

A stylish look always incorporates a bit of “now”. But “now” does not necessarily mean hot off the press, trendy catwalk stuff. Current trends can be three to five years old. And you can’t look current unless you evolve your style over time.  

Discover Successful New Looks 

I’m often encouraging friends and clients to push the boundaries of their comfort zone and experiment with something new. It’s the only way to discover a look that might become your next “uniform”, or an item that becomes your next wardrobe workhorse. If you don’t evolve, you might miss out on things that end up making you feel even better about your style. 

Enjoy Fashion 

For some of us fashion becomes a delightful hobby and creative outlet. We have a lot of fun by frequently changing our look in subtle or dramatic ways. And we can share our style experiences with others who enjoy the process and epiphanies as much as we do. This all adds to our happiness and has a positive ripple effect on our general state of well-being. 

Of course, there is no need to evolve your style right now if you feel like you’re in a great place. After all, if it’s fabulous, don’t fix it. Remember also that evolving your style in subtle ways absolutely counts, and that there is no need to make huge visible changes to your look every season if that doesn’t float your boat.

Two years ago Gisèle Scanlon went in for a 20-minute film interview with British designer Paul Smith and ended up staying several hours. From his love for stripes and bikes, his down-to-earth manner, his “international finds” and the story about how he started out in the fashion industry… I enjoyed every second of this charming interview. (Scroll down for the video).

“I have never disposed of anything since I left college way back in the day, so looking at my wardrobe is an emotional roller coaster.” Fashion critic Suzy Menkes shares her favourite fashion memories with Harper’s Bazaar as her wardrobe is about to go up for auction at Christie’s.

New York Times T Magazine’s Andrew O’Hagan recently did a candid interview with Miuccia Prada. The iconic Italian designer talks about aging, good taste, the investigation of ugliness, and her work being a sort of self-portrait.

Fab Links from Our Members

As a contemporary travel journalist, ManidipaM found this article on Nellie Bly’s packing habits from a more challenging era very inspiring.

Angie is in a ’70s kind of mood and would like to share a few photos with tons of personality: KILLER picture of Diana Ross, Harlem, Mohanjeet, Elsa Peretti (cigarettes were everywhere back then), and a young Carine Roitfeld.

Match Your Self Image Consulting explains which peplum style works best for the different body types. Vildy found the photo illustrations especially helpful.

Sopranomom thought this NBC piece on “A Nation of Slobs” fitted right in with last week’s forum discussion about the Jezebel article. While Archer thinks this Fashion For Real Women post on how to dress to attract a man in a lateral way brings an interesting juxtaposition to the discussion.

This husband-and-wife team has been wearing matching outfits for 35 years. Ingunn thinks it’s a strong declaration of love and independence, but would never have done the same.

Ironkurtin came across this Pantone recap of each decade by colour.

As a 40-something-but-feels-like-30-something person, Citygirldc totally related to Barbara de Mul’s post about fighting the age battle.

Nancylee directs us to this Racked rundown of online Summer sales, handy for those who haven’t yet completed their S/S 2013 wardrobe.

“These clothes don’t get me“. Janet loves this reframing of the language we use while shopping and trying on garments.

Kellygirl thought this article — reporting how a European tariff could cripple the denim trade in Los Angeles — very interesting.

Scarlet was intrigued to read about the late Anna Piaggi and how her family is trying to find a permanent home for her very large and “most thrillingly unexplored” wardrobe.

Bootcut jeans and trousers are thought of as universally flattering and always in style. Generally, I agree with this statement. Bootcuts are not the on trend choice of jeans and trousers, but they are certainly not dated. They are a classic with a high longevity factor. 

As far as the style being universally flattering, I think we all have the potential to look fabulous in a pair of bootcut jeans or trousers when we find the right fit. But the jury is still out on whether they are more flattering than a pair of straight leg jeans or trousers. I do have clients who to my eye look better in bootcuts than in straight legs. Some have a relatively large bust, broad shoulder line, and narrow hips and thighs. In their case bootcuts provide volume on the lower leg, which balances out the top and bottom parts of the body. Others are pear shaped and look particularly fabulous in bootcuts because wider hems balance out the proportions of relatively larger hips and thighs. 

Although the general silhouette of bootcuts is the same, namely fitted through the thigh and flaring out on the lower leg, there are subtle differences in cut that are worth noting. First, some styles flare out more dramatically at the hems than others, and sometimes a less flared style looks more streamlined. Second, the fit on the thigh can be body con or tailored, or even on the loose side of tailored. Third, the rise can be low, mid or high. And fourth, fabric distinctions are important because they determine the dress code appropriateness and impact overall fit. Bootcuts can be made of denim, wool, wool blends, cotton blends, man-made fibres, and have some or no stretch. It’s a question of choosing which cut in a particular fabrication works best for you. 

On the whole, most of my clients are favouring skinnies, straight legs and boyfriend styles over bootcut jeans because they feel more fashionable than the classic. But dressier bootcut trousers are still being worn very regularly by my clientele, especially in business casual and business formal work environments. It’s an easy go-to trouser silhouette that always looks professional and appropriate. 

I fall into this category too. I last wore a pair of bootcut jeans in 2011 and have no desire to wear the one pair that hangs in my closet. In fact, I am thinking about passing them on because I much prefer wearing trendier straight legs and baggier styles like boyfriend jeans. That said I LOVE wearing my bootcut trousers, of which I have three pairs. There is something about wearing bootcuts in dressy fabrications that tickles my fancy more than wearing a similar silhouette in denim. I feel elegant in a pair of bootcut trousers, but ever so slightly frumpy in bootcut jeans. 

Over to you. Do you think bootcuts are universally flattering? Do you wear bootcut jeans and trousers? If so, why do you like wearing bootcuts? If not, why do you prefer other styles of jeans and trousers to bootcuts?

Some of these items are very bohemian, while others have just a touch of boho. Remember that you don’t need to wear a bohemian vibe from head to toe. Mix it up with crisp classics, arty elegance or a fun androgynous look. Browse through all the colour options.  

1. Hinge Embroidered Denim Jacket: The least bohemian item on this list. Some of my clients, with a graphic and crisp modern classic style, have loved this white topper so that’s telling. The embroidery is subtle and the front hem dips down to achieve a fabulously flattering silhouette.
2. Leith Grunge Open Crochet Pullover: Wear it over a tank top with a pair of boyfriend jeans or a full skirt. Fab with a casual pencil skirt too. 
3. Splendid Draped Thermal Hoodie: Cozy, casual and covered. Ideal for the beach, plane travel, Mums on the go, or working from home. 
4. Free People Embroidered Crochet Trim High/Low Dress: This frock is especially great in motion. Theatrical, interesting, and drapes quite nicely. It’s a lot of dress so consider yourself warned. 
5. Free People Wild Wind Top: An updated empire cut blouse with lace trim and dramatic sleeves. Check out the great back detail. They’ve even semi-tucked the silhouette in the photo, which is unexpectedly fab. 
6. Free People Sunblock Mesh Knit Cardigan: Boho deluxe! Like the way it’s been styled on the model. Perfect for Team Tall. 
7. Trouve Print Tunic Tee: A mixed media silky tee with a subtle pattern and fun high-low hemline. 
8. Free People Krispy Mesh Peacoat: A relaxed and breezy decorative topper. 
9. Sanctuary Mariposa Streak Print Chiffon Top: Gorgeous on broad shoulders and forgiving on the midsection. Kimono-esque. 
10. Betsey Johnson Floral Fringe Tote: A fringed bag with a touch of glitz. 
11. Freebird by Steven Phoenix Boot: A tie-dye bootie for Team Rough and Rugged. 
12. Pikolinos Paris Bootie: A structured earthy sandal bootie that is comfy and versatile. 
13. Frye Cameron Shoulder Bag: This type of bag improves with age and is always in style.
14. Ralph Lauren Leather Belt: Simply earthy and versatile in either colour. 
15. Rebecca Minkoff Hugo Silk Pants: And we’re ending off with another piece that’s fab in motion. Alluring, ’70s glam rich, and ever so slightly bohemian. Stunning with a light coloured strappy sandal.

I don’t have an earthy or bohemian edge to my style, but I thoroughly enjoy dressing my clients who do. Some like to wear boho in large doses, and others like to incorporate touches here and there. Do you have a bohemian element to your look?