We’ve hopefully plenty of warm, sunny days ahead of us, but Elle is already helping us prepare for next Fall with this roundup of 55 Winter coats.

How do you feel about Buffalo Exchange’s “Coats for Cubs” drive? Donated fur coats and other garments are sent to wildlife rehabilitators, who will refashion the fur into a surrogate parent for orphaned wild animals.

I’m getting a little tired of my Winter coats, and inspiration photos like this one on Angie’s Sneaker Style board are making me very impatient to wear my trench coats right now.

Fab Links from Our Members

So much has been written about Casey Legler, the first female model signed exclusively to a men’s line. Suz enjoyed this Guardian profile, in which she speaks up about why she is excited to be doing what she’s doing.

Julia was surprised to learn that it was already a custom in the 17th century to name colours by quite modern descriptors like “pistachio” and “light sky”. And what to think of the intriguing “water rat”?

Since several YLFers have upcoming trips planned, Joy thought they’d like to read USA Today’s take on “10 Fashion Faux Pas Travelers Should Avoid“.

Angie was extremely impressed with the sculptural Céline show for Fall 2013. The fluted skirts, their lengths and the way they move launched her into orbit!

Everything Just So recently blogged about Impressionism, Fashion and Modernity. Both Deb and Debora can’t wait to check out this exciting exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Annagybe wanted to share Hussein Chalayan’s transforming dresses with us, “chameleon frocks” indeed.

GlassOrganelle is an Australian blogger who recently featured this interview with designer Rick Owens. Deborah found him to be incredibly interesting and down-to-earth.

Are backward necklaces — a very trendy look in the 1920s and ’30s — making a comeback? Laurinda was amused by the warning that strangers may try to “fix” your necklace for you.

Fox in Flats asked her readers about their sneakiest shortcut to style. Vildy recommends reading all the comments too, as some are hilarious.

My friends, my clients and our forum members all wear boots and booties in cold weather. But as it warms up in Spring and Summer, many of them switch directly to sandals, leaving out the option of a “transitional shoe”. And by transitional shoe, I mean footwear that has less coverage than a boot but more coverage than a sandal. We’re talking about loafers, sassy sneakers, flat oxfords, peep-toe booties, slipper flats, ballet flats, and any style of pump or wedged pump with a closed toe. 

As someone who does not own a single pair of sandals, cutting out the transitional shoe made little sense. So I asked my clients, friends and our forum members why they move directly from boots to wearing sandals because I am as committed to understanding their footwear needs as I am to understanding my own. Here are some of their responses:

“We rarely have transitional weather, moving from boot weather to sandal weather almost overnight.”

“I’m much more comfortable in sandals and want to wear them as soon as possible.”

“I have pretty feet and like to show off my toes as soon as possible.”

“Slip-on transitional shoes don’t stay on my feet, whereas I can keep sandals securely fastened with a strap.”

“I run very hot so as soon as it starts to warm up, I need to feel the breeze on my feet.” 

“Transitional footwear makes me feel frumpy and dumpy.” 

This was very interesting. I’m always learning about the similarities and differences in our wardrobe needs. I now have a much better understanding of why some prefer to cut out the transitional shoe altogether. 

I am a rare breed who prefers closed shoes, full-stop. I live in Seattle where it’s seldom warm enough to wear open shoes in the first place, and because I run very cold, I just don’t see the point. But there are other reasons too. I have lived in tropical climates (Hong Kong and South Africa) and even then I wasn’t a big sandal wearer, favouring closed toe and heel covering shoes over anything with more exposure. My feet freeze in air conditioning when I wear sandals no matter how hot it is outside, and I find any form of strap quite uncomfortable. My feet don’t feel the heat so while others are wearing sandals in 75 degree Farenheit (24 degrees Celcius) plus weather, I’m in sockless, closed transitional shoes and as happy as a clam. I do have a pair of peep toe oxfords that you’ve seen me wear here and here, but I’m ready to pass them on. For the most part, I just prefer the look of closed toe shoes. Until my needs change I am completely committed to wearing shoes that are closed on the toes and heels.  

Do you wear transitional footwear, or do you skip that step and wear sandals at the first signs of Spring? Do transitional shoes represent a short-lived period in the year for you, or do you wear them quite frequently.

Clutch handbags continue to be extremely on trend, both for at night AND during the day. Remember that clutch handbags needn’t be impractical if you choose one with a shoulder strap, wristlet or top handle. Here’s a rundown of nine clutch handbags that pack a punch across a variety of price points. Be sure to look at all the colour options.  

• Pour la Victoire Nouveau Clutch: The strap folds away so you have the option of wearing it like a proper clutch handbag. Great colours, all of which work year round. That’s right! Pastel blue is trending for Fall 2013.
• Studded Envelope Clutch: This is a large clutch so consider yourself warned. It has both a wristlet and a shoulder strap so the best of three worlds.  
• Kate Spade New York Radio Samira Clutch: Quirky, arty and fun. Very structured and beautifully made. 
• Sondra Roberts Resin Clutch: Resin clutches have a retro flavour. Match them with sci-fi footwear for a fab juxtaposition. This one comes both in solids and a pattern. 
• Urban Expressions Perforated Clutch: Add a little sporty spice to your style with this little darling. 
• Alexander Wang Dumbo Leather Clutch: I’ve had my eye on this one for six months because the bottom handle appeals to me, as does the simplicity and colour. I’m deciding whether I want to add a citron or light blue clutch to my wardrobe at this point. 
• Danielle Nicole Parker Clutch: Classically sporty and colourful. Also available in black and white. 
• Diane von Furstenberg Lips Mini Metallic Leather Clutch: How about a kissing clutch just for fun. 
• Valentino Lacca Bow Clutch: I couldn’t resist ending off the list with an ultra expensive signature Valentino that is a timeless work of art. Check out the style in all its colours, but I vote neutral or red. 

I am a complete clutch convert because they provide a modern, minimal simplicity. I wear my satchels just as often though, because sometimes I need a little more room.

I’ve written many, many posts about how to fit tops over the years. Here’s a summary that pulls them all into one place for easy access. Undergarments are especially important when trying to achieve a flattering fit for tops, so that’s where we’ll start. 

That Which Lies Beneath

It is EXTREMELY important to be professionally fitted for a bra, especially if you’re full in the bust. Most women are in the incorrect bra size, going too large in the band and too small in the cup. The correct bra fit lifts the bust line, creates a waistline and curves in all the right places, smoothes out your silhouette, and offers comfortable support. As a result, tops will look and fit better straight off the bat. Re-address bra fit when you loose or gain weight. And if you’re worried about showcasing your bra, here’s a discussion about acceptable bra exposure. 

As the next layer, although not essential, the camisole can have an extremely important function. I wear a camisole daily and have been replenishing the same $12 camisole for eight years. It’s still my camisole of the moment and I see no reason to change at this point. I find the extra layer insulating, comforting, covering, and the best way to prevent garment grinning.

Smoothing Out Your Silhouette

If a camisole doesn’t do the smoothing trick, shapewear can be effective. That said, it can also be uncomfortable so I always suggest using the fit of the top itself to camouflage lumpage and bumpage before resorting to undergarments that feel like straightjackets. Here are 10 ways to conceal muffin top. Believe it or not, but belts can also smooth out your silhouette. And styling techniques like the semi-tuck, new semi-tuck and faux tuck work wonders at camouflaging those extra bits around the midriff. 

Proportions

Here’s how to best dress a full bust, and how to wear high necklines with a full bust. Remember that it’s important to do the sit-down-fit-test with all tops that button up in front. Here’s how to dress a short waist and a long waist. Shorter tops tend to look best with full skirts, and here’s a guide on how to wear a flattering length of top over pants and jeans. Fitted cap sleeves are tricky to fit, so when in doubt, opt for a longer sleeve or go sleeveless. 

Skinny On Top

Remember that there are three clothing fit categories these days: body con, tailored and oversized. Once you get the hang of which fit category suits the top, your assessment of fit will be more accurate. 

Wearing a voluminous top over a voluminous bottom is no longer a faux pas, which is why the big tee has gained popularity. Banded tops are a great solution for bashful bellies, and dolman sleeves can be fab. Peter pan collars aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, while turtlenecks stir up a myriad of emotions. Tops with overlapping diagonal lines are generally flattering, and so are tops with round hems. The asymmetrical hemline on a high-low top provides magical “unstructured structure”, and here’s how to keep those scrunched sleeves scrunched. 

And if you’re still not a blouse gal, these five reasons might facilitate the conversion. 

If there are further fit challenges on tops, feel free to post them in the comments section and let’s get you sorted.