The last time we launched a major update to YLF was September 2010. Since then we have added many features and made many incremental improvements to the user experience, but the basic design has been constant. That will soon change when we launch the next major version of YLF. 

Although Angie, Inge and I are the ones working behind the scenes, we’re very conscious that YLF readers and members share the site with us. A lot of you spend significant time here, so it seemed wrong to launch a big change with no warning or advance explanation of what led us to change things. With that in mind, here’s a quick rundown of our high-level goals. 

First, we want to simplify and clarify. If you are new to YLF we want you to immediately know what we’re all about: What to wear, and how to wear it. There is a lot on the site, but we want the most important things to stand out. 

Second, whether you are new to YLF or a longtime reader, we want to make it easier and more fun for you to browse and consume the content on YLF. That means nicer presentation of recent YLF features, but also great ways to browse more than 2500 posts in our archives. We put a lot of effort into the visuals on YLF, whether it’s our own photography or collages of products that we use to illustrate Angie’s posts, and we want better ways to showcase them. 

Third, we need to help YLF members deal with the ever increasing scale of the community. There was a time when the front page of the forum could show a few days’ worth of forum threads. These days the time elapsed between the first and last posts on the front page is often measured in minutes. Whether you visit hourly, daily or weekly, we want the forum to be manageable and fun. 

Our plan is to launch the redesign early on Sunday morning, so in a few days you will be able to see how we did. If past YLF launches are anything to go by, we will get some great input from the community. Some of that input will get added to the big list of things we do in the future, but some of it will probably lead to changes that we make in the days following the launch.

Thank you so much for your participation in YLF. We’re super excited to get started on this next part of our journey together. Too excited, in fact, to keep it completely under wraps any longer. So here are some snippets of the new design.

I’m a big fan of mesh sweaters because they are a great way to cover up in a breezy manner. Alluring, but not exposed. They also look fab layered under toppers, and make a pretty good substitute for trendy big tees that often look too big and sloppy. 

They’ve been matched with jeans here, but they work with all sorts of casual and dressier pants. They will also work over pencil skirts and sheath dresses. Here are three super styles that come in a variety of colours. 

1. Trouvé Metallic Mesh Sweater: This one has a subtle sheen and works particularly well semi-tucked. 
2. Gap Mesh Sleeve Sweater: This style has more coverage with mesh sleeves instead of a mesh body. Size down if you prefer a less roomy fit. 
3. Lucky Brand Macey Metallic Sweater: With larger holes, it’s the most breezy of the styles, and also has the most sheen. The high-low hemline adds structure to the silhouette. 

There is something about a mesh sweater that reads “easy elegance”, “relaxed polish” and “casual chic”. I don’t find them bohemian, although this type of open weave is often thought of in that way. Remember to untuck your camisole so that the sweater grins evenly from neck to hem.

How often should you shop? Generally, my suggestion is to shop frequently, adding to your wardrobe incrementally as you stay within the confines of your budget. By regularly browsing both brick and mortar and online stores you will become familiar with the available merchandise. You will know which styles are current and trending, and when items go on sale. The process will also help you to hone your style and pinpoint silhouettes and outfit combinations that you do and don’t fancy. 

Shopping frequently does not mean buying frequently or buying more than you otherwise would. In fact, shopping more frequently can lead to less overall shopping time and fewer purchases. For example, I spend a lot of time in stores and browsing online because I’m a fashion stylist. You might think that I’m perpetually tempted and purchasing items at the drop of a hat. But if anything, being constantly exposed to an overwhelming amount of merchandise makes me even more discerning about what I commit to purchasing for my wardrobe. As a result I purchase fewer items.

You don’t need to be a fashion stylist for this strategy to make sense. Everyone can be more efficient and effective in their shopping if they stay in touch with what’s in store. But it does help if you can easily access stores as part of your routine. For example, if you can wander through a department store while on your work commute. Of course, these days we can browse online stores 24/7, so everyone can take a regular peek at their favourite stores.

Many of my clients embrace this philosophy. They shop many, many times a season, and are continuously adding new items to their wardrobe. They love fashion, incorporating trends, wearing new items, and expressing themselves through their style. Shopping and putting together daily outfits is a fun hobby and occupies a large chunk of their time.

On the other hand, there are situations where shopping frequently is not a viable option. Some of my clients ask for my help because they have time constraints, or they find shopping overwhelming and unenjoyable. They aren’t interested in adding on trend seasonal refreshers to their wardrobe, but they do want to feel great about their style. So we do a mega shop together once a year, or in some cases, once every two years. We cover all the bases in that one outing. Apart from adding in the the odd emergency wardrobe item, these clients feel that they don’t need to think about shopping until we meet again.

And although I’m talking about shopping frequently, not purchasing frequently, there are situations where your ability or need to make purchases will impact your shopping frequency, and rightly so. For example, you may go through a period where the budget is extremely tight and you don’t want to tempt or frustrate yourself by spending time looking at merchandise. Or perhaps your wardrobe is completely sorted for the moment and you feel you’d like to take a break from shopping. 

Lastly, although I’m a big proponent of adding to your wardrobe incrementally, there are instances when adding a large number of wardrobe items in one go works really well. For example, when the size of your body has changed and nothing fits. Or, when your lifestyle has changed, and you literally have nothing to wear to your new business casual job because you’ve been living in jeans and knit tops for years. Situations like these often require a large injection of purchases that lay the foundation for an updated style and wardrobe.

How frequently do you shop? Do you add to your wardrobe incrementally, or do you have more of a “feast or famine” approach?

Trendy two toned toppers are completely mainstream and here are three casual budget friendly options for less than $100. Their bodies are cotton-rich with faux leather sleeves, hence the “mixed media” description. ALL options are machine washable, and fitted with adjustable drawstring belts for waist definition. 

• Steve Madden Mixed-Media High-Low Military Jacket: This option has the most design detailing, hence it’s the most expensive of the three. Check out the back detail and second colour option. Lots of pockets.

• American Rag Plus Size Faux-Leather-Sleeve Anorak Jacket (Plus): This design is simpler and more streamlined. You can chop off the extra portion of the drawstring tie if it’s bothersome. 

• H&M Mixed Media Canvas Jacket: Here’s one in a lighter colour that looks particularly fresh with pastels like pink, blue and yellow. 

These toppers are shown with jeans below, but think outside the box. They’ll work with all sorts of casual pants, and are also great over a fitted frock or pencil skirt. Wear them open or closed.

It’s the robust integrity of this type of jacket that makes it appealing to Mums on the go with small children, or when you travel. In the darker colours, it’s particularly forgiving of stains and creases, while the multi pocket design makes it pretty hands-free.