With Autumn gone and Winter in full swing, it’s a great time to check in on how you’re working through the must haves list that I posted earlier in the season. I’ll go first:

1. Booties: Check, check, and check. I’m wearing flat and low heeled versions daily along with my shooties. And I still feel that I could add more to this capsule because I wear booties and shooties for nine months of the year. I love my patterned and colour blocked shooties best. 
2. Trousers: Check! I’m trouser-crazy, wear trousers all the time, and there is still lots of room for experimentation. I am LOVING the trouser trend and have to restrain myself from buying up every style that tickles my fancy. 
3. Leather: Check. I have plenty of leather jackets and a leather trimmed pair of wide black trousers. I would still like to get a leather paneled top. 
4. Texture: Check. I already have a texture-rich wardrobe but I did add a few pairs of tweed trousers, texturally-rich clutch handbags, flannel, and chunky knits. 
5. Pattern: Check. I so enjoy wearing patterned belts with patterned footwear and bags! They are excellent pattern mixing tools, and surprisingly, I pattern mix my outfits quite a bit. Patterned belts are constantly on my wish list because I can wear them all year. They often provide just the right finishing touch to my outfits. I also wear patterned bottoms, and patterned pullovers in argyles and stripes. At the moment I am wearing fewer scarves because I prefer the simpler version of the outfit. But when it’s very cold, I have to wear a scarf, and usually wear a patterned one. 
6. Colour: Check. I have a few very bright coats and plenty of bright pullovers. I need those to get through a grey Seattle Winter and Spring. 
7. A Chunky Item of Knitwear: Check. This was a harder item to purchase than I thought because of the itch-factor. I eventually found three chunky pullovers in cream, blush and ink blue. I am thrilled that I dipped my toes into the chunky knit trend just to change things up, but I still bat for Team Fine Gauge Knitwear. 
8. Something Burgundy: A very small check. I look awful in burgundy, but my new twinset is colour blocked with burgundy so that’s my tiny nod to the trend. I will not be purchasing any burgundy items.
9. Something Metallic: Check. Gold jeans.
10. Something Oversized: Check. I like the oversized trend, but don’t want to look like I’m being swallowed up by my clothes. The right oversized fit is imperative and I pay a great deal of attention to this detail. I have lots of oversized tops and pullovers. I also enjoy wearing oversized jeans and trousers. In fact, my tailored fits are generally looser than the norm because I bat for Team Looser Clothes. 
11. Something Lace: Check. The lace top that my Dad bought for my birthday works well over a button down shirt for colder weather. It will probably work as well over a fitted black turtleneck. 
12. Daytime Clutch: Check. This is my favourite handbag trend at the moment and I sport the look frequently. 
13. Something Out of Your Comfort Zone: Check. Embracing pastels in Autumn and Winter has felt refreshing. My blush moto has become a favourite although the colour was out of my comfort zone. Now, I want to embrace more pastels for Winter and Spring. I haven’t worn a chunky knit pullover for 20 years, and have never worn wide leg trousers. Now I’m happily wearing these items too. Triple check. Finally, I’ve had my eye on a pair of roomy leather track pants for a while but their cost, even on sale, keeps turning me off. 

Our Springs feel like Winters, so we have many more months of cold, rainy, grey weather ahead of us. This means that I can still add to my Winter wardrobe and the items will be put to very good use. It’s when flimsy, but pretty, Spring and Summer items start hitting stores in January that I have to show self-restraint because I won’t be able to wear those warm weather clothes until June.  

Your turn. How is your Winter wardrobe shaping up? And how much were you able to shop your closet for items on the list. Finally, although I call this a “must haves” list it is all in good fun and there is no need to follow every season’s trends to the letter. So be sure to also let us know which of the trends you’ll be passing by.

As much as I love colour, the minimalist in me is forever drawn to the strong, graphic vibe of simple black and white outfits. That’s why I tremendously enjoy browsing blogs like Darkified – a tumblelog covering (mostly) goth-inspired style, fashion and accessories, and pinboards such as “Style in Black and White“.

We’ve been seeing lots of gorgeous white and light blue in the Spring 2013 Collections, but Focus On Style reports that basic black is also back on trend.

Fashionistas, models, actors and street style bloggers are living proof that there are countless brilliant ways to wear black and white, both casually and for more dressy occasions.

Fab Links from Our Members

The iconic Chanel 2.55 in action blows Angie away each time. With sneakers, with a sweat top, with crop top and trousers, a tee, and of course, with tweed. Versatile and pretty timeless.

Nancylee informs us that emerald is the Pantone colour for 2013.

With sketches and photos Parisian tailor Paul Grassart describes the basis of mastering the peak lapel. Menswear fan Vildy loved seeing how the lapel placement and notch angle can impact the width of the torso or shoulders.

Raisin found this article about buying good-quality cashmere on More Intelligent Life very helpful.

Have you ever wondered what happens after you click “Place your order” on Amazon? Ornella highly recommends watching this five-minute BBC video explaning the logistics process. Fascinating indeed!

Bomber jackets took street style — the best fashion off the runway — by storm during fashion week in September and October earlier this year. Bombers were being paired with just about anything, from jeans, trousers and skinnines, to mini skirts, dresses, short shorts and leather leggings. 

The bomber jacket is a fringe trend at the moment. Some of the styles look like authentic Varsity jackets whereas others are less sporty in nature. The less sporty styles are usually “mixed media”, and made up of fabrications like leather, pleather, silk, sequins and lace. Some fits are oversized whereas others are cropped and more tailored. 

I like the trend and vote yay. I do jackets in a big way so I’m constantly on the lookout for new styles that tickle my fancy. The lace bomber pictured below grabbed my attention and I liked it when I tried it on in stores. It’s dressier than the sporty versions and I love lace. I enjoyed the roomy fit when worn open with scrunched sleeves. So fun! The only thing that is holding me back from purchasing it is its lack of collar. My long neck and super short hair prefer a jacket with a proper collar that can be popped for extra structure. So I’m still thinking about the lace bomber.  

Few of my clients have been bitten by the bomber jacket trend. Many of them find the styling unflattering and boxy, too sporty and masculine, juvenile, or overly trendy. What’s your verdict?

This week’s Nordstrom roundup is for Team Shoes. Be sure to look at all the colour options and read the rave reviews. 

1. Cole Haan Skylar Oxford: This is a WOW shoe that I have my eye on in blue because of its unique metallic finish. Beautifully made, arch supporting, comfortable, and on trend. Boyish and fab. Available in blue, pinot noir and silver. 
2. Aquatalia by Marvin K Xcellent Bootie: It’s a hundred percent puddle-proof like all footwear by this brand and so, so comfortable. The vented front top is genius because it allows for extra easy movement while striding. A perfect Spring bootie in taupe. 
3. Schutz Sabrina Bootie: Festive! A little flat for those who do not like to wear flat shoes so consider yourself warned. Perfect for Spring in the ivory although the black is more dramatic. The sequins might come off after considerable wear.
4. Grey City ‘Mosh’ Bootie: Give this one a go if platforms are your thing. The fit is tailored and the detailing interesting. 
5. Jeffrey Campbell ‘Everly’ Bootie: A great bootie for warmer weather that looks best worn sans hose or socks. 
6. Anyi Lu ‘Serena’ Pump: Anyi Lu makes beautiful, ladylike, low heeled, comfy footwear. The interesting strap detail makes for an eye-catching change on a tried and tested timeless pointy toed pump. 
7. Jeffrey Campbell ‘Holmby’ Oxford: A menswear inspired shoe if ever there was one. Loving the metal capped heel and buckled strap. And the toe box is pointy enough to look feminine.
8. Ivanka Trump ‘Dalia’ Pump: Retro, pretty and very Cinderella. I’m doing low heeled pointy toed pumps in a big way for Spring and Summer. 
9. Steve Madden ‘Twynkle’ Studded Sneaker: Studded sneakers make me smile, and these are distressed to start off with. Punk meets sporty gal with a whole lot of urban thrown into the mix.
10. Kickers ‘Heroine’ Boot: A casual mid-calf moto-inspired boot in a statement colour with a tailored fit. 
11. Fidji ‘Claudia’ Boot: Another casual mid-calf boot, only this time with equestrian straps that are fitted through the ankle. 

Last week’s roundup covered fancy jackets in time for those last minute holiday outfit frenzies. We’ll take things down a casual notch for next week’s round up.