Here are some musings about fashion, style and retail to wrap up the year. Of course, there is no right or wrong here because these are subjective opinions and based on my own experiences. Feel free to agree, disagree, and add to my list because it’s all in good fun. 

• Best Customer Service: Amazon, Zappos and Nordstrom. 
• Fashion Editor With The Best Style: Emmanuelle Alt. 
• Ugliest Shoe: Jeffery Campbell’s Over SP Boot.
• Best Trends: Trousers, colours and booties.  
• Worst Fashion Trends: Leg shortening cropped pants and over the top heel heights. 
• Most Saturated Items in Retail: Cropped Pants, cardigans, rugged boots and sky-scraping platforms.  
• Worst Colour: Soul Sucking Beige. 
• Best Part About Today’s Fashion: It celebrates an infinite variety of stylish possibilities. We are finally living in a fashion era that is accepting and encouraging of all sorts of outfit juxtapositions and silhouettes. Long may it last. 
• Worst Part About Today’s Fashion: Casualization. 
• Most Underrated Fashion Accessory: Nude hose. Seeing very stylish women in Japan sport nude hose with grace and spunk has changed my mind about the item forever. 
• Best YLF Muse: Rosie.
• Favourite Accessories: Patterned belts and daytime clutch. 
• Best Dressed Blokes: Greg and Daniel Craig. 
• Best Part about YLF: Working with Greg, our organic growth, the global integrity of our readership, and the high level of engagement of our community. 
• Worst Part about YLF: Not being able to see Inge regularly because we live on opposite sides of the world. 
• Most Unexpected Fashion Moment: Interviewing Stacy London and having a ball.  
• Most Unexpected Purchase: Blush moto jacket. 
• Worst Purchase of the Year: Kate Spade blouse because it creases on the arms which drives me batty. 
• Most Exciting Retailer: Zara. Their ability to interpret the latest trends at affordable prices with busloads of sophistication and panache in less than a fortnight blows my mind. I absolutely love their style integrity and this year was one of the best seasons I’ve seen Zara put together. 
• Most Disappointing Retailer: Zara. Their clothing quality is extremely inconsistent, which is just as mind blowing as their killer style integrity. Sometimes, you can literally throw a garment away because it falls apart. 
• Most Interesting Business Observation: They say you should never work with friends and family, and for obvious reasons this makes good sense. Yet, I work with Greg (hubby) and Inge (a close friend) daily and it’s an absolute pleasure. Morgan (another good friend) works with Greg on the phone apps and they also have a marvelous working relationship. I guess we got lucky with our working relationships. 
• Most Important Part of a Style Journey: To have fun along the way. 
• Best Thing About Our Bodies: They are never wrong. Clothes can be wrong, but our bodies are always right. 

To end off the year, here are some of the outfits that made me happiest in 2012. Be it their nostalgic component, the silhouettes, comfort factor, colour combinations, fabric integrities, or because they were one of Greg’s favourites. But more importantly, each outfit has a happiness factor of 11 out of 10. And the happiness-factor of an outfit wins hands down no matter what. 

Faux fur is in style every year. You’ll see entire garments like coats, vests, shawls and jackets made out of faux fur. Or it’s used as a trim on those items, as well as on footwear and accessories. Faux fur is often neutrally toned because it resembles real fur more closely that way. But you’ll also find it in all sorts of colours just for fun. 

Last year was a particularly huge faux fur season. Faux fur vests, jackets and coats galore. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re off faux fur because of the retail saturation. That’s certainly one way to wean you off a trend. 

I have loved faux fur since I was little. I’ve always had something faux fur in my wardrobe, be it in the form of a full garment or as a garment trim. I like the texture of soft faux fur and its dramatic effect, although I’m fussy about the type that tickles my fancy. Not too hairy, not too plush, and not too reminiscent of real fur. I like faux fur to look a bit artificial, retro and fun. I also prefer it in full garment form as opposed to a trim. I like it in neutrals and colours. At the moment I don’t have a lot of faux fur in my wardrobe at all. One retro vest and that is it. That’s okay because small doses of faux fur is fine by me. I vote yay. 

My clients differ greatly about their feelings on faux fur. Some prefer real fur, while others can’t stand fur in any shape or form. Others will wear faux fur as a trim but not as a garment. Some will wear faux fur as a garment or trim and love every second of it. 

What’s your verdict?

You are on Team ’80s if you prefer ’80s fashion or ’80s inspired fashion. You are on Team ’60s if you prefer ’60s fashion or ’60s inspired fashion. Note: today’s fashion that is inspired by the decade but not actually of that decade counts towards your preference. 

This is hard. Apart from today’s fashion, these are my favourite fashion eras. I love ’60s fashion because the start of the era is very ladylike, polished and dressy, whereas the latter part is mod, graphic and fun. 

I love ’80s fashion because 1981 is when I first started to really enjoy fashion. Throughout high school, when I wasn’t wearing a school uniform or horse riding gear, I was experimenting with fashion. It was the era of the music video and I savoured every fashion statement that was made by my pop icons at the time. Oh, how fab we thought we looked in our hectically oversized tops and jackets, shoulder pads, studded belts, neon, colour blocked pumps, teased and peroxided hair, ultra violet lipstick, flat oxfords, pleated high-waisted pants, and jeans that nearly cut off our circulation. I had so much fun with fashion in the ’80s. 

Today I still gravitate towards styles with a ’60s or ’80s vibe, although the incarnations are modern and current. Both eras hold a very special place in my heart. But I’m determined not to be benched this week so I’m going with Team ’80s because I’m especially nostalgic about the decade. Those magical style feelings when you’re a teen are very memorable.

Over to you. Are you Team ’80s or Team ’60s? If neither eras appeal to you, or you can’t decide between the two, you’re sitting this one out on the bench with lemon meringue pie, coconut macaroons and a cup of Lady Grey tea.

This batch of pickings is for Team Casual and Team Neutral. Be sure to check out all the colour options and read the rave reviews. 

1. Paige Coated Sleeve Denim Jacket (Owen): If denim jackets are a wardrobe essential, try this two toned topper to change things up. The waxed black sleeves add a fab textural effect to your outfit. Runs small and long in the sleeve. Father Christmas generously placed this darling under our tree and I’m as happy as a clam. 
2. MICHAEL Michael Kors Perforated Belt Bag: I LOVED this when I tried it on in stores. Hands-free, minimal and interesting. I preferred the bag positioned much more to one side than to the front as the photo shows. A great look for single layer dressing. 
3. Fossil Perforated Leather Belt: Relaxed, semi-tucked tops look great with belts. This perforated style is pretty and particularly nice in both shades of brown. 
4. Vince Camuto Check Pattern Sweater: Graphic, fitted and fun for Spring. 
5. Nic + Zoe Bateau Neck Mix Knit Sweater: The high-low hemline has its advantages. Tailored yet roomy at the same time. 
6. Zella Soft Shell Jacket: Stretchy, fitted, comfy, sporty, and a little military inspired. Perfect layered under a coat. 
7. Jag Jeans ‘Rupert’ Denim Jacket (Plus): Great value for a piece that will have a high degree of style longevity. 
8. Sejour Quilt Trim Ponte Knit Jacket (Plus): Casual yet crisp, and not black. Nice fit and best worn open. 
9. Frye ‘Vintage Stud’ Crossbody Bag: This distressed number will age with grace. 
10. KUT from the Kloth ‘Litta’ Top: The magpies amongst us might like a little daytime sparkle with their casual wear. 
11. Splendid Stripe Cowl Neck Sweater: Super easy and lightweight with interesting bias cut side and back panels. 
12. Everybody ‘Patto’ Short Boot: Relaxed but not rugged. Fab new shaft height and super with all sorts of bottoms. 

Casual items like these are ideal for gal-on-the-go and weekend wear. Some of the items can be used to dress down dressier looks. Our age of casualization has its versatile advantages.