Snakeskin is often more subtle than cheetah, leopard or zebra patterns, which might be more your cup of tea. Wear it in the form of an accessory and it’s one way of adding depth to your outfit because it represents both pattern and texture. The snakeskin bag and belt below are great value and pretty good quality. But above all, they are versatile because they can be dressed up or down, pattern mixed, and have high longevity. 

• Natasha Couture Foldover Snake Embossed Clutch: This clutch shape is fab because it’s structured, lightweight and roomy as far as clutch handbags go. It also has an optional short shoulder strap, and comes in green, blue, pink and tan. 

• Calvin Klein 1 1/4″ Reversible Polished Nickle Logo Buckle Belt: A simple modern classic design that is great with jeans or trousers. This style is reversible, so you’ll score an additional simple black belt for the price of one. 

It has reached the stage where I think of a subtle snakeskin pattern, like the one shown in the belt, as a “false plain”. A false plain is a subtle monochromatic texture or pattern that acts like a solid. I think of glen plaids and some tweeds and houndstooth patterns in the same way.

A turtleneck (or “polo neck” as I a grew up calling them) is a very high neckline that covers most of the neck. Turtlenecks are generally close-fitting, but can also fit further away from the neck providing a roomier fit. You’ll find turtlenecks on knitwear, tops and dresses. 

Working with clients with varying body types, I’ve found that their reactions to turtlenecks are mixed. Some enjoy wearing turtlenecks more than any other neckline. Some will only wear one as a layering piece or as a necessity for cozy warmth. Others won’t wear turtlenecks at all. 

These mixed reactions make sense when we examine the pros and cons of turtleneck proportions. Whether you like wearing a turtleneck can depend on your body type, style persona, the climate where you live, and whether you run hot or cold. 

Pros of Turtlenecks

• Keeps you toasty warm
• Provides a sleek and streamlined effect when worn in a form fitting thin gauge knit 
• A classic silhouette with high longevity
• Shortens the length of the neck 
• Visually increases the size of the bust
• A great layering piece 

Cons of Turtlenecks

• Causes overheating if you run warm or live in mild weather year round
• Makes you feel claustrophobic with no room to breathe
• Shortens the length of the neck
• Visually increases the size of the bust
• Looks overly classic, sporty, strict or masculine 

Turtlenecks are my favourite neckline because of the pros listed above. I run cold, which makes the coverage of a turtleneck ideal. I like the way a turtleneck shortens my long neck (which looks even longer because of my super short hair and narrow shoulder line) by providing ample structure. Lastly, in a sleek fine gauge knit, the simplicity of the masculine silhouette appeals to my minimal and modern classic style persona. Basic form fitting turtlenecks are a wardrobe essential for my style. 

The cons above generally resonate with my clients who don’t like turtlenecks. They feel that turtlenecks strangle their bodies. They run too warm to wear turtlenecks. The style further shortens their necks, or draws too much attention to their bust line, thereby making the girls look larger. 

I do also have clients with shorter necks and larger bust lines who enjoy wearing turtlenecks. By visually elongating the turtleneck with scarves, pendants and unbuttoned blazers, or wearing a turtleneck collar that stands further away from the neck, they look and feel fab.

And then I have small busted clients with long necks who loathe wearing turtlenecks because the style is unfeminine and not at all alluring and flirty. 

Such a mixed bag of feelings about the turtleneck! What is most interesting is that the things that I find appealing about a turtleneck are precisely the things that turn others away from the style. Give me a form fitting black turtleneck and I feel at my most alluring. 

What’s your take on turtleneck style? Do you wear this high neckline? Do you agree with the pros and cons listed here?

I instantly fell in love with this twinset when I saw it online. Yet I do not wear cardigans, nor do I wear oxblood, lilac and mint. Somehow its cropped length, cashmere comfort, ladylike integrity, twin character, retro vibe, and clashing colour palette appealed to me in a big way. Although hectic to some, this set screamed “happy” to me, and wearing happy clothes makes me happy. It was once again raining during our photo shoot, so good thing I have lots of happy clothes. 

Granted, it’s the bright persimmon parts of the twinset that sealed the deal, and the only reason why I’m wearing oxblood, lilac and mint at all. And I would not have bought the twinset if the persimmon stripe of the under sweater was positioned away from my face. As long as I wear colours that don’t typically work for me with shades that do, I can create a flattering visual effect. 

The cropped length of the twinset makes it an ideal proportional match for flared skirts, which is why I paired it with a dressy, box-pleated charcoal midi. My flared black skirt was another option, but the grey is softer with the clashing colours of the tops, so I went with that. The cardigan can be partially closed under the bust point to create a structured look. But I prefer to wear it unbuttoned because I like the boxiness factor and the patterned effect of the mismatched twin stripes. Scrunching the sleeves adds a relaxed touch. I have frequently worn this twinset with boyfriend jeans and trousers this season. It also works with my tomato red pencil skirt, but because I am into wearing flared skirts at the moment, I haven’t worn that combination yet.

The midi skirt is patterned with a tiny geometric square that makes it feel like a false plain. Pattern mixing the twinset with the skirt is not everyone’s cup of tea, but to me the combination feels fresh, fun and on trend. Like I mentioned in a previous post, I don’t wear jewelry, which makes mixed patterns my bling. 

I’ve had the grey square-toed studded one inch heeled ballet flats for years and like them matched with the skirt. Heeled booties or shooties would have looked more hip, but I was in the mood for “pretty” so went with those. To add to the pretty, I kept my legs cozy with sheer black hose. Opaques would have looked overly harsh with the outfit. I finished off my indoor look with retro black specs, silver watch, wedding ring, and a small black clutch. Subtle and not eye-catching because the twinset makes enough of a statement on its own. 

For outside, I topped off the outfit with a short, wool charcoal coat that I used to love a lot more than I do right now. I bought it before I had my style epiphany a few years ago at a time when I occasionally liked wearing items with complicated style detailing. Now I look at this coat and see a complex vibe that does not gel with current style preferences. There is too much detail, too much ruffle, and not enough simplicity. But I am not ready to let the coat go just yet. It’s beautifully made, toasty warm, fits well, reminds me of my late Mum, and I still enjoy wearing it with this skirt or a pair of jeans. Enough reasons to hold on to it for a little longer. 

I wore this outfit last week on Thanksgiving Day because it is dressy yet casual, neutral yet colourful, structured yet roomy, modern yet classic, and minimal yet maximal. The opposing juxtapositions felt just right for a festive day of eating and reflection with dear friends.

Patent leather made a huge fashion comeback about nine years ago. Some thought that the trend wouldn’t stick around, but my word it has, becoming extremely popular and totally mainstream. It’s available year round, in huge quantities, in all sorts of items, and in many colours. Footwear, bags and belts can also be trimmed with patent for a less shiny effect.

You are on Team Patent Leather if you like patent and you are on Team Non-Patent Leather if you don’t. It’s as simple as that. Note that you do not need to like patent more than other types of leather to bat for the team. You just have to consider it a viable alternative to other leather treatments.

I love patent leather, both smooth and cracked. I have plenty of footwear, bags and belts made of patent  and frequently incorporate these items into my style. I also have a black moto jacket with cracked patent trim. I often prefer the patent version of a particular item because it looks dressier and more polished. And since I bat for Team Dressy and Team Polished, this makes sense! I’m a high shine gal with the magpie gene. Team Patent Leather. 

Over to you. Are you Team Patent or Team Non-Patent Leather? Tell us why and no batting for both sides.