I’m sure you have experienced this situation. You wore an item very frequently last season, yet you hardly wear it this season, if at all. The item fits well, is comfortable and is in good shape. You still like the style, the colour, and the way it makes you feel when you wear it. So why has it gone from workhorse to orphan in a single year? 

When this happens to one of my wardrobe workhorses I can usually attribute the change in status to one or more of the following three reasons: 

1. Something better came along: I’ve found other items that make me feel more fabulous than last year’s wardrobe workhorse, so I reach for those instead. The metallic tweed jacket that I wore all Spring and Summer last year, has barely come out to play this year because I reached for my citron blazer over and over again. Wearing citron made me feel happier than metallic grey.
2. Too much of a good thing: I wore this item to death last year, so although I still like it, part of me is also sick of it. I wore my Fiji Mary Janes SO MUCH last year and the year before, that I was a little sick of them this year. 
3. It’s not you, it’s me: My changing style preferences have created a new set of wardrobe workhorses. My floral body con midi dress has been waiting for an outing, but my new trouser-crazy self who prefers looser fits has been ignoring it all year.

The big question is whether to pass these items on since they haven’t had much style action in the last year. For someone who follows a strict one-in-one-out wardrobe principle, passing them on would create wardrobe space for new items. But I’m not parting with these items just yet because I still like them enough to hope that I’m going to wear them again next year. If they go through another year of being unworn, I’ll probably pass on the jacket and the shoes, but not the frock because it’s timeless and sentimental.  

Have you worn something with high frequency in one year, only to see it orphaned the next? Do my reasons for this shift resonate with you? Do you hold onto items that you haven’t worn for a year, or do you pass them on no matter what?

I’m not embarrassed to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the Twilight series of movies (I didn’t read the books). So a few weeks ago Greg, Rosie and I took a little road trip to Forks and the surrounding area, which is where the Twilight stories were set and is about four hours drive from Seattle. We had a ball! 

While there I wore this woodsy outfit, which feels to me like a combination of the styles of the main Twilight protagonists, Bella Swan and Edward Cullen. We had every intention of shooting the outfit in the Hoh rainforest near Forks, but the rainforest was true to its name and it was just too wet. So we ended up taking these photos back home in our own woodsy arboretum, minutes away from where we live. The sun unexpectedly came out to greet us, which was extra fab.

I am following my own outfit formula for bundling up for a woodsy walk. I wore a flannel shirt Bella-style, which I realize after our discussions about casual plaid shirts last week, is not everyone’s cup of tea. But I fell in love with casual plaid shirts all over again and with J.Crew’s ivory tartan shirt in particular. It’s super soft and very cozy. I like to wear it buttoned to the top with a popped collar and scrunched sleeves. I also prefer a boxy torso fit because the effect is “more boyish”. 

I’m wearing my slouchy skinnies because I prefer that silhouette tucked into mid-calf boots these days. The roominess of the proportions looks and feels refreshing to my eye. From now on, no more purchasing of tight skinnies. I’ll happily continue wearing the ones I already have, but will only purchase slouchier looks.

It’s far too cold to walk around in just a flannel shirt at the moment so I had to pack on the layers. I hinted that I wanted that classic navy and cream striped turtleneck from J.Crew. Well, I got it and couldn’t be happier with it. I often wear it on its own, layered under a jacket or coat. And it’s also fun to wear over a plaid shirt for a pattern mixed effect when the cuffs and hem peek through. The elbow patches are playful and the wool blend is itch-free.

Although I’m no longer into the rugged boots vibe for my own style, I love the few pairs I have, like my 20 eyelet Dr. Martens and these shorter brown Donald Pliner biker boots. You saw them worn with an equestrian jacket and tighter skinnies last year. They are warm, weatherproof, very comfortable and perfect for muddy, wet, slushy weather. An absolute must when you live in Seattle. 

I’ve had an ink blue wool coat on my shopping list for years. It had to be knee-length and double-breasted, with shiny buttons and a military integrity. In other words, quite androgynous. I was not prepared to compromise on this styling requirement because I needed the vibe to be classic enough so that it could be worn with just about anything. After all, mixing up timeless classics with on trend items is the foundation of my style. I eventually found exactly what I was looking for at yoox for a steal. 

Greg calls this my Edward Cullen coat, and quite right, it does remind me of the character’s style in the Twilight movies. I like this coat best worn open because the double breasted fronts hang in an interesting way. It’s pretty lightweight, which suits me fine because I already have an assortment of warmer wool coats. 

I didn’t need a scarf because I was wearing thermal undies and a turtleneck. And actually, I like the more minimal look of no-scarf. Unfortunately I forgot my black leather gloves, which would have been most welcome (it’s no coincidence that my hands are in my pockets in most of the photos). Specs, watch and wedding ring are all I need in the accessory department. No bag required for this woodsy walk. 

This outfit went from looking like I was wearing a pajama top with jeans, to a cuddly look with the layered sweater, to a tailored and strict vibe with the coat. The only girly part of the look is my blush lipstick. In fact most of the pieces in this ensemble look like they might have been bought in the menswear department. Yet I feel feminine wearing this outfit because it’s still girly me underneath the clothes.

With Christmas around the corner, comparing your preferences for red and green seems particularly appropriate. Both colours will be on the fashion radar again next year. It’s brilliant that we are finally living in a fashion era where most colours are available every season. 

You are on Team Green if you prefer green to red and vice versa. Note that ALL shades of red and green apply. From the brightest tomato red to the deepest burgundy. And from the palest mint to the darkest forest green, and everything in between.

I love both green and red. Acidic apple or lime green and tomato red are amongst my favourite colours, although I have more tomato red in my wardrobe at the moment. I can’t choose so I’m sitting this one out on the bench with stir fried noodles, fresh tofu and Jasmine tea. 

Over to you. Are you on Team Green or Team Red? Tell us why and no batting for both teams.

Sadly, holiday parties are much more casual than they used to be because we are living in an age of casualization. Helping clients prep for their parties confirms this point because few of the outfits we’ve been creating are formal and dressy. Even my own holiday outfit this year is casual. 

Matching jeans and trousers with a shiny top is a tried and tested casual holiday party formula, one which my clients still enjoy wearing. But turning the formula upside down has been going down just as well for three reasons. One, it’s different. The little shiny pant is on trend and fitting for our trouser season. Two, the assortment of fancy jeans across a variety of price points is prolific. And three, fancy jeans have style life beyond the holidays. 

Fancy jeans come in all sorts. Liquid metallic like gold and silver. Brocade, lace, embossed and embroidered styles are other options. Go for an eye-catching look like bright gold, or a more subtle one like tonal black brocade. Remember that you can size up fancy skinnies to create a slouchier look. No need to sport the extra tight vibe if you prefer more room.

Once you’ve found a pair of fancy jeans, it’s on to matching it with a top. You have many options, some of which are more casual than others:

• Sweater: Think fine gauge cashmere and merino wool blends, lace pullovers, or thick chunky knits. Keep them fairly roomy to offset the body con effect of the skinny bottom. You could also layer an unbuttoned cardigan over a top if pullovers are not your thing. 
• Jacket: Think basic blazer, lace jacket, tuxedo jacket or tweed jacket. Pattern mix! 
• Knitted Top: Think simple solid tops for very shiny jeans, or add sparkle to subtle styles. 
• Blouse: An untucked lace blouse or a silk style with collar and cuff embellishment works well. A button down shirt, scrunched at the sleeves, is a more casual and boyish pairing. 

I like fancy jeans matched with low or high heeled pointy pumps. Dressy flats, peep-toe pumps, peep-toe booties and booties are another option. Personally I prefer dressy footwear with fancy jeans, especially if you’re keeping the rest of the ensemble casual. 

Carry a clutch to finish off the look because there isn’t another bag that is going to look quite as fab. Remember that clutches often come with short shoulder or wrist straps, so carrying them across your body or on your wrist can be an easy hands free solution. 

After the holidays, dress down fancy jeans with items like denim shirts, denim jackets, moto jackets, plaid shirts, trendy sweatshirts, big Tees, and casual footwear like suede booties or Fryes. The fancy jean is actually a lot more versatile than you might expect.