Belts are featuring strongly at the moment for two reasons. First, it’s a trouser season which means filling out those belt loops when tucking or semi tucking tops. Second, belts create structure when an oh-so-on-trend unstructured silhouette is not your cup of tea.

Here’s a good selection of belts that can be worn on the waist or a little lower on the hips. 

• Michael Kors Animal Print Leopard Belt: This belt is smooth and printed, which makes for a great change to the hairy animal print belt variety.  
• Express Colour Block Buckle Belt: Love the horizontal colour blocking. 
• BP. Multitone Belt: Wide and textured. Great on a high-low dress or skirt. 
• Snake Cummerbund Belt: Just what you need to rein in a billowing tunic. 
• C-Buckle Textured Belt: Gorgeous looped through white jeans or trousers. 
• Pewter Cracked Leather Round Belt: A versatile denim belt. 
• Street’s Ahead Wide Anaconda Print Italian Belt: A statement on all styles of trousers and jeans. 
• Street’s Ahead Python Print Italian Belt: Great on a dress. 
• Streets Ahead Studded Belt with Beads: Fun with casual outfits. 
• Street’s Ahead Studded Distressed Ivory Belt: This one is my favourite because the metals are mixed and the vibe of the studs is soft and pretty as opposed to hard edged.

Are you a regular belt wearer? If so, what types of belts do you like to wear? Or do you prefer not to wear belts at all.

I’m married to a man who eats, sleeps and drinks computer technology. He has been programming since he was thirteen and has a Ph.D. in electronics. Me? I was a late adopter. I got my first email address in 1998 and browsed the internet for the first time in 2002. I didn’t know that the word “blog” existed until hubby Greg suggested that I start one in 2006.

So it’s ABSOLUTELY CRAZY that I’m now the co-founder of an online fashion and style website that I love with all my heart. That I spend large amounts of time on my computer writing for it, sometimes on my laptop from planes and airports and hotel rooms. That I use my phone to take photos of in-store fashion and share them instantly. That I can give realtime feedback to someone using our mobile app to ask for input on a pair of trousers that they are trying on in a dressing room thousands of miles away.

I’m like 007 using all sorts of clever gadgets, and feeling more like the cool Mr. Bond than one of his girls.

Technology has exploded in the fashion and style world over the last 10 years. I can write something on YLF and thousands of people all over the world can read what I write because the Internet connects us instantly and seamlessly. Crazy! Thousands of fashion bloggers are each essentially creating their own uniquely compelling fashion magazine. Traditional fashion magazines are great, but the celebration of age, budget, body type and style diversity on the Internet cannot be beat. Fashion and style has never been as enriching and inclusive, or as fun.

Even more exciting than blogging are the online communities we are building. Technology allows us to connect with one another and establish ties that are often as meaningful as the ones we have in “real life”. From Mumbai to Perth, Cape Town to Toronto, New York to Hong Kong, Lisbon to Edinburgh and Berlin to the Bahamas. We can share what’s on our minds at any time of day or night and get a response to our thoughts almost immediately. Mind blowing. 

Then there’s the world of phone apps. Did you ever think that your phone could be an important style tool? Did you imagine that you would be taking photos with your phone and posting them on the internet? I didn’t. Yet today, I use my phone to take photos in retail stores so that I can post helpful information for YLF readers about bargains, fab finds, items that my clients purchased, or interesting trends. I tweet and post on Instagram when I have a snippet to share, and check my weather app for rain so that I can dress accordingly.

Nowhere is computing technology’s inroads into fashion more immediately obvious than at New York Fashion Week. You can’t look anywhere without seeing someone talking, texting or tweeting into their phone. Or using their phone to take pictures. Much to the dismay of the old pros, there are even bloggers on the media riser using their iPhone to take pictures and immediately send them out to followers. And those who aren’t live-blogging from their phones are cramming into special places that the organizers set up so bloggers can use their laptops to publish from inside the show tent.

And this year all the show organizers were using iPads. Of course.

A decade ago I would have shrugged my shoulders and rolled my eyes at the idea of people posting their outfits online so that we can admire, be inspired by, and learn from them. Today I’m embarrassed to admit that I was so closed minded because I have dedicated my life to these activities. My transition from complete luddite to technology lover is very much part of my style journey. I definitely missed out by resisting it, but no more! Now I’m making up for lost time and learning new tricks.

Perhaps most fun of all: Technology and style, which used to be two separate, mutually exclusive interests for Greg and me respectively, are now completely overlapping! I never thought that these worlds would collide, but they have, and my style life is better for it.

We’ve come so far between 2002 and 2012, I can’t help but think about where we’ll be in 2022. What new technological wonders will be enhancing our experience of fashion and style? Please share your thoughts about the future, and tell us how technology is impacting your world of fashion and style today.

Partner

This poll is especially for those who like to wear jewel tones. You are on Team Purple if you prefer to wear purple wardrobe items. You are on Team Teal if you prefer to wear teal wardrobe items. Think clothing, footwear and accessories. Think all shades of purple and teal. 

I am not a jewel toned gal. I favour crisp sour brights like tomato red, citron, lime green, bright turquoise and shocking pink. I do not wear teal and have zero teal wardrobe items. I wear a little bit of bright and mid toned purple, but not much at all. I have two purple pullovers and one dress. This puts me onto Team Purple.  

Over to you. Are Team Purple or Team Teal? Tell us why and no batting for both teams.

After viewing many, many shows at Fashion Week, browsing the internet, flipping through magazines, working with clients at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale last week, and throwing in my own hunches, here’s my take on the top trends for this Fall and Winter. 

The first three are particularly interesting because style “opposites” are equally on trend.

1. Unstructured versus Structured Silhouettes: There is a HUGE movement back to baggy, oversized, NON-waist-defining tops, knitwear, bottoms and coats. Even more so than last season. But at the same time, form fitting clothing is also on trend. And of course, perfectly tailored pieces that are neither overly form fitting or boxy are classic, flop proof and timeless. 
2. Pattern Mixing versus Matchy-Matchy: On the one hand there’s the hectically mismatched pattern mixing trend, where items clash to the extent that they end up working in harmomy. On the other hand, heavily matched outfits are fashion forward. 
3. Geometric versus Florals: On the one hand there’s the romantic and soft vibe of a floral. On the other hand there’s the severity of a geometric and checked pattern. Better yet, wear both in one outfit.  
4. Colour: Colour is still strong. From pastels and mid tones, to spicy earth tones, jewel tones, and brights. That’s ALL colours covered along with a splendid assortment of neutrals. What more can we ask for as far as colours go. This is BRILLIANT. 
5. Trousers: It’s still a trouser season in ALL it’s variations. Skinny, straight, bootcut, flared, slouchy, wide leg, culottes, cropped, very short, solid, patterned, lace, brocade, pleated, flat front, checked, striped, soft, rigid, textured, high rise, low rise and dropped crotch. Everything. Sorry skirt and dress lovers. It’s just not your season. 
6. Reds: Deep reds are it. From the richest maroon, merlot, crimson, burgundy and bordeaux all the way to fire engine and bright tomato red. Emphasis this season is on burgundy and merlot. 
7. Whites: Creams and Winter whites will be strong in all wardrobe items. Perhaps Winter white will be the next black. 
8. Menswear Inspirations: It’s all about suiting, strict blazers, button down shirts/blouses and NOT wearing these items as tight as seasons past. Think Marlene Dietrich, Ellen DeGeneres and Katherine Hepburn.
9. Peplums: On tops and jackets. 
10. Leather Trim: Leather clothing like jackets, skirts, tops, dresses, shorts, trousers and skinnies are as big as they ever were, but leather trim is also on trend. Think leather panels and insets, leather piping and tipping, and leather welted pockets.
11. Sci-Fi Metallics: Shiny fabrics in graphic silhouettes are so on trend. Think of items that you would normally wear during the day, yet they have lots of gold and silver thread woven into them. Silver and gold booties and boots! Space-age fashion is making its fun, fashion mark. 
12. Booties, Shooties, Slipper Flats, Oxfords and Loafers: These peds are the look of the season, both in heeled and flat versions. Knee-high and mid calf boots in rugged, equestrian, over-the-knee and classic dressy silhouettes are always in style, but it’s their shorter, high vamped cousin that’s more on trend. 

We can also look forward to Baroque style inspirations, bejeweled clothing, wearing socks with pumps, Oriental patterns and motifs, and military looks.

I love all of these trends! How about you?