Excluding countless premium denim styles that will set you back at least $200 at full price, these two styles get my top vote for fab boyfriend jeans this season: 

• Gap 1969 sexy boyfriend jeans: These jeans have had mixed reactions from my clients because the rise is pretty high, and the crotch point hangs quite low. That said, I do have happy clients in this style and it’s definitely worth a bash. 
• KUT from the Kloth Crop Boyfriend Jeans (Plus): These are a great fit. They don’t stretch out and they run true to size.

There’s also the KUT from the Kloth “Bardot” Skinny Boyfriend Jeans that I suggested on my top picks list for the Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale because of their good fit. But they are unfortunately no longer available. If you happen to come across a pair at the Rack or on eBay, try them on! 

Boyfriend jeans are supposed to be baggy, so size up on these styles for a roomier effect if you need to. Here’s how to pull together the look in a casual ensemble, and how to get a flattering effect when you roll up the hems.

If these recommendations don’t work, size up a couple of sizes on a pair of straight leg jeans and roll up the hems. If necessary, have the hems tapered and add a belt to keep these babies from falling down. You could also have the waistband adjusted so that they stay on your hips.

Whether it is loud plaids and checks, or subtle snakeskin and herringbone tweed, patterns pack a vibrant punch that can add a fun finishing touch and make your outfit more interesting. Patterned footwear, belts and bags are an especially worthwhile investment because they work equally well for all levels of pattern adopters. 

To use a summery metaphor, you can…

• Dip your toes: If you prefer pattern in small doses, introduce it with footwear, belts and bags alone. This is a much more subtle effect than wearing pattern on clothing items.
• Go for a swim: If you’re starting to get into patterns a little more, but colour is not your thing, combine solid, neutral clothing items with patterned, neutral footwear, belts and bags. You will create the next level of visual interest without compromising your preferred neutral style palette. On trend, but within your comfort zone.
• Dive in head first: If you are a bold pattern mixing warrior, then use patterned footwear, belts and bags to amplify the pattern mixing that you already have going on in your clothing items. No need for subtlety if that’s not your style.

If you fancy the idea of incorporating pattern into your style, this is the year to do it. There is patterned EVERYTHING available in stores and the trend will carry through into the Fall. 

I love wearing patterned belts and shoes at the moment because they make my older clothes feel refreshed and “new”. I’ve moved over to Team Tuck, which means showcasing patterned belts with a tucked in top. Patterned satchels and clutches are close to my heart because I love to hold pretty packages of energy. 

As much as I adore solids, there is something about the boldness of patterned wardrobe items that energize my spirit and make me happy. I like to wear patterned footwear, belts and bags just as much as patterned clothing. Sometimes I mix up patterned shoes and accessories with solids, and sometimes with patterned clothing. I love it all! 

Do you wear patterned footwear, belts and bags? If so, how do you like to mix them up in outfits? If you don’t wear patterned shoes and accessories, why not?

Weather permitting, we walk Rosie on most afternoons. She’s a senior little pup so our walks are not at all strenuous. No hiking, running or power walking. This means that I can stay in the outfit that I am wearing for the day, be it casual, smart casual or business casual, but swap out the shoes if necessary. 

Here I’m wearing a casual outfit. It’s a typical combination for me on a warm, relaxed Summer’s day when I am not with clients. Clamdiggers plus roomy blouse and ballet flats with an extra topper if it’s chilly in the morning. Easy and minimal.

I have a thing for loosely fitting, classic linen shirts and ensure that I have a couple in my wardrobe every Summer. I love the way they slouch and crease, and look sculpturally crushed on a sunny Summer’s day. The perfect shirt in linen from J. Crew that made my top picks list last month lives up to it’s name. It is perfect. Breezy, ever so slightly tailored, lightweight, and the sleeves are scrunch-tastic. I chose neon pink because the colour makes me happy.

I like matching linen shirts with denim bottoms, and especially white denim because it amps up the crisp-factor. I prefer to wear my linen shirts un-tucked and boxy because that’s the point! I also prefer to wear closed shoes in the Summer time so that’s why I’m in ballet flats and not sandals. Gold watch,  white specs and a very matchy-matchy printed handbag are enough to accessorize the outfit. I almost left off the hectically matched handbag, but thought what the heck. Why not. 

I broke my own rule by wearing two linen items at once — the citron pullover is made of linen yarn. I like this shade of yellow with pink, so I’m fine with looking extra slouchy and creased on top on a casual day.

Rosie matched me by wearing her pink collar that day. It was a coincidence that her yellow harness also matched my outfit. This combination is our nod to the matchy-matchy trend that has been showcased all over the runways this year. I’m honoured to be walking with such a stylish and coordinated furry little lady. 

I am 100% ok with wearing impractical white bottoms and white shoes on a walk in the park. First, I don’t find that white leather shoes get all that grubby if you stay out of the mud and puddles. Second, I’m polished, but not precious. Rosie can sit on my white lap, jump up on me with her cute little grass stained paws, and crease me up even further. Nothing gets between me and our doggies, least of all white clothing. Our wardrobe items are there for us, not us for them. A laundry cycle will sort out the any residues from the park in two ticks. 

It is with a happy, but heavy heart that I wrote this post. Just like her sister Jasmine, our 12 year old Rosie has congestive heart disease. She has her good days and her not so good days. So far, thankfully, her days have been mostly good. Rosie’s favourite things in the world are walks and chicken. Seeing her so very, very happy in these photos warms our hearts. Here’s to many more days filled with walks and chicken for our precious little pup.

Resort Fashion – Style in Sun-Drenched Climates by Caroline Rennolds Milbank chronicles the history of resort wear staples and the start of the jet set era. “Crossing continents, styles and generations, we travel through the tradition of vacation style, from early beach pyjamas by Chanel and Schiaparelli to sailor stripes, to Pucci and Pulitzer prints, and, of course, to the bikini.” From Saint-Tropez to Montego Bay, renowned photographers like Newton and Scavullo have captured the most glamorous and playful fashions under the sun.

An exciting new world opened up for me when I first started shopping American clothing stores online, about five years ago. The sheer amount of unknown (to me) designers and brands was astounding, I felt like Alice in Fashion Wonderland. Exploring these new sartorial shores has been tons of fun. Along the way I realized there are a few fundamental differences between the Northern European and American apparel market:

1. Seasonal items – I live in a four-season climate with chilly, rainy Winters and relatively cool Summers. The selection in stores is always in sync with our changing weather conditions. So it was a big surprise to find shops selling sandals, breezy frocks and sleeveless tops year round. It makes perfect sense, of course, U.S. stores have to cater to shoppers in very different climate zones. 
2. Sales – Europe has two main sales periods, and that’s it. Winter clothes go on sale in January, Summer clothes in July. In comparison, the U.S. is a veritable bargain hunter’s paradise. In addition to the end-of-season sales, there are amazing deals and discounts to be found every week. And the NAS, my word, brand new Autumn and Winter merchandise discounted in the middle of July! 
3. Resort Wear – Entire collections full of chic day and evening wear to be sported on beach holidays and exotic getaways are a decidedly American phenomenon. Up until a few years ago I had never heard of resort fashion, but I do so enjoy browsing the latest resort trends while dreaming of far-flung destinations and holiday lounging in style.

It’s fascinating how retail strategies can vary from contintent to continent, or even country to country. I’m curious to hear if resort wear pops up in the shops where you live. And have you ever noticed any other remarkable differences while shopping abroad or online?

Now in YLF Book Club

We are chatting about Margaret Atwood’s 1985 dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale, the chilling story of Offred, a handmaid in the Republic of Gilead – a totalitarian state where women have no rights, their every move is being watched and a strict dress code is enforced. Join us in today’s kick-off thread to discuss this multifaceted novel.

YLF Book Club will be taking a short break over the Summer. We’ll be back in September with a bag full of new books and movies to discuss. In the meantime, do give us a shout if you’d like to recommend a title you love. Happy reading everyone!