When Angie first posted that she would be coming to Chicago in mid-March and would love to get together with area YLFers, the wheels starting turning. Could I drive to Chicago from my nearby state? Could I actually take part in one of these gatherings that I had read about? Yes! Soon I received a personal message from Sveta. She was considering coming from Canada: Could she drive to my house, then we would drive to Chicago together? Of course! 

As the plans progressed and our numbers grew (13 total, including 6 out-of-staters and Sveta), Chicago local Laura fearlessly coordinated our shopping and dining itinerary. We would all meet at a bakery in Chicago for breakfast on St. Patrick’s Day, then shop, then lunch, then shop some more.

Sveta and I arrived in Chicago on Friday afternoon, dropped our stuff off at our hotels, and made a beeline for H&M and Nordstrom Rack, where we met up with MNSara. Sara had been shopping and had actually run into Angie in the All Saints department at Bloomingdales! How fun is that? After some frantic shopping (I scored a Marni for H&M blouse and a fab Hanii Y coat at the Rack), we freshened up at our hotels and met for dinner. I had a lovely meal, but the highlight for me was my trio of house-made gelato for dessert: espresso, salted caramel, and hazelnut-chocolate. Sara and Sveta both declined dessert—madness, I say!

Where was I? Oh yes, back to meeting Angie, all the other YLFers, and shopping! By 8:30 a.m. on Saturday when I was making my way to the bakery for breakfast, many Chicagoans were already strolling about dressed in crazy St. Pat’s finery, lining up outside of bars, and preparing for the parade. It was quite a scene, and it would only intensify as the day wore on and the temperature reached close to 80 degrees. In Chicago. In March. When there is usually still snow on the ground.

When I got to the bakery, I was so excited! I think I saw Marianna first—I instantly recognized her in her snappy black and white striped blazer and lovely blue silk blouse. I quickly met Laura, Nakidra, and Raclar. Everyone looked gorgeously coordinated and luminous in graphic prints and bright colors. Then I saw Angie, looking impeccable in her cream polka dot silk blouse, red slim bootcut trousers, leopard belt, and cream booties (not that I was staring at Angie’s outfit or anything), and was treated with a big hug and the warmest smile. Soon more and more fabulous Fabbers arrived. We were joined by Beth Ann, bj1111, Julie, MNSara, Susan, Sveta, and Traci, all looking wonderful and ready to take on Chicago. We spent a good hour chatting boisterously and laughing constantly at the bakery, before heading to the Rack. Since this was a different Rack from the one I had shopped at the day before, I was ready for more sweet finds!

Angie moved about the Rack very authoritatively, and we all fanned out looking for bargains. Sveta found Paige jeans that were long enough to wear 2” heels with, Sara found a beautiful colorblocked bag, Beth Ann found a pair of adorable Miz Mooz heels, and Angie found an eye-catching throw pillow (Me: “What will you do with it on the plane?” Quick-tongued Angie: “I will sit on it!”). I found a fascinating DVF kimono-esque drop-waist tunic that Laura has spotted in the racks as well as a pair of Paige skinny jeans. (Me, lifting up my shirt to show Angie my rearside in the dressing room area: “Does my butt look too flat?” Angie: “Not at all!”). Many other wonderful purchases were made, but frankly I lost track of everything after a certain point! Bj1111 surely wins the prize for most fabulous find, and I was there to witness it. I was standing near her when I heard her shout “Junya Watanabe! Junya Watanabe!” She was clutching an exquisite black leather coat/cape from the renowned Japanese designer. It combined a corset-like fit in front with a swingy cape in back. She put it on and it followed her curves like a tailor-made glove. Futuristic Jetsetter meets Batwoman meets Intellectual Visionary meets Bold Style Risk-taker. Readers, she took it home with her.

Next stop, the enormous flagship Macy’s (formerly the venerable Marshall Field’s, RIP). Angie was looking for a dress to wear to a wedding, Sveta was looking for packable jersey dresses to take with her to France, and the rest of us were happy to browse and chat. The store was enormous and quite overwhelming, but we quickly settled in and found our shopping groove. Both Angie and Sveta were successful in filling their wardrobe gaps, and we had fun trying on all sorts of goodies. More patterned pants for me! At this point we were feeling our collective blood sugar crash as our breakfast cupcakes and coffee were wearing off. Luckily our next stop was lunch at the Burnham Hotel, where we were joined by the charming and fabulous Greg.

As we were arriving at the restaurant, I heard the host say to one of the YLFers: “Do you all work in some sort of industry where you have to dress nicely?” Well, I thought to myself, it’s something like that… Lunch was delicious and so much fun! We talked and laughed more, and refueled for a bit more shopping. Outside, we posed amidst the stream of green-clad Chicagoans while Greg took some group photographs.

Sadly, our time together was beginning to wind down. We returned to Macy’s to check out the shoe selection, then went to H&M (I returned my Marni blouse because of pattern placement issues), then Zara. Soon everyone was starting to say their goodbyes. That’s the unfortunate thing about these gatherings. At some point, they eventually have to end. Everyone hugged and exclaimed over what a wonderful day it had been. Sveta and I drove back to my house, talking the whole way about the trip, our kids, our pets, everything really. We started planning when we would get together next, perhaps at NAS. Despite getting very little sleep and talking non-stop for many hours, I felt surprisingly giddy and alert for our 4-hour drive. Some of Angie’s incredible energy must have rubbed off on me!

I am home now and back to my weekend routine of laundry, grocery shopping, and preparing for my work week, but I am still feeling the magic of our gathering. It was so delightful to meet Angie and everyone else. As Sveta said, when you meet other women from YLF it feels like you’ve known each other for a long time. Thank you, Angie and Greg, for creating this special community that revolves around style and fashion, but is really so much more.

Makrame enjoyed seeing the assortment of gorgeous trench coats, both classic and not so classic, on The Vivienne Files, as she ponders adding a trench coat to her own wardrobe. 

Celia says that seeing presidential denim in action on Grasping for Objectivity is worth a look. It takes the concept of “Mom Jeans” to a whole new level. 

Joy, who is a birdwatcher, is inspired to add a bird printed item to her Spring wardrobe after reading “Bird is the Word” in the Wall Street Journal. Bird printed items are making a fashion statement. 

Ironkurtain recommends browsing through this selection of crazy, crazy shoes. 

Annagybe enjoyed an article in the New Yorker that analyses the Schiaparelli and Prada exhibit at the Met.

Rae loves how this grey ombre dress featured on Fabsugar looks moody yet appropriate for Spring and Summer. 

Vildy enjoyed The Dashing Eccentric’s take on remembering what you love, and incorporating those things into your daily outfits. 

Laurinda says maybe we need to get out more after reading an article in The Society Pages about role models and gender stereotyping. 7th graders were asked to draw a picture of a scientist before they actually met a real scientist. Clearly, not all scientists are balding men in white lab coats.  

Inge enjoyed reading about the playful creativity that goes into each Maison Martin Margiela fashion show invitation. The invitation for their recent Fall 2012 show was a flashlight keychain that projects the show details when shone onto a dark surface. A little more memorable than an Evite, don’t you think?

Jaberger suggests reading “A Man’s Guide to a Woman’s Wardrobe” from the Economist because it’s a good read about fashion from an unusual standpoint.

I liked Already Pretty’s article on reconsidering investment pieces. I believe that it is as important to invest in bras and knickers as it is to invest in bags, shoes, jackets and coats.

To say that it is a season full of pattern is an understatement. We’re seeing lots of geometric, floral, animal skin, scarf and abstract patterns as well as a good dose of “conversational prints” (also known as “novelty prints”). 

Conversational prints are made up of (often quirky) recognizable items like, cats, dogs, birds, bees, trees, insects, butterflies, sunglasses, horses, teacups, heads, planets, stars, fans, hats, fruit, giraffes, cars, anchors, boats — I’m sure you get the picture. 

You’ll find conversational prints in all colour spectrums in tops, skirts, dresses, trousers, jackets, shorts, shoes, scarves and handbags, but in tops, especially blouses, more than other items. 

I am a cautious yay vote. Geometric patterns are my first love, followed by a fresh abstract floral. I’m also loving the rejuvenation of iconic scarf prints on silky blouses. I will wear a playful conversational printed top or bottom if it’s subtle and has a sophisticated edge. Nothing cartoon-like or too child-like. In other words, the print has to look “grown up”. 

That said, I went moggy over a pair of pleated short shorts at Zara last week because they were covered in not so subtle Yorkshire Terriers that looked like our late little Jasmine (see picture below). But wearing flimsy short shorts is not my thing, and I was SO disappointed. My sweetie Greg saw the colour drain from my face and supportively suggested, “Can’t you wear them with leggings?”. Unfortunately leggings weren’t going to work either, but I very much appreciated Greg’s good intentions. If the pattern was available in a fabulous blouse, I’d be wearing it right now. Sometimes our emotions dominate the wardrobe purchasing process and logical reasoning flies out the window.

What’s your verdict? Would you wear a conversational print? If so, would you wear it as a top, bottom, dress or accessory? Are conversational prints office appropriate? Or are you a nay vote because they look juvenile and silly.

Last week’s work wear capsule for Spring was well received because of the advantages of effective mixing and matching. You’ll maximize the wearability of the items, reduce the cost per wear, and have “go to” outfit combinations at your fingertips. Furthermore, as one commenter pointed out, you can pack a wardrobe capsule into a carry-on for a business trip and be good to go. 

The only downside of a wardrobe capsule is the time and expense involved in putting it together. So I’ve put together an alternative, a more compact capsule, made of fewer items with maximum versatility. In my example, I’m imagining someone who works in a business casual work environment. 

As with all capsule building, sometimes you’ll fill in the gaps of an existing capsule, and sometimes you will start from scratch. Below is a fairly flexible structure that provides a solid starting point to mix-and-match separates.

Establish two things upfront:

• Colour Palette: Choosing a colour spectrum ensures the easy mixing and matching of items. I’ve chosen a mid-tone pink, black, charcoal, denim and light neutrals. 
• Fashionability: Decide which trends you’d like to incorporate into the mix. For Spring, I’ve chosen, pattern mixing, florals, volume, patterned blazers and loafers. 

Onto the components of the capsule. The items are quite specific in order to create the desired layered effect. Without the specific components, you can’t create the layers. Without the layers you will battle to maximize outfit options.

Three Tops

These three tops are the starting point for the capsule:

1. Fitted Knitted Top: I’ve chosen a pink V-neck mock wrap with elbow sleeves. Wear it on it’s own, or layer a button down shirt underneath for a different look. 
2. Knitted Sleeveless Top: Choose a top that double duties as a vest. That way, you can wear it on it’s own, or under a jacket or cardigan, AND you can wear it over a basic button down shirt and knitted top for more outfit options. I’ve chosen a sleeveless top in an animal print so that I can mix patterns. 
3. Basic White Button Down Shirt: Not everyone is a fan of this item, but it does make an excellent layering piece. So choose one that fits reasonably well and use it as an accessory instead of a statement piece. As I suggested above, wear it under knitted tops, as well as under the jacket and cardigan. Wear it on it’s own if it fits like a dream. I’ve chosen a crisp white shirt, but a soft cream, silky blouse is a good substitute.

Two Bottoms

Choose two bottoms that work with all the combinations that were created with the tops. I’ve chosen a classic pair of charcoal bootcut trousers with belt loops so that you can tuck in tops and add an interesting belt to further embellish your outfit options. I’ve also added a stretchy indigo “denim-rich” pencil skirt. It’s dressier than normal denim, but not quite as formal as a wool blend. It’s perfect for casual fridays if you can’t wear denim-rich items during the week. I’ve deliberately NOT chosen black bottoms because this is a Spring capsule.

Two Toppers

Choose at least one structured jacket to create a more polished and tailored look. I’ve chosen a floral blazer that can be worn over all three tops, if you are prepared to mix patterns. Wear the blazer over the layered top options if you’re comfortable doing so. 

Choose a cardigan if a relaxed vibe is desired. If not, add a blazer in a solid colour. I’ve chosen a black boyfriend cardigan because the length and volume looks super over classic trousers and a pencil skirt, and V-necks make excellent layering items. Wearing it open like a jacket creates a flattering vertical line down the front of the body. As with the blazer, wear it over all the tops, and over the vest and white shirt layered combination. 

Remember that toppers can be removed when you’re at your desk, so choosing tops that you are prepared to wear on their own is vitally important.

Two Pairs of Shoes

Choose two pairs of shoes that work with the bottoms. I’ve chosen a pair of light coloured trendy heeled loafers because it’s Spring! I’ve supplemented with pair of classic all-season black pumps because they work especially well with the trousers. I’ve chosen patent for a dressier touch and textural interest. 

One Handbag

Choose a structured handbag that works across the colour spectrum and is the best that you can afford. I’ve chosen an all-season snakeskin bag that can be carried both by a handle and a shoulder strap. The pattern and texture adds interest to your outfits and lightens up dark neutrals.

The Extras

I’ve laid the foundation of a compact mix-and-match capsule. Feel free to add in a solid sheath dress to wear under the toppers and over the pink knit top and white button down shirt for further outfit combinations. Incorporate jewelry, scarves, watches, eyewear and belts as desired to change up the looks even further. Throw in a new shade of lipstick to bring out the colours in the patterns.

Do It Yourself

The capsule serves as a template that you can manipulate to reflect your style and colour preferences. For example, choose two skirts instead of trousers and a skirt. Choose two jackets instead of a cardigan and a jacket. Choose a soft blouse instead of a stiff white shirt. Choose sandals instead of pumps. Choose flats instead of heels. Choose ink blue instead of black. Choose a solid handbag instead of a patterned style. The variations are endless. 

Carefully add onto to the capsule, or keep it compact. Choose another colour spectrum and start the capsule building process all over again. In some cases you’ll find that some of the items of one capsule work just as well in another capsule. That’s even more cost effective. Those items become wardrobe workhorses. If certain items are creating dressing bottlenecks because they are in the laundry basket too often, duplicate those items. 

Compact work wear capsules are ideal for part time jobs and tight budgets. In this case, you’ll wear your items more often so start out by purchasing items that will go the distance. If possible, purchase better end quality fabrications AND take extra care in the laundry process. Doing this will end up saving you money in the long run.