The point of doing all this introspection about your current style and the style you aspire to achieve, the style you do NOT aspire to achieve, and analyzing your favourite outfits is to compile a set of style goals. These goals will perch on your shoulder like a nice nagging nanny, keeping your thoughts and actions focused as you work through your style renewal or refresher. 

Whether you write these goals down or keep them in mind as a reference, you will constantly refer back to them as you edit your closet, shop for new wardrobe items, and create daily outfits. The goals will keep you focused in a fashion and style world that is at best quite overwhelming, especially when you have multiple fashion personas. 

It is important to keep your style goals flexible. While it’s effective to have a plan that keeps you on the straight and narrow, it’s perfectly possible that some of your goals won’t work out. For example, your goal might be to add bright coloured clothing into your wardrobe mix. You really like the look of brights on others so you’re game to give it a bash. So you purchase a few bright pieces and are feeling most delighted that you achieved this style goal. But upon putting these brights through their daily paces, they just don’t make you feel fabulous. You feel infinitely more confident in neutrals and muted colours no matter what. Lesson learned. Adjust that goal by either scrapping it completely, or trying brights in the form of accessories and footwear instead of clothing. 

You can have just a few style goals, or a long list of them. Your goals can capture absolutely any part of your style, shopping routine, dressing routine or grooming routine. Your goals can be general and high level, like practicing positive body image and purchasing for your lifestyle, or they can be simple and specific, like adding a midi dress in emerald green.

Wearing your beautiful clothes can be a goal, because some have closets full of killer pieces that they just don’t wear. Purchasing the correct clothing size can be a goal. Adding a bohemian or sophisticated edge to your look can be a goal. Sticking to your monthly budget can be a goal. Experimenting with belts and hosiery can be a goal. Wearing more skirts and dresses can be a goal. Upping the style quotient of your work ensembles can be a goal. Pattern mixing can be a goal. Dressing up can be a goal. Wearing  trendy items can be a goal. Keeping your closet tidy can be a goal. Taking pictures of your outfits can be a goal. I’m sure you get the idea. 

As an illustration, here is my own list of style goals:

• To marry my favourite fashion personas, Modern Classic, Punk and Androgynous, into a cohesive style that is age appropriate and attractive
• To wear simple outfits that are crisp, clean, modern and bold
• To add even more colour to my wardrobe 
• To leave off most accessories 
• To wear ultra trendy pieces with a classic support act
• To NOT purchase cardigans and knitted tops because they become closet orphans no matter what. 
• To NOT over purchase for Spring and Summer. As much as I love soft blouses and sleeveless clothing, I like them best when they are worn on their own. This calls for warm weather which is not a slam-dunk here in Seattle. 
• To NOT purchase items with too much design detail because I become bored of the aesthetic. 
• To continue mixing high end pieces with low end pieces in one outfit
• To continue exploring the world of trousers
• To buy up midis while they are trending
• To find a killer pair of dressy flat loafers

My word. I can’t remember a season with a wider assortment of denim colours. There are the classics like shades of blue, grey, black and white. And there’s brights, mid-tones, pastels and patterns. Something for everyone. 

I like all denim colours, from the classics, muted shades and midtones, through to the brightest of brights. I own blue, black, white and coral jeans. I might purchase another pair of coloured jeans but I’m not sure which colour most tickles my fancy. But my heart is still with blue jeans because they are virtually flop proof. I wear them the most frequently and that’s why I’m batting for Team Blue Jeans.

Over to you. Are you on Team Blue Jeans or Team Non-Blue Jeans? Tell us why and no batting for both teams.

Pencil skirts have been the skirt silhouette for many seasons. They are a versatile classic and often very form fitting. 

Form fitting silhouettes have their structured advantages. Their tailored integrity is attractive and achieves a polished appearance. Match a curve hugging pencil skirt with a form fitting top and high heels and you’re on your way to bombshell status. This is an undeniably alluring combination. And one that works every season. 

On the other hand, looking like a bombshell may not be your style aspiration. If this is the case, you’ll want to take some of the bombshell-factor out of a pencil skirt. Matching the slim silhouette with an untucked roomy top is one way of reducing the body conscious effect. As seen in these photos, the tops can be long or cropped, soft or rigid. Some tops are more voluminous than others. Some tops are more dressy than others. You’ll probably find that soft boxy tops are more flattering because of their ability to drape against the body. Boxy poncho type tops work well with pencil skirts too. 

When I suggest the pairing of an untucked roomy top with a pencil skirt, some of my clients are very receptive, while others have their reservations. Understandably, the curvier and fuller busted ladies are less inclined to wear boxy tops because it’s makes them feel larger than they are. Interestingly, it’s also often the curvier ladies who felt “too bombshell” matching a form fitting top with a pencil skirt in the first place. But never fear. We find other clothing silhouettes and outfit combinations to tone down the bombshell-factor, and that’s a topic for another day. 

How do you feel about matching roomy tops with pencil skirts?

We had a discussion on the forum a few months ago about whether colours and colour combinations can look dated. For example, a particular combination was dated because it looked “very ’80s” to some forum members. 

Of course, some colours and colour combinations are more on trend, fresher and “newer” than others because they are the so called colours of the season. But I do not think that colours and colour combinations have an expiry date. It is the silhouette of an item, or the items you pair it with, that makes it look dated. Much more so than the colour. 

If certain colours and colour combinations are attractive to you, if you love their vibe, and if they look great against your complexion, then I say they are always in style.