I’m taking a more fashion forward approach to work wear today because I’m excited about two refreshingly “new” silhouettes. They make a nice change to short and super form fitting shapes by being longer, looser, yet just as tailored. 

First, midis that end below the knee or on the calf are the happening length in skirts and dresses. After recently seeing the Spring 2012 collections at New York Fashion Week, I’m thrilled to report that midis are sticking around. Second, capes and capelets are bigger than ever, and Fall or a mild Winter is the perfect time to wear them.

Soft midi frocks like the Presley Skye Butterfly Print Silk Crepe de Chine Dress make for a super work look because it’s sleeved and structured, as well as comfortable and sophisticated. You might need to add a camisole or sew in a snap on the neckline if it’s a little too low for work. Swap out the belt for something wide or skinny to break up the pattern and add texture to the outfit. Whistle’s Felicienne Shiny Snake Belt bookends the shoes and subtly adds a little pattern mixing to the palette. 

Match anything from pumps and peep toes, to booties and knee-high boots for footwear. I’ve paired this dress with Stuart Weitzman’s “Ballot” kitten heels in burgundy because low heels are finally trending and red adds a spark of colour. They also look very “Audrey” with midi length skirts and dresses.

Adding a cropped tailored blazer, leather jacket, or trench coat as a cover-up is a no brainer. But let’s throw in the retro drama of a cape instead. Calvin Klein’s Belted Cape is brilliant because the belt adds structure to the cut. That way you won’t feel like you’re going to fly away. The volume of the cape works with the straighter contour of this dress. The tailored waistline lengthens the line of the leg. The cape will also work over sheath dresses, trouser and pencil skirt ensembles, and jeans. 

Any neutrally toned handbag will look fab with this ensemble. I chose Cole Haan’s Golden Heritage Quilt Archer Mini Satchel because we don’t need to pack our colourful bags away for Fall and Winter. Sport them to cheer up a grey day.   

I’m feeling dainty jewelry with this combination, like this drop necklace. But earrings, bracelets or a cocktail ring are just as fab (scale to your taste level). I’d have worn my specs and big gold watch and left it at that.

Living in Seattle, I use umbrellas often. The showers are relatively light, the drops small, and the wind slight, so as long as you are wearing fairly weatherproof footwear, an umbrella will keep you dry. Heavy tropical downpours make you wet no matter what, but we seldom have those here. 

A small, portable, lightweight umbrella is perfect for Seattle rain. For about 9 months of the year I carry one in my handbag, and there are always at least two small umbrellas in my car. I never use large umbrellas that won’t fit into my handbag. They are cumbersome, I lose them during the day, or I forget to bring them along in the first place. 

When you use an umbrella as often as I do, it becomes part of your look. So as strange as this may sound, I think about how my umbrella matches my outfit. I’ve found that a simple black and white polka dot umbrella works best for my style. It matches outfits made up of solids or false plains, and also works as a complimentary secondary pattern when I’m wearing prints. 

I have a few polka dot umbrellas, one of which is off-white with multi-coloured polka dots. I use that umbrella in the Spring with cream outwear, or when I am wearing very bright solid colours. Sometimes I throw in a solid bright coloured umbrella, like apple green, bright red, or yellow. I use those umbrellas when I’m wearing a black and white outfit, a patterned dress or a blouse. I also keep meaning to purchase a beautifully brightly patterned Marimekko umbrella because it will work well with my black and white outfits.  

I do not use plain black umbrellas unless I’ve been caught without one and I’m forced to purchase whatever’s available at the nearest drugstore or hawker stand. I find them dark and depressing, when bright and cheerful is what I need most on a grey Seattle day. 

I buy all my umbrellas at the Nordstrom Rack because it’s convenient and inexpensive ($10 – $14 each). Do you think about your umbrella style? Do you like to make them work with your outfit, or does that sound ridiculous?

I didn’t attend Fashion Week on our last day in NYC because I spent most of it catching up and shopping with a friend. That friend was veteran forum member and writer, Chicago Laura, who has written guest posts on YLF about her fabulous Mom on the Go looks. 

We met late morning at Macy’s Herald Square, the largest department store in the world, and instantly yakked up a storm right in the middle of the handbag department. Clearly, the handbags could wait because we had lots to catch up on. There is much to adore about warm, friendly, stylish and lady-like Laura. I am amazed that she can wear her hair any colour. I’ve seen it dark brown, platinum blonde, and now she’s a feisty redhead, which I think I like best! Laura was blessed with beautiful big blue eyes that open up wide when she speaks to you. I love how her new red hair brings out her gorgeous eyes.

Laura is our Captain of Team Dress, so of course she wore a fabulous frock that day. Coincidently, it was the Eliza J Ponte Knit Shift Dress that made my top picks list this week. She also paired it with two items that I have featured on YLF, namely the Bandolino ballet flats in black, and London Fog Lilly cross body bag in red. I was very touched to see Laura wear my suggestions, and wear them so beautifully. She looked hip, polished and radiant. Perfectly turned out for a day of walking and shopping in NYC, which meant walking many, many blocks at a fast pace with yours truly.

Because our time was limited, I asked Laura about her shopping priorities beforehand. “Easy!” said, Laura, who wanted help with midi dresses for her petite height. Off we went to the dress department at Macy’s and within an hour we had two killer midis, the Jones New York Short Sleeve Leaf Printed Dress, and the Ralph Lauren V-neck Sweater Dress (Laura models the Jones dress below). The key to making a midi work on petites is twofold. One, keep the length either just over the knee or a few inches below it, and no longer. Two, keep the style fairly form fitting and not too voluminous. The Jones New York dress is form fitting from top to knee, so the extra length does not swallow up our lovely Laura. The Ralph Lauren dress is form fitting on top, and although the skirt portion is flared, it’s streamlined. The cut and length of these midis were so spot on that they also looked good with Laura’s ballet flats!  

After a lovely lunch with forum member Maya, who lives in NYC, Laura asked me to help her choose her first designer bag. So we trotted off to Bloomingdales for some bag therapy. We decided that Laura needed a smallish, light neutral handbag with silver hardware to contrast with the charcoals, dark blues and black that she frequently wears in Autumn and Winter. We also opted for maximum versatility by going for a semi-structured shape with a detachable cross-body strap. As soon as we saw the patent stone Exploded Dot Lock Petite Rue Satchel by Marc Jacobs, we knew it was the one! It wasn’t too bulky and the clasp makes for easy access. Laura can comfortably wear it across her body over her coats, or carry it by the handle for a daintier effect. 

Laura bats for Team Wear so she transferred the contents of her old bag straight into the new one. Love it! By that stage we had accomplished Laura’s shopping goals and headed off to the first floor of Bloomies where we tried on a few more things just for fun. I unexpectedly bought a fabulous printed midi dress from Reiss, which was very fitting for the shopping occasion with Captain Dress. Now we both have frocks to commemorate the occasion, just like we did the last time we shopped in NYC together.

Our day was sadly drawing to a close. But before it did, Greg joined us to say hi to Laura and snap a few photos. We were NOT going to let the rain get us down (that’s why we carry umbrellas, after all). But sugar levels were low, so we stopped at quirky Serendipity where we had frozen chocolate, a shake and a BLT. 

What a brilliant day! Thanks for flying in to meet with me on your way to Maine, Laura. And for being a superb fit model and loyal YLF supporter. Our day was a very welcome break from the mayhem of Fashion Week. It just goes to show that food and fashion with a friend is hard to beat. 

From time to time, people receive compliments about one of their physical features or their personal style. After a while a pattern emerges as repeated similar compliments merge with their own self perception and become the things they regard as their strong points. It isn’t necessarily conceited, but similar compliments in future are not unexpected.

And then there is the completely unexpected compliment. This happened to me a few months ago when a very sweet friend, who was looking at my outfit pictures, randomly sent email just to tell me that I had “beautiful knees”. Oh my goodness, I thought. I had never viewed my knees as anything but somewhat knobbly, and well, just there in the middle of my legs. How gracious and thoughtful of my friend to let me know how she felt. It may seem silly, but I now see them in a new light.

Inspired and touched by this exchange, I promptly emailed two other friends and gave them a sincere compliment. Who knows, maybe one of my compliments was even unexpected. It got me thinking about the supportive chain of positive body image that might result if everyone did the same.

Have you received an unexpected compliment about a physical feature or your personal style? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.