Belt Loop Looks and Preferences

When a top is tucked into a bottom that has belt loops, the outfit looks better to my eye when it is worn with a belt. Empty belt loops look naked to me, and I desperately want to add the coverage. It adds a polished touch to the outfit. I guess my preference makes sense because I bat for Team Polished. Team RATE might think differently. 

I prefer belt loops that are filled by the belt. That is, with a belt that has a similar height to the loop (right).

I also like skinny belts looped into wider belt loops (left), but do have a thing for filling out belt loops to their fullest! Skinny belts are a lot less bulky and I do understand their appeal, but they can slide around and fall askew. This drives me batty when the belt is a high contrast colour.

The semi tucked look is an interesting case. I still prefer the look with a belt, but it can also be fine without one.

These are by no means rules or guidelines, just stylistic preferences. Do you like the look of exposed belt loops? Or do you prefer it when visible belt loops are finished off with a belt.

Your Summer Wardrobe Workhorses

Which of your wardrobe items have been getting a workout over the last few months? If you’re like me, you tend to latch onto seasonal favourites and wear them all the time. And you really miss them when they’re in the laundry. 

In no particular order, here are my current wardrobe workhorses: 

  1. Turquoise Kate Spade handbag
  2. Gold Kate Spade handbag
  3. Stuart Weitzman two toned ballet flats
  4. Boutique 9 Balair peep toe oxford booties
  5. All my silk blouses and button down shirts
  6. All clamdiggers
  7. Coral and white jeans
  8. Ann Taylor halter tops
  9. Silver cropped jacket
  10. All denim jackets
  11. Pearl and gold necklace
  12. All gold accessories and watch

I still wear my dresses and love them dearly, especially when I match my dressy frocks with a denim jacket. I also swap out my handbags many times a week so it was hard to choose my “of the moment” favourites. Alas, apart from my new colourful midi, and a cream and black graphic pencil skirt, my skirts still aren’t getting much wear. 

Over to you.

Lace Tops: Yay or Nay

We see lace tops each year so the idea is hardly new. Despite the tried and tested concept, lace tops are on my radar at the moment because they look refreshing to my eye. Designers are doing a good job of mixing both classic and modern silhouettes, and knit and woven fabrications. There is both romantic and bohemian style inspiration, and colour beyond black and white. 

I loved lace tops in the 80’s and early 90’s. But lace fell out of favour for my style since then. However, Jason Wu’s Fall collection at Fashion Week rekindled my lace love and I am now after a beautifully tailored lace shirt that I can wear with jeans, my pinstripe suit, or a flared midi skirt. That’s the beauty of lace! It looks as good dressed up as it does dressed down. 

I have always liked the dressy and retro integrity of lace. I also enjoy how your skin tone grins through some of the areas of the garment. Lace is stereotypically feminine so I like mixing that vibe with overtly more masculine looks. And I also love keeping the look completely girly. 

Clearly I vote yay to lace tops. What’s your verdict?

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Roundups

Simpler Items

This week's list of top picks list is about basic pieces.

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Assorted Items

Items for Summer, both in and out of air conditioning.

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Casual Summer Vibes

This week's top picks are good for a casual Summer vibe.

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Summery Earth Tones

These items are for those who like to wear casual earth tones in warm and hot weather.

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Hints of Spring

Some tried-and-tested winning items to refresh your style for Spring.

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Dressier Items

An assortment of dressier top picks might be just what the doctor ordered.

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What Women Think of Long Hairstyles for Men

Last week’s post on what men think of short hairstyles for women caused an explosion of passionate  and interesting comments. This week we are turning the tables and I’m excited to hear what you have to say this time. 

RoseandJoan’s comment on the previous post resonated with me. She said “I think it is wrong to presume that all men like women with long hair or that all women like men with short hair”. I agree that both generalizations are too extreme, especially in the world of fashion and style where men and women have the freedom to push the societal norms and to foster an appreciation for new things.

On this question I am open minded, but I definitely have my preferences. I absolutely believe that some men look better with slightly longer, well kept hair, some even as long as shoulder length. If they have luscious hair, the right facial features and personality for the look, I say go for it. We have a Latin friend who looks sensational with longer hair. It’s a dream of perfect thick wavy dark curls that he wears very well. We also have a friend who has thick stick straight hair that he ties back into a short neat pony tail. We’ve seen both of these friends with very short hair and it doesn’t look as fab.

That being said, although my Greg was blessed with velvety thick curly hair, I like him best with extremely neat short hair (he has it cut every 4 to 5 weeks). It brings out his blue eyes, gorgeous smile and killer dimples. It matches his polished yet spunky style, and goes hand in hand with his mischievous streak.

My favourite hairstyle on a bloke is when a thick matt of super short, well-cut hair goes salt and pepper grey. So when most ladies were weak at the knees over Brad Pitt’s long locks in the movie “Legends of the Fall”, I went ga ga when George Clooney cut his fabulous grey hair extremely short in “The American”.

So ladies, over to you. Can you appreciate a man with longer hair when he pulls it off with panache? Or do you prefer men with shorter hair no matter what?

Link Love from YLF Members

Mo loves how Nine West is teaming up with pedometer company Fitbit to embed their trackers in the boots of models to raise money for charity. Mo wants her own pair of boots that have a Fitbit.

April enjoyed Sal’s practical guide to learning how to dress yourself. Learning to style oneself should be an ongoing joyful process, and I couldn’t agree MORE with that sentiment. 

Taylor, who is a HUGE Ann Taylor fan, is thrilled that Demi Moore is the next face of Ann Taylor. She so wants to steal her outfit.   

Jonesy enjoyed Susie Bubble’s take on Proenza Schouler’s Fall collection because the pics are gorgeous.

Kitty400 discovered my body gallery which is all about seeing other women with the same dimensions as you. She’s not the only one who looks in the mirror and sees one thing when others say they see something totally different. 

This article on the death of street style got Rae thinking. Have companies really appropriated street style, or are people on the street dressing more commercially?

Kari was stunned that these clothes are made of milk — yes, the drinkable white stuff.

Ornella now knows how to read a Fashion Magazine

Alicat finds it incredibly cheering that 66 year old Helen Mirren was named Body of the Year. I LOVE THAT. 

Refugee liked this post on what to wear when you retire. Dress like your house is somewhere special. 

Annagybe isn’t wowed by the new Marc by Marc Jacobs denim collection because there is already an abundant availability of premium denim. 

Don’t you love it when tiny people invade fashion photography? Kristine did.

Joy found this interesting article on the new dirt on dry cleaners.  

For MNSara, this beauty tip is a personal treasure because it doesn’t make her add another step to her beauty regime. 

April is mesmerized by this photo of Alexander McQueen’s Savage Beauty.

Inge highly recommends these interviews with older women who continue to have fun with fashion. Advanced style at it’s best and I LOVE IT. 

Lisa was looking for Summer boot inspiration and found a challenge on college fashion. Who else is in? 

Emily’s Autumn Inspirations had TX Sarah chomping at the bit for Fall.

Last but not least, the incomparable Audi does a 50’s vintage outfit her way, making her own hat for the occasion. Super sassy.