A lightweight scarf can amp up an outfit in the Spring and Summer, adding colour, pattern, texture, or shine. Patterned scarves can be great pattern mixing vehicles. They are fairly inexpensive and make an impactful difference. The outfits below show easy and effective ways to add a scarf to a warmer weather look.  1. Long Thin Scarf A long black and white striped scarf is tied like a loose necktie, and worn on the inside of an oversized collared shirt. The ends of the scarf are left on the outside of the shirt. The shirt is worn out in a very relaxed way. The sleeves are scrunched for st ..read more

As I browse the Spring and Summer collections, I like what I see. There is variety in colour, fabric, pattern, texture and silhouette, and things are far from boring. Even so, I find myself drawn to the same combinations that I wear every summer.  All I want to wear in warm and hot weather is variations on these three formulas, with varying levels of dressiness, colour, and pattern: Sleeved shirtdress at a midaxi length, worn unstructured or with a self-belt. Or a sleeveless fit ’n flare midaxi. Trendy white pants or jeans combined with a roomy patterned cotton o ..read more

These items have been winners for some of my clients, and work extremely well for me too. It’s fantastic to see natural fibres and machine washable options at cheaper price points these days. Be sure to browse the colour and size options.  1. Zara Navy Contrast Embroidery Shirt and Pants If you enjoy wearing summery navy and white combinations, and like the visual effect of embroidery, check out this Zara co-ord. The shirt has a pair of pants to match, and they look splendid worn as a set. 100% cotton, machine washable, polished, easy, breezy, and very comfortable. Although the shirt is b ..read more

Those who bat for Team Swoosh know exactly what I mean. It’s that gorgeous, happy, and addictive movement of voluminous fabric as you stride. In particular when you wear dresses and skirts. I bat for Team Swoosh, and thoroughly enjoy wearing big skirts, and dresses with big skirts.  Onto some outfit ideas for Team Swoosh. 1. Draped Top and Draped Skirt A black utility skirt with intricate drape and side cargo pocket detailing swooshes right along with a very drapey and oversized blouse. The blouse is half tucked in front to create a waistline, which in turn gives the outfit some structure ..read more

Wear nude-for-you hosiery to achieve the appearance of bare legs, but with coverage and insulation. Opaque hosiery is thick and robust. Sheer hosiery is soft, delicate and pretty. Make a statement with patterned, lace, or non-neutral hosiery.  Sizing up in hosiery reduces the stretch, preventing pattern distortion and distributing the colour more evenly. A larger size can also be easier to pull on and off, and feels comfortable on the midsection. But not too large, or it will sag at the ankles. If hosiery is not for you, wear leggings or long johns for warmth with skirts and dresses. Hos ..read more

Sometimes when pants are a little short, you can can let down their hems for an extra inch to inch and a half in length. Of course, there has to be a generous hem to let down, or it’s a non-starter.  Also, lengthening pants this way when they are new, rather than old and frequently laundered, will prevent permanent distressed fold lines across the bottom of the pants. The creases caused by the fold of the shorter hems should press out quite easily too. If they don’t, the faint line isn’t much of an eyesore. At least, not to me. And definitely not as much of an eyesore as pants that are to ..read more

Casual and smart casual olive pants are a staple in many wardrobes. Wear them in a silhouette that tickles your fancy, and style them in some of these easy-to-pull together combinations for Spring. Focus on the colour combinations if the items aren’t for you.  1. Olive and Teal Combine a pair of olive pants with a teal sweater of sorts. Here, a fluid and shorter V-neck cardigan is buttoned through and worn as a top. Chunky black loafers match the black buttons on the cardigan. I see a black or cognac bag complete the look, and possibly a bit of pretty black lace from a camisole peeking th ..read more

Outfit components that match closely in colour pull the look together. And it’s often attractive when footwear matches accessories. But not everything needs to match. For example, match your shoes with your belt or bag, and mismatch the rest.  A tonal colour match is just as effective as an exact match. Mismatched patterns work together when their palettes match. Subtle colour repetition in the tones of solids or the palettes of patterns harmonizes the outfit, creating a coordinated look. Intense colour mismatches can look interesting. There is creativity in the clash. When in doubt abou ..read more

These items have been winners on clients or have good reviews. Browse the colour, pattern and size options, and watch for the flash sales. Banana Republic and Boden offer discounted prices regularly in the US, so it’s worth waiting for good deals.  1. Banana Republic Cotton-Linen Cut-Out Midi Dress A linen-flax sleeveless dress with a bit of stretch that fits surprisingly well. The length is good and the armholes aren’t too low. It’s back cut-out is subtle and very well positioned. Not too revealing and quite covered. The skirt component is roomy and forgiving. Comes in a black and toffee ..read more

We see florals every Spring and Summer, and at the moment, large florals that are spaced out across all sorts of backgrounds are current and gaining momentum. They are the polar opposite to small, compact ditsy florals. The patterns run the gamut of flowers, colours and vibes.  Here are examples across a range of clothing items. Big spaced florals are my favourite kind of flower pattern. I usually have a few in my wardrobe. I like both realistic and abstract floral designs on dresses, skirts, blouses, jackets, pullovers, and pants. I tend to wear them in the Spring and Summer in brights ..read more