Sadly it’s time to direct our minds forward to Fall. While the thought of chilly weather is not all that appealing, the idea of shopping is! Here are my top five essentials for keeping your closet and budget on track:
1. Jeans please – you’ll instantly add versatility and vavoom to your wardrobe by purchasing a new cut or colour in jeans. From relaxed boyfriend to slim and skinny or flattering flares – try a new shape and/or shade of denim.
Here’s the boyfriend cut from American Eagle, skinny jeans from Esprit and some fab flares from The Gap:
2. Pencil it in – while the classic pencil skirt might not be the perfect piece for chasing a toddler, it is going to take you from the office (great topped off with a slim sweater and belt) to formal functions (just add a crisp cotton shirt) to Holiday parties (with a silky top.) Add some heels and voila – you are ready to go. If you are tall and slim you can even wear this must-have with flats. Nothing beats the ultimate classic – buy it in black. This leg-lengthening look is from Banana Republic (note how the dark hose and shoes help with that long lean look) and this office option is from j. Crew:
3. Go long – there’s a ton of terrific tops available in longer lengths – anywhere from hip to just above the knee works. Keep your body proportions in mind. Longer lengths can further shorten the appearance of those with proportionally shorter legs or if you are petite. Generally, the longer the length of the top, the slimmer the bottom item. For an instant update, go for something with a slashed neckine, cowl neck, ruching of ruffles. The choice is endless. Here’s a new shape in black from Esprit balanced with interesting accessories, a pleasant peasant top from Guess and an adaptable, draped cardie from Banana Republic:
4. Get a leg up – Ok I admit it – I was wrong. Last year, I predicted that leggings would not make a serious comeback. Yet, here we are, with leggings as a wardrobe staple. If you haven’t got some, get some. (Note to self!) Matte black, grey, brown or navy are the classics, but if you are feeling adventurous you can get them in shiny materials (a la Olivia Newton John in Grease) and even in hot fushia – NOT! I prefer the legging look with flats and tunics that fall to at least mid-thigh (please no tops that do not cover the bottom!) Here are some lovely looks from Victoria’s Secret demonstrating that, with the right pieces, leggings have versatily as loungewear, weekend wear and and everyday casual:
5. Tighten your belt – the belt is the essential accessory to all the pieces above this Fall to create balance and define a waist over tunics and leggings, emphasize your assets in a pencil skirt and define your denims. For total versatility, choose a soft leather buckled version that can be worn through belt loops or over tops – take a look back at the black Esprit tunic above. I also love these suade and equestrian styles from Old Navy. There are also a plethora of perforated belts. This one is from Payless.
So there you have it, my five picks for Fall. What will you choose to update your closet? Share your ideas in the comments below.
Ladies, I need some help. I just finished having 5 kids in 4.5 years and needless to say my fashion sense has been limited to Thyme for the most part. Now that I am finished having children I want to look nice again (keeping in mind that I am a stay-at-home mom and don’t wear heals anymore and need clothes that are super kid friendly). So I recently purchased some leggings and long sweaters (which I love!) but I’m stumped on the footwear. In the pictures of the leggings, all of the women are wearing shoes with no socks (or boots). Well…..it’s almost winter and cold outside so I’m a fan of wearing socks. How do you make the leggings look good with flats and not freeze to death? Even if you wear boots, you have to take the boots off sometime. How do you make this look good?
Thanks!
Kath – we will also see leggings/footless tights worn with dresses. Go for it and get a pencil skirt – you’ll have it in your closet for ever. I’m getting out one I wore 10 years ago last time this trend was hot.
Good points Jen – as is the Style File philosophy, if a style is not something that suits you or your lifestyle, don’t go there – no matter how hot the look. However, this season there’s such variety in jeans that i guarantee everyone can find a new style that suits. The relaxed Boyfriend cut is the most universally flattering and great for anyone on those bloated days when you just don’t want to wear anything too fitted. As for the pencil skirt – really we are simply talking about a straight skirt and once again, a knee-skimming, form fitting (noy too loose or tight) is flattering on most bodies. It empahasizes the waist and feminine shape of curvey bods and can add a waist to those of us that lost ours along the motherhood trail. There are a lot of new shapes and styles out there this season, all of us will be a little outside our comfort zone at first. But don’t be afarid to try something new. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Love the look with the leggings and sexy boots.
Maybe leggings are just the natural evolution of the yoga pant. We went from bell-bottoms and flared yoga pants to skinny jeans and – well, leggings. I must say in the pics above they look more like footless tights, because the tops are so long they almost look like dresses. Still, I’ll probably stick with some flared jeans, ruffled and ruched tops (loving the ruffles and ruching) and possibly – POSSIBLY – a pencil skirt. Possibly.
LOVE the flare jeans. The other styles look great on the skinny models but I’m not sure leggings or a pencil skirt would work for the regular bod. Maybe leggings with, as you said, a shirt that covers ones bottom. Thoughts?