Over the years, I’ve grown less fond of wearing linen clothing. I am no longer at peace with the crease, and more importantly, I don’t like the feeling of linen against my skin. Some linen items are scratchy and can irritate my skin. I much prefer the physical feeling of cotton and silk. I stopped buying linen items four years ago, but continued wearing the linen items I had.

Currently, I’ve passed on all linen items apart from this Boden citron co-ord. The colour launches me into orbit, and the set looks awfully punchy and beachy on a hot Summer’s day. This linen feels fine on my skin too. I adore the set when it’s freshly pressed and I haven’t moved much in it yet. By the end of the day, I don’t like the way the set has creased. I’m keeping it anyway. I’ll push through my annoyance with the crease just because of the colour and fit.

Granted, cotton poplin items can crease as badly as linen, but at least the cotton feels heavenly against my skin. No more linen for me. I’m breaking up with linen and focusing on cotton, silk, and cotton blends for Spring and Summer. How about you? Are you breaking up with linen, or another type of fabric?

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Lace trimmed scarves are the newest look, although you can create a triangle with ANY large solid or patterned square scarf and add it to your outfit by wrapping it around your waist and hips. The examples below show lace trimmed scarves and patterned scarves wrapped this way. It’s a fringe trend that began last year, and it’s gaining momentum.

Create a low or high contrast with the scarf. Wear it over a column of colour. Keep it the same colour as the column of colour. Or layer a jacket or coat over the wrapped scarf outfit. A nice square knot will ensure that the ends lie flat and neatly against the side of the body.

Personally, I’m not a big decorative scarf person. Most of the time, I wear woolly scarves for warmth around my neck in cold weather as opposed to adding it as flair and embellishment to an outfit. I’m much more into wearing belts than scarves, so I’m bypassing this trend. However, I’ve been helping clients style some of their scarves this way, and the results have been most successful over skirts and dresses, although pants and jeans ensembles have worked too.

Over to you. What do you think of the lace trimmed hip scarf, or any square scarf wrapped around your waist and hips?

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The idea is to wear lace trimmed camisoles as a very summery strappy top with casual pants, jeans, dressy trousers, shorts, and skirts. That’s how many of them are styled by retailers. Of course, that might leave you too exposed, which is why I’m suggesting the LAYERING route. A long lace trimmed camisole can be a pretty, romantic, interesting, and alluring layering item. Feel free to wear a regular bra under the camisole when you layer it under a third piece.

Here are lace trimmed camisoles layered under blouses, tailored blazers, and a denim jacket.

Here are examples of lace trimmed camisoles layered under bomber jackets, oversized blazers, funnel neck jackets, and sweaters. Unless the pullover is much shorter, it covers most of the camisole apart from the lace hem. Feel free to use a cardigan as a topper instead of a jacket to showcase more of the camisole. Cardigans layered over camisoles are toppers you can wear more comfortably at home.

I’m a fan of a bit of lace peeking out from under layers. I have short cotton camisoles with bits of lace on the neckline that I enjoy wearing under some shirts, blouses, and dresses. I’ll be looking out for just the right long one to layer under a few pullovers and jackets. The neckline needs to come up quite high for it to work for my style.

Over to you. What do you think of this trend?

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Soft silky lace trimmed skirts form part of the Modern Romance trend. They take me back to the early ’00s, which is one of the decades influencing current fashion. Back then, most of them were cut on the bias and knee-length. They sat lower on the waist too. Slinky, clingy, and not that easy to wear. This time round waistbands are higher, lengths vary, and silhouettes are more than simply bias cut. There is added ease and coverage to the skirt which are fit and style upgrades to my eye.

These are flimsy, breezy and lightweight skirts, so best in mild, warm and hot weather. They can be paired with lightweight knitwear, tees, tank tops, fitted button down shirts, boxy button down shirts, button down shirts tucked or tied at the waist, mesh tops, or matching lace trimmed tops. The idea is to wear a Spring jacket or coat over the top like a blazer, moto, short trench coat, funnel neck jacket, denim jacket, bomber, or bubble hem jacket. Shoes vary from tall boots and booties, to Mary Janes, sandals, flats, pumps, and sneakers.

I like the look of the upgraded lace trimmed skirt and how it’s styled with a simple top, short jacket, and pretty shoes. The jury is out as to whether I’ll sport the trend though. Personally, I don’t want to wear a clingy bias-cut version, but I might wear a silhouette with movement. My version would look more like a skirt and less like a slip, like the patterned ones or flared silhouettes. If the right version finds me, that’s fab. If not, no problem. I’m more of a dress than skirt wearer, anyway.

Over to you. What are your thoughts on this trend?

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These outfits show the versatility of soft pink, and specifically, how well the pastel remixes with stronger colours to create a high contrast. Creating a high contrast is one way to prevent feeling “washed out” when wearing pastels.

1. Yellow

A soft pink oversized patterned shirt is pattern mixed with a high contrast yellow and pink floral on the same garment. The shirt’s yellow collar adds high contrast too. The swingy top is worn over high contrast blue barrel jeans. White hi-tops add a sporty touch. A white or tan bag would complete the look.

Some soft pink and lemon combinations. The pink on the left is brighter although the visual effect is soft.

2. Red

Soft pinks work well with bright and dark reds. Here, a bright red collared top is paired with a pair of wide soft pink trousers. A chocolate animal print belt and chocolate sandals match the chocolate blazer that tops the lot. Add a bag that works with the palette.

Soft pinks work well with deep reds like merlot, wine, maroon and raisin.

3. Brown

Soft pinks are lovely with mid-tone browns like biscuit, toffee, caramel, whiskey, cognac, gingerbread and cinnamon. Here, a soft pink, chocolate and cream paisley patterned dress is combined with an oversized pinstriped toffee blazer. A chocolate bag co-ordinates with chocolate in the patterns. A soft pink cardigan draped over the bag is a topper alternative to the jacket. Black sandals match the model’s hair. Sandals in a shade of brown would work well too.

4. Grey

Soft pinks are a classic pairing with greys, and a combination that takes me back to the ’80s. Here, the outfit on the left is from ME + EM, which combines light wash blue jeans with a soft pink top, and a grey and cream houndstooth Spring tweed jacket. Snakeskin flats in greys and creams pattern mix perfectly with the jacket. The outfit on the right is from Lucky Brand, which combines a soft pink tulle skirt with a grey sweater, chocolate harness boots, and a chocolate studded moto jacket. The hard-edged jacket and boots create a fab bit of tension with the floating ballerina-esque skirt.

5. Black

Last, a ’90s inspired version that combines a soft pink full skirt with a dressy short black buttoned-up jacket, black opaque tights, and chunky heeled black patent loafers. The black adds hard edge to the soft pink full skirt thereby toughening it up. Add jewellery, watch and bag as desired.

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Shout out to Anthropologie for keeping their prices more affordable, and for offering beautiful quality belts that are made in Portugal. I’m refreshing wardrobe essentials, and bought the Notched Square Buckle Belt in cream, and the Geometric Cut-Out Belt is in white. These belts are more ornate than I typically wear, yet felt like giving them a go. Glad I did! Both are in full rotation, and I’m enjoying the change.

The Rag ‘n Bone X Boyfriend Belt comes in a rare metallic pewter. The J.Crew Grommet Belts come in a rare blue-toned red with silver hardware, and burgundy with gold hardware. Web Belts and canvas belts can look great with sneakers and espadrilles. And last, if you don’t like the visual effect of a belt, but need to keep pants and jeans from falling, there’s the comfortable and streamlined No Show Stretch Belt. It lies flat and is invisible under tops.

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Pastels can look fresh, light, airy, romantic, calming, and pretty, especially after lots of wintery darks and heavy clothing. Pastels instantly soften an outfit, add a charming and graceful quality, and are an entry point to wearing a particular colour. They are less of a commitment than wearing brights, thereby adding interest without the intensity. Pastels are an effective component of tonal dressing, where soft hues are remixed with darker ones to create a cohesive palette. Pastels add playful tension when remixed with dark colours. They also pair well with neutrals like white, cream, tan, navy, toffee, whiskey, chocolate, grey, and blue denim.

On the other hand, because pastels lack depth they can wash you out and drain your complexion. The visual effect feels flat rather than fresh. Pastels can look overly sweet, faded, or child-like. If you like wearing bold, high-energy outfits, pastels may feel too subdued. They also don’t have the punch of brights or the drama of darks.

Here are styling tips to make pastels work, should you want to wear them:

1. Add high contrast to the outfit with navy, charcoal, chocolate, or black. Or wear them with brights.
2. Combine pastels with crisp white for a clean and modern vibe.
3. Choose saturated pastels over more watery and dusty ones if you need more brightness.
4. Wear pastels on your bottom half if they wash you out near your face.
5. Wear pastels in structured and tailored items to offset softness and to look more “grown-up”.

6. Anchor pastel pieces with a hard-edged or “tough” element like leather, hardware, chunky footwear, and dark colours.

I’m a bright colour person at heart, and thoroughly enjoy pretty pastels. My pastels of choice are pale pink and light blue. I don’t wear other pastels. My favourite eyewear of all time is a saturated light blue, and I have pale pink specs that I frequently wear too. I adore very light wash blue jeans, pale pink clothes, and light blue shirts. I find light blue and pale pink bags useful styling tools because they add an unexpected element. I used to have pastel shoes to match the bags, and miss them. They’re on my shopping list. The pastel pink scarf is a great match with my pink eyewear. Here’s my current collection of pastels.

As for styling pastels, I follow the first five of my own suggestions. A saturated pastel works best of all. I wear pastels with brights, navy, and crisp white or cream to create contrast. I wear them as accessories and shoes too. If the right light blue and pale pink wool coats find me at some point, I’ll welcome them to my outerwear capsule.

Over to you. Do you wear pastels, and if so, which are your favourites? How do you style them?

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Many people have heard the story that when Greg suggested I start a blog about fashion and style, I replied, “Okay! What’s a blog?”. It was the early days of blogging, and YLF was one of the first of its kind. We brainstormed the name, and Greg designed and built the site.

Eighteen months in YLF, it was Greg’s brilliant idea to add a forum, which immediately jumped into life with the wonderful community that was forming around the blog. It was his idea to create Finds, which is an indispensable wardrobe maintenance and shopping tool. YLF was Greg’s affectionate and loyal labour of love. Without him, YLF would not exist. Words cannot adequately express my gratitude for his incredible hard work, creativity, perfectionism, high standards, and dedication. YLF holds a special place in my heart because the most special person in my life created it for me.

The launch of the forum was an inflection point for YLF. I think it’s a unique spot on the internet. Thoughtful, kind, clever, constructive, and supportive. In a world where online spaces can feel loud, public and fleeting, this community has remained generous, respectful, and deeply engaged. Many of you have been here for years, even decades. You’ve shared your wardrobes, milestones, challenges, and triumphs. You’ve supported one another with insight and warmth. That is rare, and I do not take it for granted.

The forum drew wonderful Belgian beauty Inge to YLF eighteen years ago. Inge politely contacted me privately asking if she could join the forum even though she wasn’t American and lived in Antwerp. I replied, OF COURSE. And mentioned that I wasn’t American either. Inge is Dutch-speaking, and so am I. We clicked immediately. So much so, that we met in Belgium the next time I was in Europe. It was the start of a long-lasting friendship. We asked Inge to work for YLF, which she did wonderfully for thirteen years. We’ve met many times in the Netherlands, Belgium, England, and Seattle. We don’t see each other in person often, but when we do, we spend quality time together, which counts for a lot. We’ve met each other’s families and friends, and chat daily. My close friendship with Inge is one of my favourite things to have come out of YLF, and I treasure it.

There are many, many more things I love about YLF, and its diverse, global following is one of them. I can travel to just about anywhere and meet up with a Fabber. There have been gatherings across the globe, and there will be many more. I’ve made many FABULOUS friends through YLF and my work as a personal stylist. These friends enrich my life daily in countless ways, and some I’ve known for twenty years. I’m thankful for their amazing presence in my life.

Our Yorkie team, Jasmine, Rosie, Sam, and Jo, were and are a huge part of YLF. Always close by as I worked, walked, and thought through posts. They brought a sense of routine, comfort, and perspective to the process. They’ve been loyal companions on daily city walks and photoshoots, constant sources of joy, and gentle reminders to pause and appreciate the moment. Many of you have come to know them through the site, and their presence has added a personal animal-loving layer to YLF that goes beyond style. In their special doggie way, they’ve helped shape the rhythm and heart of these past twenty years.

At this big milestone I’m excited to announce that I’m publishing my first book.

In my daily dialogue with in-person clients and members of the YLF community, certain truths kept resurfacing. Great style is about understanding yourself, knowing that small details make a big difference, and recognizing that simplicity, comfort, and authenticity always win. I started collecting the practical tips, mindset shifts, and emotional insights that have helped thousands of people find their own version of fab. Short, digestible insights that you can use immediately, reflect upon, and remember for later. These are things that I believe will transcend fashion cycles, and have the power to shape how we express ourselves every day through personal style. I called them Style Nuggets.

Style Nuggets: Practical Inspiration for Everyday Style is being printed and will be ready to purchase in hardcover and paperback soon. Stay tuned for details.

As we celebrate twenty years, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Thank you for reading. Thank you for engaging. Thank you for trusting me with your style journeys. You are what makes YLF an extraordinary social community. Thank you for your insightful, compassionate, intelligent, thoughtful and amusing contributions, from which I learn, reflect, and grow as a person. Whether you’ve been here since the early days or joined more recently, you are part of what makes YLF what it is. My goal remains the same: to help you cut through the noise and find what works for YOU.

Here’s to continuing the conversations, refining our styles, and finding joy and purpose in getting dressed every day. Happy 20th Anniversary, YLF!

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Onto some outfit inspiration. Soft yellow is quite versatile. It’s fabulous combined with earthy browns, greys, blues and whites.

1. Jeans

An easy way to wear pastel yellow is as a top or jacket and to pair it with blue jeans. The blue jeans can be any wash. The collection shows some examples.

Here, a pair of mid-wash blue jeans is combined with grey, whiskey and butter yellow argyle. It’s topped with a buttery blazer that picks up the colour in the argyle. A cream belt adds interest, and matches the cream in the argyle pattern. Earthy brown animal print flats are the trendy shoes of choice. They complement the whiskey bag that picks up the same colour in the argyle. The model is holding a light blue shirt in her hand, which you wouldn’t do in person, although it showcases how well light blue works with the palette. Punchy!

2. Dresses and Skirts

Here’s a collection of soft and pretty pale yellow dresses and skirts. Accent colours are shades of white, tan, grey, and a hint of black.

3. Light Neutrals

Tans, taupes, biscuity browns, and creams look yummy with buttery yellow. Here, a pair of wide and pleated taupe pants with cream side stripe is combined with a butter yellow sweater. A tan coat tops the pairing. Biscuit loafers are the earthy choice of shoe, and the cream tote matches the cream side stripe of the pants. A second butter yellow sweater is draped over the shoulders of the model like a scarf. Soothing and pretty!

4. Chocolate Pants

A lemon yellow blouse is combined with a pair of rich chocolate wide leg trousers. Brown snake skin pumps add a dressy touch, and complement the whiskey belt. A chocolate bag matches the trousers. A cream border scarf with bits of brown, lemon and blush works with the palette. Rich!

5. Light Blue and Pale Pink

Last, a big light blue shirt is worn over a pair of pale pink barrel pants. A bomber jacket with bubble hem and sleeves in a brighter yellow is layered over the top. The mid-tone yellow jacket is neither lemon nor citron but somewhere in-between. Earthy chestnut pumps with matching bags are effective rich accents with the soft palette. A chunky silver necklace adds a glam and shiny touch. Unexpected and my favourite!

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Pieces that are versatile, hard-working, and thoughtfully designed are resonating more than ever too. We build capsule wardrobes around items that can be styled multiple ways, worn across seasons, and adapted to different occasions so that we get the biggest bang for our fashion buck. This idea is evolving into something more ambitious called Function Forward Fashion, or FFF. The concept is fringe, futuristic, and gaining momentum.

FFF is about garments that do more than dress you. They actively replace the need for multiple items altogether. There are trench coats with integrated tote systems that unfold from the lining. They are large enough for a couple of groceries including, in the example below, a sizeable and determined melon.

There are super cute midi skirts that convert into picnic blankets complete with discreet corner weights for windy conditions. And when folded correctly, triple duty as a surprisingly supportive lumbar cushion. Stylish swoosh is put to work in a charming and pragmatic way.

Trousers are evolving too. There are silhouettes with expandable side panels that function as built-in carryalls. When not in use, they lie flat and streamlined. When deployed, they can hold anything from a laptop, to a light topper and baguette. I like how the items that you’re carrying add interest, texture and shine to your look. They effectively maximize the outfit without the need to add colours or patterns. Tonally perfect in a more minimal way.

For Team Footwear, there are boots with adjustable shafts that expand to accommodate bulkier items. One pair I saw in stores had enough internal space to hold a scarf, pair of gloves, and a somewhat bruised apple. The volume on the lower leg adds an architectural integrity, and creates grounding proportions. The effect can visually balance a broad shoulder line too.

My favourite on-trend FFF items so far are blazers. Many incorporate structured compartments designed to distribute weight evenly across the body. That keeps your body comfortable and healthy as you go about your day. I saw a citron FFF blazer recently and fell in love. It held my phone, cards, sunglasses, tissues, keys, lip balm, doggie poop bags, a short tea, and a small container of olives. Once everything was in place, the silhouette remained surprisingly tailored. A little bulkier than I prefer, but I’m giving the trend a go. The blazer followed me home and I’m excited to wear it when the weather warms up. It eliminates the need for a handbag which is a BIG change for me. Not sure I’m ready to give up my bags completely, but never say never when it comes to fashion and style.

What surprised me most about this trend is how futuristic and intentional the garments look and feel. Instead of adding accessories, your outfit becomes a fully integrated system. You carry less, but have more.

Over to you. What do you think of Function Forward Fashion? Will you sport the trend?

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