Onto some outfit inspiration for Spring and Summer.

1. Pants

A pair of cherry red lined wide leg pleated pants is paired with a summery white sleeveless pointelle sweater. I love the length of the pants. The sweater is semi-tucked to showcase the waist of the pants, and shorten its length. Dark red thong sandals add an extra beachy and high Summer touch. Add a raffia bag or other casual bag to complete the look. Substitute the pants for a skirt, if that’s more your thing.

2. Topper

Red toppers can be effective dopamine boosters. Here, a cocoon shaped oversized parka tops a neutral combination of chocolate brown slouchy wide leg trousers and cream long sleeved tee. Black boots match a dressy black shoulder bag and the model’s hair. Think of any other neutral pairing of top and bottom like navy, olive, toffee, tan, or grey – and complete the outfit with a red topper.

3. Dress

A cool toned red smocked fit and flare frock is the statement star of the show. It’s completed with black heeled sandals and dressy bag, which match the model’s black hair and eyewear. A bag and pair of shoes in a shade of brown, metallic, white, or animal print would work well too. And so can a two-piece dress made up of a skirt and top.

4. Pattern and Blue Denim

Think of any patterned top in cool shades of red and combine it with blue denim. Here, a pair of on trend denim clamdiggers is combined with an untucked boho-lite patterned paisley blouse. Classic white sneakers with gum soles add a sporty touch. Add jewellery, eyewear, and watch as desired.

Personally, red has featured in my own style all my life. My red is a warm toned orange-y tomato red. I think of it as “a neutral” because to my eye, it works well with every colour, and especially neutrals. Red is versatile. Who bats for Team Red?

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A yoke is a fitted panel that sits at the top of a skirt, usually around the waist and upper hip area, before the fuller part of the skirt begins. The length and shape of the yoke vary from style to style. Yokes can be curved, angled, V-shaped, straight, or asymmetrical, and are sewn separately from the rest of the skirt. Think of them as built-in shaping sections that create structure on the waist and hips. Volume is added below the yoke with gathers, pleats, flared panels, or asymmetrical pieces. The collection shows examples of skirts with yokes.

Yoked skirts are appealing because they combine structure with ease, creating shape without clinging. The fitted panel contours the waist and hip area before releasing into volume lower down the body. This can feel more comfortable, and look more streamlined, than skirts that gather and pleat at the waist, which can create bulk around the midsection. The silhouette is breezy, elegant in motion, and practical in longer lengths because it offers sun protection and coverage. The look pairs well with fitted tops, short boxy or tailored jackets, oversized blazers, oversized denim jackets, tucked and semi-tucked knitwear and tees, fluid shirts, and cropped tops that showcase some or most of the yoke.

You can also style a yoked skirt by entirely covering the yoke. Simply wear a longer tailored, fluid, or oversized top over the skirt so that it just covers the yoke. Or wear a top with a welt positioned on the seam where the yoke joins the fuller part of the skirt. Knitted tops, sweatshirts, and knitwear often achieve the “welt effect” naturally.

Personally, as long as the skirt is voluminous and long, and the yoke isn’t too far down the hips, I enjoy wearing skirts with yokes. I wore them in the ’80s with oversized pullovers, welted tops, shoulder pads, and cropped jackets. I’m happily wearing a yoked skirt in 2026 in better fabrics and without the shoulder pads because I like the proportions. I recently modeled my new yoked skirt on the forum. 

Over to you. What are your thoughts on skirts with yokes?

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When I first shopped at Aritzia, I found the assortment puzzling. Career wear, athleisure, and clubbing attire all under one roof and seemingly aimed at the same customer felt disjointed. Over time, I realized that this is one of the retailer’s strengths. Aritzia operates almost like several boutiques housed within one store, with each in-house label catering to a different aesthetic and lifestyle. For example, the “Babaton” label focuses on polished tailoring and modern workwear. “Wilfred” feels softer, more romantic, and fashion-forward. “Sunday Best” skews youthful and playful. “TNA” is casual, sporty, and athleisure-inspired. Housing these different style identities together broadens the appeal of the retailer, and cleverly allows customers to shop across multiple lifestyles in one place.

The size range has improved over the years. Many items run from XXS to 2XL, although availability varies by style and silhouette. Fit can also be inconsistent across the different labels. Some silhouettes are oversized and roomy, while others are quite trim and body-con. Some bottoms are offered in curvy fits too. It helps to try items on, and to read online reviews and garment measurements carefully before ordering.

Price points range from moderate to fairly high. Tees and simple tops often start around US$40 to US$80. Knitwear and dresses tend to sit in the US$100 to US$250 range, while tailoring and outerwear can climb significantly higher. Their famous Super Puff jackets can cost several hundred dollars depending on fabrication and length. Aritzia does host seasonal sales, which makes the assortment more affordable.

Fabrics and quality are generally great, although not uniformly exceptional across every category. Some pieces are beautifully made and wear extremely well, while others are less impressive. To my eye, Aritzia excels at elevated wardrobe essentials and simple modern tailoring. Think dressy wool coats, trench coats, trousers, blazers, solid blouses, belts, and puffer jackets. Those are exactly the categories I tend to shop with clients, often with great success.

Many Aritzia stores are architecturally striking, with soaring ceilings and carefully designed interiors that feel upscale. Some locations include cafe or lounge-like elements. There are usually patient friends and family members waiting comfortably in the lounge while their loved ones shop. The dressing room set-up is distinctive too. The fitting rooms themselves are fairly minimal, while the communal mirror area outside the rooms is expansive and dramatic, with floor-to-ceiling mirrors. That means you need to step outside the fitting room to see said items in the mirror, which some shoppers find fun and others find off-putting.

Overall, Aritzia occupies an interesting niche in the market, and I enjoy browsing in-person with clients when I’m at the mall. It offers trend-aware fashion with a polished and elevated sensibility, while remaining practical, clean, neutral, and subtle. For shoppers who enjoy modern fashion with a luxe feel and minimalist palette, it’s a retailer worth browsing. Personally, I’ve had excellent luck with Aritzia’s dressy Effortless Pants, especially versions made with fabrics from Portugal and Japan. On the other hand, I’ve passed on a few 100% polyester items that didn’t end up working when put through their paces.

Over to you. Have you shopped at Aritzia, and what are your impressions of the brand and assortment?

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I’d like to rekindle the vibe with a pretty new necktie in soft colours. Something along these lines:

Some of my clients enjoy wearing neckties, and it’s fun to be creative with their outfits. Here’s some outfit inspiration for those who enjoy the look too. For those who don’t, perhaps you’ll appreciate the vibe from afar.

1. Necktie Bow

I’m fascinated by how they tied this necktie. Visually, it’s very effective! I think it’s a loosely tied bow, and will be experimenting at home. A high contrast necktie is worn on the skin of the neck, so inside the collar of the shirt and not around it. Choose any colour button down shirt and tie. You could wear the necktie bow over a T-shirt too. This shirt is semi tucked, and the pairing is worn with a floral mini skirt, which you can substitute with a skirt that is more to your taste. Add shoes and a bag that work with the outfit.

2. Utility Pants, Short Jacket, Heels

A pair of olive utility pants is paired with a tucked blue and white striped button down shirt. A high contrast navy necktie is worn around the shirt collar the traditional way. A short off white Chanel-esque tweed jacket is the dressy topper of choice. It matches dressy white pumps that amp up “the pretty” in the outfit. The black belt adds back traditional “menswear dressing”. Add a bag to match the palette.

3. Suited

These outfits are from Aritzia. The outfit on the left combines a dressy and somewhat slouchy grey pants suit with an untucked white T-shirt. A high contrast blue and navy striped necktie is draped loosely around the neck like an oblong scarf. Chunky athletic grey, black and white sneakers are the sporty shoe of choice. I’d have preferred to see low profile refined sneakers with the suit, although wear the shoes that work best for you. The outfit on the right combines a pair of black dressy and slouchy trousers with a brown and white striped button down shirt. A chocolate brown patterned necktie is worn in a traditional way around the collar of the shirt. A fluid dressy blazer tops the pairing. Dressy black boots and belt match the black bottoms and model’s hair.

4. Relaxed with Dressy Shoes

An oversized pale pink button down shirt with rolled up sleeves is tucked into a pair of dark grey pleated trousers. A low contrast light grey striped tie is worn in a loose and relaxed way around the collar of the shirt. White pointy toe pumps add a dressy, pretty and refined edge to the look. White earrings add a playful element. Add a bag that works with the outfit.

5. Jorts and Culottes

Last, a light blue and white striped button down shirt is combined with a matching necktie creating a delightful set and low contrast effect. Sleeves are scrunched to showcase forearm skin, and relax the shirt. The shirt is tucked into lemon jorts (culottes). Black slingbacks and clutch add a dressy edge, and match the model’s hair. Add jewellery, watch and eyewear as desired.

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The detailing can vary enormously. Sometimes the smocking is subtle and tonal, adding quiet texture and a gently fitted effect. Other times it is dramatic and highly visible, becoming the focal point of the garment. Smocking can appear on bodices, waistlines, cuffs, necklines, shoulder straps, and even across entire garments. Some pieces use only a small panel of smocking for comfort and fit, while others are fully smocked and very stretchy. The collection shows many smocked examples.

One of the practical strengths of smocking is that it can taper a garment and create shape without feeling stiff or restrictive. Smocked bodices and waists can provide contouring while remaining comfortable and flexible to wear. Smocked cuffs on wide sleeves add a romantic touch. Smocking on knitted jersey fabrics can feel especially comfortable and easy to wear.

On the other hand, heavy smocking can feel bulky, clingy, or overly textured. Fully smocked garments can feel snug in very hot weather despite the lightweight fabric. Sometimes the elasticated stitching loses its recovery over time, which can be difficult to repair.

There is a lot of versatility within the trend. Depending on the styling and design details, smocked garments can lean bohemian, cottagecore, retro, beachy, classic, modern, or architectural. Smocked dresses are especially popular for warm and hot weather, while smocked tops and skirts with more coverage transition well into colder seasons when layered with jackets, knitwear, and boots.

I like the pretty and retro effect of smocking. I’ve worn smocked dresses, tops, and skirts in the past, especially when I lived in a Mediterranean climate close to a sunny beach. These days I wear smocked items less frequently, although I still have a few in my wardrobe.

How about you? What do you think of smocked tops, skirts, and dresses?

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The silhouette is fitted on the waist, pouffy, very wide, and flowing through the hips and legs, and narrowing at the ankle with cuffs or elasticated hems. Waistbands and ankle hems are frequently gathered, thereby creating theatrical volume. Lengths vary from cropped to full length. They are tricky to hem shorter so keep that in mind.

The collection shows examples of balloon pants.

Part of the item’s appeal is the fabric assortment. Balloon pants come in crisp cottons, linens, gauzy sheers, silk, satins, soft knitted jerseys, crepes, chiffons, and fluid blends that drape like a dream. Some versions are quite sheer, pleated, and float as you move. Some versions make a great bathing suit cover-up to wear at the beach and pool.

The vibe can range from beachy, carefree and bohemian, to arty, distinctive, and elegant depending on the styling and fabric. Casual versions look great with flat sandals, tees, tanks, asymmetrical tops, gauzy sweaters, camisole tops, cropped shirts, and banded tops, making them practical for super hot climates because they offer airflow and leg coverage from the sun. Dressier silky versions paired with heels and refined tops can look dramatic, pretty and glamorous for evenings out.

I like the look of balloon pants. They are awesome for hot climates in the right fabrics. If you have long hot Summers, the silhouette is worth a try. Might be just the variation your Summer wardrobe refresh needs if skirts, dresses and shorts are not your thing. Like many of today’s silhouettes, they reflect fashion’s shift toward ease, movement, and comfort. Milk it! They also take me back to the late ’70s and early ’80s, which are fun fashion memories. Perfectly beachy worn in a casual way, and with an effective boho vibe. Playfully glam styled in a dressy way.

What do you think of the balloon pants trend?

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Notably, the Sanctuary Perfect T-Shirt looks best in the darker and richer colours. Tommy Hilfiger does surprisingly great cotton tops. My favourite cotton button down shirts are from Ralph Lauren, and I have all the blues and blue stripes. Very crisp and polished. They run narrow so size up. Boden’s fits, bright colours, and quality are fantastic. Madewell is doing boho-lite particularly well. Lots of pretty details from Nic & Zoe. Some tops have matching bottoms to create sets, so browse the options if that appeals to you.

Uniqlo’s Shirring Boat Neck Sleeveless T-Shirt from Uniqlo has been a hit with clients to wear as a layering top, or on its own. You can wear it fluidly like the models, or size down for a fitted look. The fabric is comfortable, forgiving, and practical. It works on petite and tall clients, and looks good with Summery pants and skirts.

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The Long Over Lean outfit formula combines a longer top layer with a streamlined bottom. Think tops that finish a few inches below the crotch point, tunics, dresses, long blazers, coats, and oversized shirts worn over slim straights or cigarette pants, super skinnies, leggings, bootcuts, column skirts, and pencil skirts. These proportions create a strong vertical line. Although slim straights and skinnies are no longer dominant, slim bottoms are part of the fashion landscape, and this formula remains reliable and easy to wear.

The Short Over Volume formula flips the proportions. Shorter tops and toppers are paired with roomier bottoms like wide leg trousers, barrel and horseshoe jeans, lantern pants, balloon pants, joggers, slouchy low-slung styles, flared trousers, flared skirts, A-line skirts, and relaxed cuts like boyfriend jeans and relaxed straights. Short tops can be worn untucked, or longer tops can be tucked or semi-tucked to create a short effect. The shorter top lengthens the leg line and adds structure at the waist, while the volume below creates movement and ease. For several years now, voluminous bottoms have been the dominant trend.

Both approaches are fabulous. You might strongly prefer one, or switch between them depending on the day, the setting, the weather, and what you feel like wearing.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed wearing Long Over Lean in the past. That said, I am firmly on Team Short Over Volume. I enjoy the drama and fashion-forward integrity on the bottom half of my outfits. The movement, comfort, and visual interest appeal to me, and right now, narrow bottoms feel less compelling. Because I tend to tuck or semi-tuck my tops, I naturally create a shorter top line. And I am a lifelong fan of short, cheeky jackets.

Over to you. Are you Team Long Over Lean or Team Short Over Volume? Tell us why. No batting for both teams. If you can’t pick a side, you’re Team Bench. I’m serving baked sheet pan feta with chickpeas, onions, tomatoes, lemon, chili, cumin, and honey, with farro on the side. Berries and sumo oranges for dessert.

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Until now. PACT’s Organic Lace Waist Brief is the closest match I’ve found, and they are possibly even better. Available in sizes XS to 2XL in solid colours, they tick all the boxes. They don’t ride up or fall down, fit like a dream, and are flattering to my eye. Mid rise with full coverage, a soft lace waistband, organic cotton fabrication, and no tags. They are comfortable, breathable, and durable. I wash mine in a regular laundry cycle and air dry them on a rack. I do not tumble dry my underwear. There are non-lace versions and other silhouettes too. Prices are higher than average, although I find it worth it. They have good sales, and I recently stocked up.

PACT is a reliable source for soft, organic cotton wardrobe basics and essentials with a clean, unfussy, and relaxed aesthetic. The assortment includes tees, tanks, blouses, underwear, loungewear, sleepwear, and a selection of simple dresses and sweaters. Silhouettes are modern, with fits that prioritise comfort and ease of movement. The palette is mostly neutral.

Fabric is where PACT stands out. The organic cotton feels breathable and gentle against the skin. Sustainability is central to the brand, with a focus on organic materials and fair trade production. A thoughtful choice if you like your wardrobe to reflect your values.

I’m relieved that my search for the perfect everyday panties is over. If you’re in the market, the site is worth a browse. You might find your new favourites too.

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I’ve had surprisingly great luck adding fashion sweatshirts to my wardrobe the last few seasons. Most are oversized and some are fluid. I like them because they’re 100% cotton, easy to launder, extremely comfortable against my fussy skin, work well in my climate, and are an effective way to dress down dressy trousers and big white pearls. Unexpectedly, I’ve amassed quite a collection.

The idea is to wear one of the five crew neck sweatshirts (not the hoodies) with one of my casual cotton skirts (below). It was recently warm enough to wear this combination and and I posted it on the forum. I LOVED wearing the outfit formula, and am excited to explore more options. Two of the sweatshirts are cropped, making them an easy pairing with skirts. The others have welts so they’ll work well un-tucked too.

Onto some outfit inspiration.

1. Black, White, Checks

A black and white flared and checked midaxi skirt with basque and pleats is combined with a light grey and black oversized printed sweatshirt. The black in both patterns unites them. It’s semi-tucked to showcase the waist and basque of the skirt, which creates some structure. The scrunched sleeves that showcase forearm skin also add structure. Black socks match the black in the outfit, while dressy white loafers match the white. Feel free to leave off the socks. Add a bag that works with the palette of the outfit.

2. Columned

A column of colour is created by combining a casual black denim skirt with an oversized black hoodie. Black mules complete the outfit, creating a black look from head-to-toe. Use the same formula with any colour to create a long lean line. Add a bag that works with the outfit.

3. Playfully Pretty

A fluid patterned tomato red sweatshirt is combined with a classic pleated knee-length taupe skirt. Citron pumps add another colour and amp up the dressy. The animal print bag further amps up the dressy creating an effective Sporty Luxe look. I LOVE this outfit, and am much inspired by it. I have the exact same sweatshirt and a similar skirt. I’ll substitute the shoes for dressy gold flats or kitten heels, sport a citron bag, and add my pearls. In fact, I posted this exact outfit on the forum.

4. Hard Edge

Last, a fluid grey and black patterned hoodie is combined with a dressier black knee length pencil skirt. It’s semi-tucked to showcase a black and silver grommet belt. A roomy black leather shacket tops the outfit. The hood of the top is worn outside the jacket like a collar. Dressy black heeled mules add the next dressy touch. Another smashing Sporty Luxe look. Add jewellery, handbag, eyewear, and watch as desired.

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