First, green was named the colour of the season, and while there’s been plenty of green represented in stores, it hasn’t struck me as the colour. I’ve found that all colours are equally represented thus far.

Second, if the runway shows were anything to go by, we should have seen a greater assortment of skirt and dress lengths. Hemlines in the US are generally not knee-covering, especially on flared skirt styles. 

Third, there was so much white footwear on the catwalks for Spring 2013, especially white booties, but this has not been represented in retail at all, where shades of tan reign supreme. 

My fourth observation is more personal. For the first time in a very long time I am generally underwhelmed by the designer merchandise in stores. I am more than willing to pay the price for one beautiful and expensive piece that pulls at my heart strings, instead of purchasing five lower price pieces for the same amount of money. I enjoy “high-low” style — mixing high and low-end pieces in a single outfit —  and I adore the feeling and look of impeccable workmanship and luxurious fabrications. But this season, as I browse better-end designer collections, I haven’t swooned at their offerings. And I usually do.

Cuts, fabrics and colours have generally not been to my taste, and that includes footwear and handbags. Yet I’ve found many, many items at Club Monaco, J.Crew and Zara that have pulled at my heart strings. In fact, I want to buy up half the stuff at Club Monaco at the moment, I love it so much. Similarly, the items at Nordstrom that caught my attention this year have been less expensive in-house brands and not my usual pricier go-to brands. I did purchase an Alexander Wang clutch and a few pairs of premium jeans. But for the rest, I’ve purchased more lower than higher end for Spring and Summer. 

Leave no retail stone unturned has never proved to be more true, and each retailer has the chance to start afresh each season. I love this aspect of modern retail and I’m already excited about what will be on offer for Fall 2013 — both high and low end. 

Of course, these observations might be regional, and the last one is particularly personal. Have you observed anything interesting about the last four months of retail?

Costume designer Julie Weiss sees the clothes she makes “as tools of communication”. In this Wall Street Journal article she chats about six style principles that emerged from her work on “Hitchcock”, and the similarities between movie costumes and everyday clothing.

If you enjoyed Robin Wright’s outfits on “House of Cards”, then here’s your chance to learn more about Tom Broecker, the designer behind her tailored TV wardrobe.

Fab Links from Our Members

Ingunn sees shopping vintage as a budget-friendly way to lighten her footstep on earth and a great way to develop a more personal wardrobe. She thought that the guidelines for shopping vintage over at A Pair & A Spare were spot on.

This article talks about Spring trends to avoid. While Lisa would not wear clear heels herself, she does regularly sport Bermudas in the heat.

As a mother of a 17-year old young man, Transcona Shannon believes that some of the late teen/early twenties’ men could certainly use the advice in “5 Reasons Why Young Men Should Dress Sharp“.

The Jezebel article “Please Stop Telling Me I Don’t Have to Dress Up For Work” is very funny and so true, says MaryK.

A different article on Jezebel asking if we are a nation of slobs on the other hand made Angie sad, as she is very much in favour of defying your environmental norm and setting the stylish example. Alaskagirl also started a very interesting discussion about this topic on the YLF forum.

Ironkurtin loves skateboard-apparel-designer and blogger Jayne Min, who’s a big fan of closet purging.

My Year of Fabulous had Vildy howling. Holly, a self-proclaimed “sloppy dresser”, is on a year-long mission to redeem herself, and is using “The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style” to figure out her signature look.

Sarah found this NYT article an interesting update on how major labels are responding to the crises in the Bangladesh garment factories.

Last but not least, Parsley directs us to an informative story about what really happens to those clothes you donate.

I love this shape of blouse, which reminds me a little of the way Audrey Hepburn wore her shirt back in the day. The loose drape is elegant, alluring, chic, interesting and playful. Their unstructured take on a classic looks fresh to my eye, as does the high-low hemline with banded front. The shape works particularly well on a broader shoulder line and shorter neck because broad shoulders fill out the silhouette, and V-necklines elongate the neck. It can also work well on a large bust, depending on the cut. It’s forgiving over the midriff and can be dressed up or down. 

The draped blouse lends itself well to the semi-tuck, and adds an unstructured integrity to structured bottoms. Wear it with a camisole, or lots of fashion tape! It’s breezy in hot weather and pretty versatile. Fab with dressy trousers, a pencil skirt, short shorts, and just about any pair of jeans. 

The unstructured integrity of the style is also its downside, making you feel shapeless and unattractive if your preference is to show off your shape. The front crossover flaps shift about because they are oversized and look slightly odd from the side. If you’re petite, you’ll probably need to wear a heel to balance out the long torso that this style creates. And there’s the “baring all” when you bend over unless you’re wearing a camisole. You can of course add structure to the silhouette by showing skin through sleeve scrunching and choosing a sleeveless option. But you’ll have to be at peace with the downsides if this shape tickles your fancy. 

I’m in and have the Funktional fold front blouse on order. I’ve fallen in love with the draped blouse style although I don’t hold out much hope for filling it out. My dainty shoulder line and long neck are not ideal for the silhouette, but the style I chose has a shirt collar so I’m hopeful. 

What’s your take on the draped blouse?

• Lucky Brand Moto Jacket (Plus): Casually hip, lightweight and versatile. Make peace with the crease. Nice fit. 
• Steve Madden Coloured Denim Moto: A colourful alternative to the denim jacket. Casual and happy. I vote yellow. 
• Carole Owl Bracelet: Wise and wonderful arm candy. 
• Vince Camuto Stripe Midi Tube Skirt: I love this boldly patterned graphic skirt. Fabulous length and a good fit, although it might run a little big. Wear it with the casual coloured moto. 
• Alex Evenings Chiffon Skirt (Plus): A dressy chiffon skirt has multiple personalities. Dress it down with a denim, bomber or leather jacket. Or dress it up with a tux jacket. 
• Kelly Wearstler Keyhole Cuff: A cuff with a cut out makes for an interesting effect.

We’ve seen the bulk of Spring and Summer 2013 collections. There will be a few more dribs and drabs, lots of beachwear, and ample end of season sales on the horizon for June. Fall collections start hitting stores in July and August. 

Clothing

• Rag & Bone Knit Raglan Pullover: Crisp, lightweight, fab high-low hemline and ever so slightly sporty. Check out the back detail.
• A.L.C Kirkham Silk Dress: A flowing sack frock for Team Legs. Loving the pockets. 
• Tracy Reese Jacquard & Leather Moto Jacket: A beautifully tailored mixed media piece that will take you into Fall. 
• A.L.C. Jasper Print Silk Pants: Wear them with sandals now, and with booties for Fall. 
• Smythe Graffiti Print Puff Sleeve Blazer: An impeccable lined linen jacket that runs small. It’s a Smythe. Enough said.
• Haute Hippie Contrast Lapel Silk Blazer: A white tux jacket has a high longevity factor. Dress it up or down. 
• Bailey 44 Picasso Faux Leather Trim Cold Shoulder Top: Alluring, yet covered. The leather trim is fun, as are the different colours for back and front. 
• Milly Organza Hoodie: Sci-fi fun over a white tank and just about any bottom. Fashion forward and sporty. 
• Rachel Roy Print Skirt: Retro. Great with a belt, but it’s still a poufy skirt so consider yourself warned. 
• Karen Kane Spot Cascade Faux Wrap Dress: A classic frock with a rare short sleeve.
• Leith Tattered Stripe Sweater: Adorable over a skirt. Here’s the earthy colourway. 
• Truehitt Tie Dye Crewneck Sweater: More arty than boho, and super soft. 
• Casual Studio Pleat Front Sheer Print Blouse: A fresh pattern that’s super over white jeans. Feminine and lightweight. 
• Bailey 44 King Tut Draped Ombre Top: A little clingy, but also gorgeously drapey. Warrior meets Grecian Princess.
• Classiques Entier Cowl Neck Stretch Silk Blouse: Pretty pattern placement and fab under a jacket for the office. 
• Michael Kors Pleated Print Blouse: A swingy top that’s roomy in all the right places. The back smocking detail is as pretty as the front.
• Robert Rodriguez Silver Laminated Cardigan: Sci-fi fun with a relaxed edge. Sweet layered over a sheath dress. 
• Marni Large Dot Print Pencil Skirt: Gorgeously graphic. It’s A-line so you’ll probably feel most streamlined wearing it with a tucked top.

Footwear

• Tildon Astoria Oxford: Works for a wider foot, and is pretty comfy. But it’s very flat and I vote add a cushioning insole. 
• Isaac Mizrahi Grisel Pump: A fab metallic pointy toe kitten heel with extra texture. Very comfy. Also in natural and black.
• Stuart Weitzman Hurrachtee Sandal: Dainty, low heeled and versatile. Soft straps and quite comfy.

Accessories

• Milly Tribal Canvas Clutch: Sport a pattern in an accessory if wearing patterned clothing isn’t your thing.
• R&J Kennedy Tote: A super travelling companion. Black is practical but the lemon ice is much prettier! 

Lots more to browse and shop if these items don’t tickle your fancy. 

Soft wide trouser outfits look fab when there are hints of structure in the outfit. So show some skin by scrunching sleeves, wearing lower necklines and tailored sandals, or baring your arms. Create further structure by wearing a formfitting top or tucking in a looser top. And if you’re going to wear a looser untucked top, wear one with a high-low hemline, a banded bottom, or cropped length.

When the fabrics are lightweight and breathable these outfits are a very practical way to get breezy coverage in warm weather.

I don’t wear wide and loose trousers because I can’t handle the excess fabric flapping around my feet and ankles. And when I walk fast, the flapping is hectic. So I prefer to wear soft flared midi skirts to create that same happy and romantic feeling of outfit movement. But I do adore these simple, unstructured wide trouser outfits on others. How about you?

These are the items I had on my list and the progress I’ve made over the last four months: 

• Jeans: I set out to refresh and replenish my jeans capsule because my white jeans were finished and I’d passed on all my body con skinny jeans. I’ve added a pair of straight leg white jeans, full length faded blue boyfriend jeans and white cropped boyfriend jeans. Check. 
• Floral blazer: No luck, but I received two jackets as gifts for Christmas, a two toned denim jacket and a bomber, which satisfied my new jacket need this Spring. I’m also changing the floral blazer idea to a white or blue jacket of sorts. 
• Tuxedo shirts: I bought a white tuxedo shirt. Check. 
• Pastel Trouser Suit: No luck because the pants were cropped, and I want full length trousers for this suit. But I did buy a new dress, which was an unexpected surprise.
• Long Slouchy Shorts: They are on their way to me in cobalt blue. Check. 
• T-shirt Blouse: No luck so far and it’s just as well because it’s an item to wear in hot weather, which is still months away in our neck of the woods. I bought four tops instead, all much warmer and better suited to our climate. A neon pink cashmere pullover, a wooly white patterned pullover, a silky white cotton pullover, and pink shirt. 
• Flat Oxfords: I bought sci-fi silver flat oxfords. Check.
• Pointy toe flats or pumps: I’ve bought a low heeled white pair and gold pair. Check.   
• White Booties: I bought white Converse high-tops with a baby wedge that fulfill the Summer white bootie gap for now. Check. 

I also bought a white belt, a gold belt, a white clutch, and a citron clutch, that were not on the original shopping list. They’ve become wardrobe workhorses so I’m so glad I strayed from the list.

I’m also pleased to report that I’ve kept my shopping weakness under control by NOT purchasing glorious lightweight Spring and Summer merchandise that would otherwise be orphaned till July because our Springs are generally cold and wet. 

I’m feeling pretty set for the rest of Spring and Summer. I might add a few more tops, a white jacket, a shocking pink clutch and perhaps a pair of Summer trousers. I’m not sure what I’ll wear to a wedding we’re attending in late July, but shopping my closet for that event feels like a good idea. 

Over to you.

• Muse Square Neck Short Sleeve Sheath Dress: It’s an above the knee dress unless you are very petite. It’s supposed to be sack-like so you might need to size up to ensure sufficient roominess. This style of unstructured frock looks best a little shorter, so bare those knees with pride to give the silhouette its structure. Sleeved and Pucci-esque. 
• Zara Leather Clutch: A gorgeous clutch in Tiffany blue is hard to resist. Zara’s clothing quality is inconsistent but their leather bags are generally of a much better quality.
• Tildon Calla Mary Jane Pump: I squealed with joy when one of my clients fitted on these darlings last week. Good grief these pumps are fabulous. Although not super soft, they are pretty comfy for a $49.95 shoe. Dainty with just the right amount of graphic appeal. They run true to size and will accommodate an insole or orthotic. I almost bought them too, but wished that they were more white than black. 

In warm weather it’s lovely to sport a single layer, like a pull-on-and-go frock. Easy, breezy, feminine and alluring. Oh how I wish we had more hot days in Seattle so that I would not need to think of covering up all the time. Please send us some hot weather and sunshine so that I can wear an outfit like this and not feel cold. 

We are probably most accustomed to seeing the soft and unstructured kimono jacket worn over dressy bootcut or wide trousers and a shell top with sandals. I vote to think further than that styling solution, and mix things up as a nod to the irregular outfit juxtaposition craze of 2013. Incorporate current trends into the outfit to modernize the piece.

Here are some ideas:

• Wear a kimono jacket over faded jeans with a silky shell top and dressy high vamped heeled sandals or pointy toe pumps.
• Layer it over a tank top, denim cut offs and throw in biker boots.
• Wear a long kimono jacket over a straight mini skirt/dress and allow the kimono jacket to give the outfit its length.
• Wear a short kimono jacket over a straight skirt/dress length of your choice and add trendy shoes.
• Wear it over white jeans or trousers with layering piece, and add feminine, metallic footwear.
• Or wear the arty piece with boyfriend jeans, a tee and gladiator sandals.

I love the way the kimono jacket takes “the sexy” out of body con frocks, short shorts, pencil skirts and skinnies. By wearing it open and flowing, thereby hinting at your shape under the unstructured piece, the effect is just as alluring, but a little mysterious. Kimono jackets also have three-dimensional appeal because the loose lightweight piece flows and flaps as you stride, thereby creating an interesting effect as it drapes in motion. Romantic. 

Kimono jackets are one way to wear unstructured structure, and a super layering piece for hot weather. Knee-length styles are best suited to gals with height, but the shorter versions are suited to us all. Make sure that you bare sufficient forearm skin to give the jacket some structure. Create further structure with lower necklines, shorter hemlines, formfitting underlayers, and tailored footwear. 

I’m recreating arty and slightly bohemian outfits with old kimono jackets for clients at the moment using the above ideas. We’re having overwhelmingly long lengths and sleeves shortened to keep proportions attractive. Although kimono jackets are not my style, I really like the look worn in the pictures below and am thoroughly enjoying the process of creating this vibe with clients. I’m particularly loving the mix of a soft kimono jacket worn over a shell with faded jeans, and finishing off the look with a strict angular clutch and severe pointy toe pumps with dainty ankle straps. Modern, playful and fun.

I definitely have the tomboy style gene, but I also have a threshold beyond which an outfit becomes too masculine. Just the other day I wore baggy True Religion Cameron boyfriend jeans with a roomy white cotton crew neck pullover faux tucked over a white belt. I layered with an unzipped black lace bomber jacket and finished off the look with silver flat oxfords. I looked in the mirror and did not like the combination at all. I was wearing masculine items from head to toe and it did not make me feel fab. I swapped out the shoes for white baby wedge Converse sneakers, and liked the look a little more, but was still not loving it.

To remedy the situation, I swapped out the footwear for low heeled girly black & white pointy toe oxfords. I liked that combination MUCH better. I then tried white pointy toe pumps, an even girlier shoe, and that increased the happiness factor of the outfit even more.

Next, I swapped out the boyfriend jeans for white straight leg jeans, but kept the flat silver oxfords and rest of the outfit the same. I liked that combination just as much. White straight leg jeans are much more feminine than faded blue boyfriend jeans, and that was just what those boyish flat oxfords needed to make them look more girly. 

I might have felt differently about the original head-to-toe masculine outfit if had a very feminine hairstyle, like long cascading locks. But I have boyish hair, and although the cut is very much part of my style, I do have to keep that tomboy style gene under control by incorporating some feminine pieces into my outfit. 

Over to you. Do you enjoy wearing clothing and footwear with a masculine integrity? If so, is there a point when your outfit feels too masculine, and you have to inject a bit of girly back into the look? Or are you a true Tomboy who doesn’t need a feminine component at all.