10 Ways with the Sweater/skirt look

Fact: The sweater/skirt look is huge for the southern hemisphere autumn/winter 2014.

Its not a fully preppy look but can be.
Its not a neat pulled together look.
Its not with maxis - think midi, midi, midi.
Sometimes think mini.
It isnt with pencil skirts so much as it is with fuller styles.
But the fullness is reserved for the bottom half, staying close to the hips & flipping out below that.
Sometimes its with pleats, sunray rather than box.
But the box pleats tend to show up for the preppy versions.
Its with relaxed slouchy sweaters & sweatshirts - think chunky, oversize (body & sleeves) & logos on the chest. 

If you're petite - go lower scale on the "chunky" & keep the skirt no lower than knee length.

Got it?

1. Pleated midis

 2. Fitted & flared - these are the big ones for this trend

Celine

 

3. Circle skirt & A line styles

Wear it with your bomber jacket for a really current look.

4. The pencil

Jil Sander

One statement necklace is all that is necessary for this look. Since the sweater is chunky,
layering fine pieces generally doesnt work as well. 

Dries Van Noten

5. Mullet/boho style

6. Box pleat midi

7. Preppy mini

Etoile Isabel Marant

You can bring this trend into the southern hemisphere's summer
even though its before the official winter season.

8. With animal motifs

Your boyish brogues will work wonderfully
especially if your skirt is in a feminine fabric.

Animal always rules!

9. Short, flirty & extra youthful

Dont forget colour blocking can work this trend very well.

Short skirt? Tights will always work for those of us older than 30 yo!

10. Logo front

This is real, but there are plenty of fakes which deliberately
misspell the brand name to something funny like
Homies for Hermes or Feline for Celine. 

PS: Did you notice that the shoes have moved away from chunky, boots and have gone more to single sole & ladylike? Its a great contrast to the relaxed look of the clothes.  

10 Random Ways with a Little Black Dress

1. Street

2. Statement neckplate

Lanvin

 3. One shoulder tulle fantasy

4. Ballerina

Donna Karan

 5. Red pumps

6. The New Look

7. The New Raf Look

Dior Haute Couture

8. Pretty girl 

9. Sexy lace girl

10. Modern bow girl

Stephane Rolland Haute Couture

10 Ways of fashion week street looks for ordinary girls

All these photos are from fashion weeks in Europe recently.

I consider them to be smart looks which are combinations of largely ordinary styles of clothing in which you (& I) can bum around - jeans, pants, sweater, shirt, jacket, coat etc.

But alot of the combinations are FORMULAS which have been around for ages - a trench over a dress, an animal coat, a grey flannel coat, a white jacket over back.

& before you start saying you dont wear heels & you dont roll up your pants & you dont wear your coats that long & you dont wear white pumps etc etc, FINE - TWEAK the look - wear it with flats, dont roll up your pants, wear the coat short & change the pump colour. 

Use it as inspiration rather than as a carbon copy of "style".

Dont forget to "shop your closet" - since these are largely ordinary pieces of clothing - you may already have them lurking around at home. 

 1. Shirt pop under neutrals

Anyone who wears pants can do this look.
Just vary your lengths and width (coat, jacket, pants)
so it works for your shape.
Don't like shirts? Add a tee or a top.
The shirt's pop of colour under black & camel is an easy look.
Just make sure your pop colour flatters your face.

2. Pastel leather - so 2013

Coloured leather & chunky (or not so chunky) sweater

3. Animal never dates

Animal coat, no bells & whistles. The print is enough.

4. More coats 

- slim & neutral

A long slim coat works wonders & looks good.
Be very careful with this if you are petite.

-The trench

Trench over a dress? Formula

 - Uber directional print coat

Jzooshy jacket & shoes. Pop of colour is cute.
I adore the mix of heavy coat with summer weight shoes. Very confident. Very 2013.
Our grannies would be horrified.

- Bold & graphic coat

A graphic large scale print with neutrals.
Wallflowers need not apply.

5. Head to toe pastels

 

Pastels x 3
Lavender, peach & pink.

6. Sweater & sweat city

Oversize sweater with faux fishing boots.
Substitute any boot or shoe.
If you are petite, take with care.

This scale of sweater is mroe your scale if you are petite.
The grey jeans with an animal sweater are a bonus part of the look.
Oh & the jacket is really directional (hello! shoulders!)
- you can tone that down.

A structured sweat top with denim. Repeat the top colour in the shoes.
Make the denim the style that flatters you - doesnt have to be flared.

7. Country pumpkin, not

A bit of a country slant but the rolled pants & lace ups put it firmly into 2013.

8. Groovy shift, toned down with black

Bright shift, black tights,  jacket & boots. Again, formula.
Or you can tone it up with colour - another formula.

 9. Short bright print jacket

Another formula look - dark skirt, tights, boots, white top, printed jacket & a
bag that picks up one of the colours in the jacket.
Oh & the hat. Optional, but very cool.

 10. White jacket over black base

Long or short, it doesnt matter - wear what flatters you.
As for the black, again what flatters you?
Try flat shoes? A slouchy bag? Wide leg pants? A vee neck top?

10 Ways with Sweatpants

Tips for Sweatpants

The key to sweatpants is fit. Dont wear them baggy unless its deliberately so. Have them skim over your curves (skim, not cling). 

Next it's about styling. You dont have to wear them with elastic ankles and high waists. You can, but you dont have to. You can go for a low rise, a boot cut, a lean leg or even a drop crotch for a really directional look.

You also need to maintain "the look". Grooming & accessories are more important with traditionally casual pieces, to stop them slipping into "casual eew". 

Try any material or colour or print you can think of. 

Maintenance wise, dont treat them like the sweats you use for painting the house. Please. 

Wash them frequently (gently in cold water) so the cotton shrinks back to original size - no droopy seat or knees.

And you know what's really funny? Sweatpants are twice as easy to wear well as leggings because they dont hug to every curve.

1. Trenchcoat

The trench hides big bums. Not good for petites. Great for big bums. 

 Taupe & grey are made for each other.
Ground the look with black or navy &
this can take you to any lunch with the girls.

More neutrals with an animal shoe.

Camel, white & grey, grounded by tan. 

Any coloured trench will do the trick.

2.Tailored jacket

 

Neutral shoes against the grey sweat look dressy. 

With boots, she looks happy. 

A traditional riding jacket shape will always work to jzoosh it up.
Also love the belt & boots the purple shirt. 

You cant tell me you wouldnt wear this my friends?

3. Sporty bands or side stripes

4. Cropped

Cute tee,, bow in hair, fun comfy sandals. How cute!

Fine knit tucked in, waistband rolled & exposed.
In a pastel.

Loose oversize tee worn over, but
not too long so it looks sloppy. 

This time its a cropped jacket! 

With boots, belt & scarf to pull it together. 

Why not?

5. Drop crotch

A brave look, but can look amazing!

6. Total comfort

100% knits on sweats

 

Sweats on sweats with a belt & boots to pull it together.
This is Hannah McGibbon, a former Chloe designer, after Stella McCartney.

Matchy matchy but what an impact with colour!

More matchy matchy with animal shoes & tan accents.

7. With a sweater

The sweaters with colours and/or texture work best to amp up a sweatpant.

Duo fabric sweatpant. Definitely not for painting the house.

8. In leather or with leather

9. With fur

Good enough for Christine Centenera? Good enough for us.

10. With denim (or chambray)

Anyone who tells me there is nothing here for them, is lying. IMO!