Girls dressed as boys

Having side-stepped the severe androgynous look of last year, I’ve happily thrown myself at the more relaxed, boyfriend-dressing which takes on a more casual intrepretation of the trend.  It’s become a bit of a daytime staple as it incorporates comfort and style in the right proportion and feels more wearable than stricter masculine shapes which don’t always flatter a girl-shaped body.

There’s the versatility to off-set the ‘boyfriend-cut’ with heels, pretty jewllery and girly hair so you’re not mistaken for your brother.

See below street-style and celebrity versions of the trend

Boyfriend jeans with oversized bag and coat finished with flats = effortless outfitting:

  

Olivia Palermo sporting a rare pared-down look:

An Olsen (same thing aren’t they?) with the well-versed oversized man-shirt & skinny jean ensemble:

January Jones in casual-but-chic airport attire:

Get the look with some relaxed, slightly-oversized pieces

Burton Men’s Tokyo Laundry Jumper £25:

Uniqlo MEN Fine Poplin Long Sleeve Shirt £19.90:

Uniform Wares Watch £390:

Reiss Cassidy Derby Shoe £54 (sale item):

 

 

 

 

Sport-Luxe Trend

The sport luxe trend has been prevalent for a few seasons (no doubt reignited by the Olympic flames) and was born to worn in Spring.  The easy, semi-fitted nature of sporty separates make them versatile and low-maintenance wardrobe pieces.  After a loooong winter of heavy knits, fur-lined boots and thermal headwear, the thought of effortless, nimbler clothing is something I’m poised ready to embrace when the biting temperatures cease.

Despite the casual, comfy  demeanour, don’t be fooled by the informal-looking fabrics and looser silhouettes, the ‘luxe’ portion means the trend is ideal for work and weekends alike.  As we’ve seen previously the slummy track pant yet again gets an upgrade (if only to premium economy) with heels and blazer companions.  The smarter tapered shapes won’t necessarily facilitate streamlined  jogging motions but then they’re not actually being worn to the gym. 

A lot of sport-luxe pieces are humble sweaters and vests masquerading under luxury cashmere and silk blends.  The idea is to elevate utilitarian, ‘everyday’ clothing into chicer, posher versions of themselves.  You don’t have to go out and overhaul your wardrobe to adopt this trend, try adding heels to jersey or slouchy dresses or  wear a light sweatshirt under an elegant blazer.  Languid, soft fabrics such as modal and fine-knit wool are inexpensive and create refined finishes without the dry-cleaning bill.

ASOS Collarless Blazer:

Whistles Margo Sporty Sweat Skirt:

Banjo & Matilda Sea Pant:

Uniqlo Men’s Sweatshirt:

NW3 Wax Parka:

Designers to check out:  The Row, Kain, Alexander Wang.

Wardrobe maintenance: the kaizen approach

I know I’ve said before that New Year is not the best time to start afresh despite all the probiotic yoghurt and fitness commercials telling us differently.  However in the spirit of Kaizen (a Japanese philosophy advocating the need for continuous improvement), the process of de-cluttering  shouldn’t be sporadic and overwhelming, a mini tweak can reinvigorate and get you out of your predictable jeans/boots/umbrella outfit rut.

I’ve found having limited space has been conducive to keeping volume under control and facilitates a more practical outlook.  Back in pre-London days my Cheltenham flat was, in hindsight, the size of a football field; I had a walk-in wardrobe and owned a museum-quantity of clothes (although perhaps not museum-worthy).  Some might think this uber space was a tiny bit luxurious, but give me portion controlled storage any day.  The more space available, the more you’ll fill it.  Morning outfit panics were trebly stressful and looking back, my ensembles lacked some coordination amidst the sheer clothing mass.

We’re familiar with the stats that suggest we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time and this is a good place to start when calibrating your wardrobe.  You’ll notice the 20% core is the practical, comfortable, flattering stuff – this is where you need to expand.  Obviously occasion and seasonal items are justified (I don’t believe in being as ruthless as binning anything you’ve failed to wear in the last 3 months) as you can’t attend weddings in gym trainers and an ‘interview’ skirt.

To avoid bulking up on the 80% portion of the wardrobe which lies dormant, avoid impulse purchases, sales (pur-lease don’t get up at 4am to queue at NEXT with an IKEA sized holdall), anything too trend-driven and shoes you can’t walk in.  Furthermore don’t buy countless dry-clean items and definitely don’t buy the wrong size with a half-hearted pledge to  diet or finally buy that sewing machine.

Try and buy fewer items throughout the year but trade-up to a better quality.  Brands such as Kain, Alexander Wang and J.Crew do great everyday collections.  Having said that, Uniqlo and COS are amazing high street alternatives.   I’m not encouraging a bland wardrobe full of endless jeans and white t-shirts but I have been known to rebuy flattering blazers or perfect-fit waxed jeggings to see me through on uninspired days.  You can always puncture the uniform look with interesting shoes and accessories.

Attempt to buy multitasking garments which will work for work and weekends and  do an approximate’ cost per wear’ sum in your head prior to purchase. 

In a similar Kaizen vein, avoid doing a massive shop each season (unless you’re loaded) as it not only sounds like a mountainous task but you’re likely to make myopic purchase decisions.

Shop little and often to keep your wardrobe interesting, relevant and flattering.

Katie’s Favourite Things of 2012

This time last year, each of us Style & Then Some-rs wrote a Christmas wishlist detailing all the things we hoped would be waiting for us under the tree come Christmas Day. This year, rather than listing what we want, we’re each going to write about our favourite things from 2012. And not just consumer goods either. We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in this country, so we thought we’d use that other great Turkey-centred holiday to remember all the things we’ve loved in the last year. Call it an antidote to the myriad gift guides currently populating every magazine and website you happen upon at the moment if you will.

1. This here blog

OK, this may sound like a rather self-congratulatory start, but it’s not like that. It’s because I’m really happy with how S&TS has developed over 2012. We took on two new girls - Katy and Jo - who are not only excellent writers but all round great gals too; went to two more London Fashion Weeks; gathered lots more readers and online pals; and generally had a lovely time doing it. I’m really happy that I have this great creative outlet and five awesome friends to hang out with too, and I hope it carries on for a long time yet. Sorry, I think I’m getting a bit soppy now.

2. I got my first proper writing job

After Sophie Charara kindly hooked me up with her contacts at the Press Association, in April I started doing work experience there every Monday on the Features Desk. To my total surprise, this turned into a proper part-time job in July, and I’m still there now, writing about fashion, beauty, film, TV and lots of other stuff, every Monday. I can confidently say I like Mondays considerably more than the average Londoner, and considered how many interns toll for years without pay, I feel really lucky to be there.

3. I finally went to the Edinburgh Festival

After years of people telling me ‘you HAVE to go to the Edinburgh Festival, you will LOVE it,’ I went. And I loved it. Here’s why.

4. I discovered the Best Festival Ever

My other fantastic festival find of the year was Beatherder, a tiny (in comparison to any of the big ‘uns) mostly electronic music festival in my glorious home county, Lancashire. My friend Ruth took me along and even though I hardly knew any of the 20 people we were with I made loads of new friends and had probably the best time I’ve ever had at a festival, even though it rained almost constantly. I really hope they keep the capacity to just 5,000 so that it stays just as good in future, because I am DEFINITELY going back.

5. I gave up drinking

After suffering monumental hangovers for years, in September I decided to trial giving up alcohol, and I haven’t looked back since. OK, I fell off the wagon once, but that was it. Going teetoal was far easier than I thought it would be (it turns out I’m not as socially dependent on booze as I thought I was) and has vastly improved my life in many ways. I highly recommend giving it a go.

6. I found my new favourite sitcom

Yes, I know it’s Mitt Romney’s too, but Modern Family is the best comedy programme I’ve seen in years. Here’s why.

7. Some of my favourite people came to London

My Best Friend in the Whole World, Caroline, moved back from living in Australia, three of my bezzies back from a year away travelling and S&TS’s own Katy ‘Spinky’ Spry visited the capital frequently. This might not mean much to you, but I was pleased.

8. I found the Best Shirt Ever

OK, admittedly, this is a material possession, but it was such a good find I have to share. You know when you happen upon an item of clothing that you subsequently wear so much that can’t believe you lived without it? Well this winter I discovered that Uniqlo’s men’s size extra small flannel shirts are way better than the women’s for me, because I don’t really have any curves to speak of, and promptly started a collection of them. They are warm and comfy, and if you like a bit of androgynous style, I can’t recommend them highly enough. With this many varieties available, my collection is far from over.

My Christmas Wish List | Katie

As if you didn’t need another reminder that you haven’t got all your Christmas shopping done yet (well I know I haven’t), in the run up to Christmas us five members of team Style & Then Some will each be telling you what gifts we hope to find Father Christmas (or Mum, Littlewoods would have you believe) has deposited in our stockings. Obviously we’ve all been VERY good girls this year and the big, fat, bearded guy will definitely have our names will down on the Nice list.

Kicking off, here are 10 treats that would make me a happy girl on Christmas morning. As you will see they, for the most part, can be categorised as either clothes, books, or beauty.

I love how sleek and subtly sexy this variation on the LBD is. The ASOS Bodycon Dress in Cutwork Lattice seems to be getting reduced by the day. It started at £45 and is now just £27. Praying it doesn’t sell out so that I can get myself one after Christmas if Santa doesn’t come through.

Admittedly, I already own four Heattech tops from Uniqlo, but they are SO useful that I really don’t think I could ever have too many. Women’s HEATTECH Crew Neck T-Shirt, £9.90.

I’ve wanted a tux jacket for ages. I think white is that bit more daring than black, but still classic enough to last for ages. ASOS PETITE Exclusive Tuxedo Blazer, £55.

Everybody says Caitlin Moran’s How To Be A Woman, a kind of modern day guide to feminism, is brilliant.

I’ve been meaning to read Garbiel Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude for about a hundred years (boom boom) because people who know what I like say I will love it. And if Penguin say it’s a modern classic, who am I to argue?

As a iPhone devotee (well, until I was given a Nokia Lumia) I’m fascinated by Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography is the only biography authorised by the man himself, apparently, and it was released just after his death.

I don’t understand why people buy expensive mascara, because whenever you see videos of famous make up artists they’re so often using a tube of the classic green and pink-packaged Maybelline Great Lash Mascara, which is only £5.19 at Boots.

I was given some Groomed Face Scrub Smooth Off at a press event in August and promptly handed it over to my boyfriend. But I’ve kind of regretted that because every time I use it at his house I remember how good it is – it smells so fresh and leaves my skin feeling decidedly smoother. I can hardly believe it’s only £1.50 from Asda.

Yves Saint Laurent ‘Elle’ perfume has been my signature scent ever since it was released in 2007. I’m almost at the end of my huge 90ml bottle and ready for a refill.

How amazing is this? I think Sophie Caldecott will like it. The Nordicware Gingerbread House Cake Tin produces a perfectly shaped gingerbread house ready for you to decorate just as expertly as in the picture below. Only thing is, it costs £37. Bit much for a cake tin if you ask me!

What do you think of my Christmas wish list? Anything you’ll be adding to yours, or ideas you’ll be stealing for others people’s gifts?