The appearance of the new spring lines in stores and on websites has set my heart aflutter and my thoughts toward how to update my wardrobe. It's amazing how much fashion can change in just a few seasons. A couple of years ago, there was a full-fledged revival of 1950s fashion thanks to the release of nostalgia-inducing films like Down with Love and Mona Lisa Smile. Ultra-feminine peep-toe pumps, full skirts, and demure details like bows and satin trim flooded the stores.
I must confess that, being a diehard admirer of that look, I've been resistant to adopting the 80's revival aesthetic (long shirts, skinny jeans, tights...kind of like the gondola scenes in Madonna's "Like a Virgin" video except not as drastic). When it first appeared, I thought it was so overtly trendy it would just be a flash in the pan. Well, the new spring stuff has proven me wrong. Long shirts are still hiding (or highlighting, depending on how tightly you wear them...ugh) wobbly bits on waists and hips. Skinny jeans and tights are still here. Times change and styles change...as much as I've tried to hold on to the aesthetic of several seasons past, I guess I will have to change along with them.
However, I don't want to relinquish my personal sense of style in pursuit of trends. Here are some of the pieces I've found in the last few weeks, and how I plan to integrate them into my current wardrobe:
Long tops. At the new Mantique outlet near my house, I found a long (i.e. past my hips) white sweater for about $20. It's a bit see-through and has short ruched sleeves and a deep V, so it looks really good layered over my basic, long-sleeved cotton tees in different colours. Most of my tees aren't long ones , so the sweater turned out to be an easy, inexpensive way of instantly updating my wardrobe by elongating the waistline on older-style tops. I would wear long tops like this with a belt or a patterned scarf or sash at the natural waistline. It breaks up the long-torso-short-legs look that can sometimes result when wearing long tops, and also accents the smallest part of your body. The tops go with jeans beautifully, but I'm thinking of pairing them with dress pants and intricate pumps.
Cropped jackets. Cropped jackets seem so frivolous and have the dangerous possibility of shortening your torso when compared to jackets with more classic cuts. But long tees, tanks, and sweaters seem to demand a shorter blazer to balance out the proportion and break up the long-torso look. I tried to look for one with a belt or seam that would define my natural waistline. With a long top underneath, a cropped jacket can work with any sort of bottom. I want to wear mine with the fuller skirts in my wardrobe for a girly feel.
Bermuda shorts and capris. Being 5'3", for the longest time I couldn't seem to find capris and long shorts that didn't make my legs look stumpy and thick. This season, I found basic cotton capris and bermudas at American Eagle and Old Navy that did neither. I like the look of long shorts paired with platform heels (the higher the better), espadrilles, or low wedges if you're looking for everyday comfort: the high heel elongates the leg and slims down calves and ankles. (Note: Heels are to be avoided unless worn with gel inserts. See below.) The dressy feel of longer shorts and capris would go nicely with the classic-cut cotton blazers and military-inspired light jackets from the last two years.
Low wedges and ballet flats. Because I have to walk and take public transit around the city, I'm a bit of a high-heel-phobe, "high" being anything over 1.5", or a serious impediment when sprinting to catch a bus as it leaves the stop. Most retailers seem to have caught on. A great selection of low wedges and ballerina flats have made their way to stores. One note of caution though: If you succumb to the temptation of white eyelet flats, which seem to be everywhere this season, don't wear them with dark-rinse jeans, or you might end up with blue marks on your pretty, previously immaculate shoes.
That being said, here are a couple of trends I plan to keep on avoiding:
Babydoll dresses. Five words: "Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew!" This trend is strictly limited to the young and underemployed, since no self-respecting woman over 30 should wear a skirt or dress that short; it's just not age-appropriate (or work-appropriate for any age). It's not exactly the most flattering dress silhouette. Have you seen the Old Navy commercial where tall, thin models prance around in cotton babydoll dresses with radiant smiles on their faces? In reality, the V in the back and the front are way too low-cut for everyday wear unless you layered a cami underneath. The stiff cotton fabric doesn't move or flow, and instead puckers into a tent right under the empire waistline, giving the slimmest woman a 5-months pregnant look.
The appearance of the new spring lines in stores and on websites has set my heart aflutter and my thoughts toward how to update my wardrobe. It's amazing how much fashion can change in just a few seasons. A couple of years ago, there was a full-fledged revival of 1950s fashion thanks to the release of nostalgia-inducing films like Down with Love and Mona Lisa Smile. Ultra-feminine peep-toe pumps, full skirts, and demure details like bows and satin trim flooded the stores.
I must confess that, being a diehard admirer of that look, I've been resistant to adopting the 80's revival aesthetic (long shirts, skinny jeans, tights...kind of like the gondola scenes in Madonna's "Like a Virgin" video except not as drastic). When it first appeared, I thought it was so overtly trendy it would just be a flash in the pan. Well, the new spring stuff has proven me wrong. Long shirts are still hiding (or highlighting, depending on how tightly you wear them...ugh) wobbly bits on waists and hips. Skinny jeans and tights are still here. Times change and styles change...as much as I've tried to hold on to the aesthetic of several seasons past, I guess I will have to change along with them.
However, I don't want to relinquish my personal sense of style in pursuit of trends. Here are some of the pieces I've found in the last few weeks, and how I plan to integrate them into my current wardrobe:
Long tops. At the new Mantique outlet near my house, I found a long (i.e. past my hips) white sweater for about $20. It's a bit see-through and has short ruched sleeves and a deep V, so it looks really good layered over my basic, long-sleeved cotton tees in different colours. Most of my tees aren't long ones , so the sweater turned out to be an easy, inexpensive way of instantly updating my wardrobe by elongating the waistline on older-style tops. I would wear long tops like this with a belt or a patterned scarf or sash at the natural waistline. It breaks up the long-torso-short-legs look that can sometimes result when wearing long tops, and also accents the smallest part of your body. The tops go with jeans beautifully, but I'm thinking of pairing them with dress pants and intricate pumps.
Cropped jackets. Cropped jackets seem so frivolous and have the dangerous possibility of shortening your torso when compared to jackets with more classic cuts. But long tees, tanks, and sweaters seem to demand a shorter blazer to balance out the proportion and break up the long-torso look. I tried to look for one with a belt or seam that would define my natural waistline. With a long top underneath, a cropped jacket can work with any sort of bottom. I want to wear mine with the fuller skirts in my wardrobe for a girly feel.
Bermuda shorts and capris. Being 5'3", for the longest time I couldn't seem to find capris and long shorts that didn't make my legs look stumpy and thick. This season, I found basic cotton capris and bermudas at American Eagle and Old Navy that did neither. I like the look of long shorts paired with platform heels (the higher the better), espadrilles, or low wedges if you're looking for everyday comfort: the high heel elongates the leg and slims down calves and ankles. (Note: Heels are to be avoided unless worn with gel inserts. See below.) The dressy feel of longer shorts and capris would go nicely with the classic-cut cotton blazers and military-inspired light jackets from the last two years.
Low wedges and ballet flats. Because I have to walk and take public transit around the city, I'm a bit of a high-heel-phobe, "high" being anything over 1.5", or a serious impediment when sprinting to catch a bus as it leaves the stop. Most retailers seem to have caught on. A great selection of low wedges and ballerina flats have made their way to stores. One note of caution though: If you succumb to the temptation of white eyelet flats, which seem to be everywhere this season, don't wear them with dark-rinse jeans, or you might end up with blue marks on your pretty, previously immaculate shoes.
That being said, here are a couple of trends I plan to keep on avoiding:
Babydoll dresses. Five words: "Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew!" This trend is strictly limited to the young and underemployed, since no self-respecting woman over 30 should wear a skirt or dress that short; it's just not age-appropriate (or work-appropriate for any age). It's not exactly the most flattering dress silhouette. Have you seen the Old Navy commercial where tall, thin models prance around in cotton babydoll dresses with radiant smiles on their faces? In reality, the V in the back and the front are way too low-cut for everyday wear unless you layered a cami underneath. The stiff cotton fabric doesn't move or flow, and instead puckers into a tent right under the empire waistline, giving the slimmest woman a 5-months pregnant look.
Skinny pants. Why in the world women would want to wear pants that cling so tightly their legs and calves look like Polish sausages is beyond me. I was infuriated when Gap took its cue from Audrey Hepburn's all-black bohemian outfit in Funny Face to introduce the black skinny pant last fall. First, that sort of cut on a pant only looks good if you've got a build like Audrey's, who, incidentally, used to be a trained dancer and suffered malnutrition during strict WWII rationing. Second, the woman wore so many breathtaking outfits in Funny Face designed by Givenchy; why not take inspiration from those? Why in the world women would want to wear pants that cling so tightly their legs and calves look like Polish sausages is beyond me. I was infuriated when Gap took its cue from Audrey Hepburn's all-black bohemian outfit in Funny Face to introduce the black skinny pant last fall. First, that sort of cut on a pant only looks good if you've got a build like Audrey's, who, incidentally, used to be a trained dancer and suffered malnutrition during strict WWII rationing. Second, the woman wore so many breathtaking outfits in Funny Face designed by Givenchy; why not take inspiration from those?
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