Zip-lock bags are a marvelous invention. I have a few alternative uses for them that you might find useful for your closet:

• Store clothing receipts - customers in America are given a mind blowing amount of latitude when it comes to returning and exchanging items. It’s therefore a good idea to keep your recent clothing receipts in a safe place – like in a big zip-lock bag in one of your dresser drawers.
• Store spare buttons – our clothing often comes with spare buttons that are not sewn into labels, but in plastic sachets that are attached to the price tag instead. Keeping these is important. Prevent losing these spare buttons by popping them into a zip-lock bag every time you purchase something new.
• Store to keep things dust free - the top shelf of a walk-in-wardrobe often gets dusty. It’s on this shelf that we tend to store items that we use infrequently like ski goggles and ski gloves. They won’t get dusty if you seal them in a zip-lock bag.

Keeping your closet space accessible and organized is a wonderful feeling – make sure that those cupboards are culled before you start buying your updates for the new season.

It has taken almost 20 years for red to come back as a major fashion colour. It’s just what the doctor ordered to brighten up a dark palette for autumn and winter. The revival of red goes hand in hand with the revival of ‘80’s urban punk chic this season. It’s the colour of power, love and good fortune - and a lot more versatile than you might think.

Everyone can wear red – and that includes redheads! Nicole Kidman was breathtaking in Moulin Rouge when she wore red. It’s a question of finding the correct shade and intensity, which depends on the undertone colour of your skin. Your skin can either have warm or cold undertones; and shades of red can either have yellow or blue undertones. It’s easiest to determine which undertone you tend towards by looking at the inside of your hands.

• Skin with warm (yellow) undertones should select tomato reds 
• Skin with cold (blue) undertones should select richer cherry reds. 
• Some people have both sets of undertones and can therefore wear both.

I have always thought of red as a basic colour, along with black, white, grey and tan, despite its ability to be bright. If it’s a colour that you are not used to wearing – consider it as an accent or accessory instead. Stay tuned for how to wear it with style.

It’s fabulously feminine to show a bit of leg, so hiding less-than-shapely ankles under long pants is not always an option. If you are going to show them off, it is best to avoid certain shoe styles and stick to others.

Avoid…

• Pointy flats – the thinness of the point makes your ankle look stumpy.
• High ankle straps – enclosing your ankle will draw attention to it.
• Kitten heels – the daintiness of the heel is not in proportion to the size of your ankle and gives you that “falling over” effect.

Choose… 

• Loafers or clogs – the more substantial the shoe, the more in proportion it will look.
• A simple thong – the detail is around your toes, thereby drawing attention away from your ankle.
• Shoes with chunky heels – wedges and stacked heels will help balance the broadness of your ankle.

Finally, avoid tapered pants and pants cropped at the ankle - they are like spotlights on an area that you would prefer not to highlight.

Examples of footwear that will slim down thicker ankles - loafers, chunky heeled Mary-Janes and a pair of espadrille wedges (all from Zappos.com).

We need to wear clothes for all aspects of our life and that includes lounging around at home. While some of us might think that wearing an old size XXL varsity sweatshirt with pyjama pants is acceptable – we can do better then that. Invest in at least one set of comfy and currently styled sweats that you can climb into when you feel like relaxing at home. They are available at inexpensive stores like the Gap, old Navy or Target for under $70 (or even $50-$60 if you watch the sales). My sweats double up as a robe for my lifestyle. I get into them first thing in the morning and before I go to bed instead of putting a robe over my sleepwear.

I have found my trendy sweats to be an indispensable part of my wardrobe because I use them every day. Do yourself a favour and update the clothes that you lounge around at home in. It will kick your style quotient up a notch, and save you some embarrassment when someone unexpectedly turns up on your doorstep.

A hooded track jacket in yellow & brown from Target ($24.99) and a A pair of brown velour lounge pants from the Gap ($29.50).

A sweat hoodie from the Gap ($44) and a pair of flare leg fleece sweat pants from American Eagle ($29.50).

In the light of this season’s all important white shirt, I thought it best to address how to wear white successfully if you feel that it washes you out.

Misconception: you need to be an olive-skinned brunette to wear white and cream

I am blonde with pale skin (which is never tanned) and wear white and winter-white all the time. I absolutely love pearls and often wear them against my white skin. And it works. Here’s how to make it work for you:

• Keep your face polished – this means grooming and filling in your eyebrows, wearing mascara, keeping your cheeks rosy and your lips a darker shade of your natural colour. I am an advocate of showing restraint when it comes to applying make-up – but just the right amount adds polish to your face by making your features more distinctive.
• Create a contrast on top – layer an item in a strong colour over your white shirt (e.g. black waist coat or red jacket) or wear a necklace in a strong colour close to your face (e.g. green choker beads).
• Create a contrast on the bottom – wear your white shirt with dark jeans, pants or skirt.
• Opt for cream instead – sometimes the tone of a warmer version of white (like cream or off white) is better than pure optical white.

Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts and Renee Zellwegger are excellent examples of women who successfully wear white and cream despite their creamy complexions.

The white shirt is my number one must have for your wardrobe this season. Irrespective of your age, height, size or body type, you’ll be able to make this item work for your own personal style. Unlike the usual mantra that “a white shirt is a basic that everyone should have” – it’s actually a big fashion statement this season and not a basic at all.

As with all our clothing and accessories, it’s the combinations that will make the difference. There are different shirt lengths to choose from this season – anything from hipbone to knee length will be available. When it comes to your white shirt, think “out of the box”. Here are a few new suggestions:

• Tuck it in (if it’s tailored enough) and combine it with a skinny belt
• Leave it hanging out and pop over a wide waist belt
• Wear a fitted waistcoat over a standard or knee length version
• Layer a lacy camisole underneath your shirt and wear a sleeveless pullover or cardigan on top of that
• Wear a tight, printed baby t-shirt over your white shirt for a bit of extra spunk
• Pop it underneath a sleeveless black shift or A-line dress
• Consider it underneath a black corset if you are truly daring
• Keep it modernly classic underneath a tailored black jacket or completely on it’s own

A white shirt combined with a black layer will give you the best effect. Alternative colour combinations are certainly an option – but black and white remains most stylish this season. I personally have 4 white shirts in my wardrobe because one is just not enough.

These fancy white shirts are available from Nordstrom, but you’ll be just as stylish if you layer a fairly plain version from the Gap or Express.

Mango’s commercial runway looks at reality prices have arrived in Washington! Its location is on the ground floor of the Belle Square Mall in Bellevue. I went there a few days after their grand opening and was greatly impressed. Their store concept and standard of clothing is identical to any one of their branches around the world.

Their trendy and elegant collections remain extremely affordable. I had assumed that Mango’s clothing in America would be more expensive then what they offered in Europe – but the prices seem the same. Their sizes remain small regardless of what is indicated in the size label. Remember that European stores seldom have stock rooms, so if your size is not there, they won’t have it. The company’s philosophy is to keep their clothing exclusive which is why they only bring in about 8 of a style across 4 to 5 sizes. I was already frustrated to find that they had run out of my size in styles that I liked after only 2 days. However, the store replenishes its collections weekly, which always gives you a reason to buy something else!

Mango is planning to open a store in downtown Seattle within a year. It’s well worth a look if you fancy sophisticated high fashion that won’t break the bank.

It’s important to wear the right type of shoe for the shape of your ankle when you are wearing a skirt, dress or walk shorts. Women with fine boned ankles will look best in shoes with dainty ankle straps. A strap enclosing the ankle draws attention to it, making ankle straps an unflattering option for sturdier, less shapely ankles.

The shape of your ankle has nothing to do with your height, weight, or size. If you are a plus-size woman with bony ankles – by all means wear shoes with ankle straps. On the other hand, if you are slim with thicker ankles, it’s best to opt for shoes that don’t have ankle straps.

Because we reveal our ankles more in summer, we have to be particularly mindful of how we dress them. Ladies with less shapely ankles have more options in winter when we tend to cover our ankles up for warmth.

Fine ankles will look great in the Anne Klein sandal on the left, but sturdier ankles will be better off in the Kate Spade slingback on the right (both options available at Zappos.com).

I see people tying their belts and bows in appalling ways every day. What you’re aiming for is a neat, crisp knot that lies flat and looks nice. The reef, or square knot is the best way to do this. It’s extremely easy if you follow these simple instructions:

• Left over right, tuck under and tighten
• Right over left, tuck under and tighten

The pictures below (courtesy of Ian’s Shoelace Site) illustrate the process in 4 steps.

Once you get the hang of it, you’ll never forget it. The reef or square knot is what you should use when tying:

• a neck tie or waist tie on a girly top
• a neckerchief
• an oblong scarf
• a waist sash or belt

If you need to make a symmetrical and professional looking bow – try tying a reef knot first and then completing the normal steps involved in making a bow.

French fashion has been inspirational for centuries and is best known internationally through exclusive brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Gaultier. But there is a lot more to French fashion then unaffordable designer-wear. Another one of my favourite places to shop is Morgan de Toi, which translated into English means “Morgan for you”.

“Morgan offers exclusively creative items for women which are at the cutting edge of fashion, and that are displayed in an up market environment. The Morgan spirit is an identifiable French style that seeks to accentuate femininity and reflect seduction.”

Along with the romantic connotations of anything French, the Morgan label is about “the spirit of desire and seduction.”  Their clothing is sexy, slinky, sensual, contemporary and glamorous. They target confident 18–45 year old women with an alluring sense of style. Their sizes are very suited to petite small frames, which is why the second largest contributor to profits has been the Asian market (France being the first). They offer fully coordinated collections but specialize in knitted tops, knitwear, lingerie and accessories.

The playful and cheeky attitude of the brand is reflected in all of its items. This niche sets them apart from competitors  like Zara and Mango. What is most fantastic about the Morgan experience is their affordable prices. If you are feeling flirtatious and fancy a bit of affordable French fashion – be sure to pop into a Morgan store. You are sure to get an “ooh la la” from someone when you wear any one of their pieces.

The closest comparison to Morgan in the United States is Bebe – but then with an abundance of French flair. You’ll find Morgan stores all over Europe, Asia, Africa, Canada and Central America.