The hottest denim silhouette for 2008 is a slim fit jean with a wider leg opening that’s no more than 8 inches on the half circumference. This makes it wider than a skinny or straight leg, but not quite as wide as a flare leg. This so called new silhouette sounds like a good old modern-classic boot cut to me, and most of us have at least one pair of those. Don’t worry ladies, as far as I can gather, last year’s denim silhouettes continue to reign supreme. Skinnies, straight legs, boot cuts and wide legs are all fab.

Wide leg	Slim fit boot cut	Straight leg	Skinny

Choose one or have fun with more denim silhouettes this year. I take pleasure in wearing all of the styles above, but I’m enjoying my straight legs the most right now.

One thing we often talk about behind the scenes at youlookfab is the quality of the comments – our passionate, knowledgeable and eloquent readers make a lot of thoughtful contributions that really add value to the blog. This makes it seem a pity that people don’t have more of an opportunity to start their own threads. It is true that many of the readers have their own blogs, but many don’t.

Another thing we noticed is that people often ask questions on the comment threads, and it is fantastic to see other people jumping in and helping their fellow readers. With the growth in youlookfab, the number of “Ask Angie” questions is starting to outstrip the number of hours in the day I have to respond. It would be brilliant if it was easier for people to turn to the youlookfab community.

So we decided to create the youlookfab forum. It is extremely simple – after signing up just once you will be able to post to one of four different areas: What to Wear, Where to Shop, The Industry and Everything Else.

You can also browse the forum (without signing up), or contribute to the conversations started by other people. From now on, “Ask Angie” questions will be posted in the forum, so you can also look at the latest questions and see whether there are opportunities for you to share your experiences or give advice. I will still be answering questions, but will now be doing so in the forum.

Like any new software thing, the forum is bound to have some teething problems. If you experience one of these, or if you have some feedback that might help us improve the forum, then please reply to this post.

Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

Last week’s Globe and Mail had a great article on what the year ahead will hold. Apparently fashion and design “is rife with scaly things, one-piece wonders and plenty of gloss”. Let’s take a closer look at what this means for our shopping and wardrobe adventures:

• Shocking shades – pink, purple and green join last year’s yellow and cobalt blue. Fantastic. it’s high time we had options other than neutrals.
• Acid wash denim – for jeans, trenches, dresses and swimwear. I’ve never liked acid wash, so I shall be bypassing this trend.
• Garden State – say goodbye to dainty floral designs and hello to huge hydrangea prints. I’m reserving my judgment until I see how this trend has been interpreted.
• Size matters – billowing sack dresses are bigger than ever. I’m used to the look and enjoy the silhouette when it’s worn in the right way. It’s a fashion forward and ultra comfortable alternative to body conscious silhouettes.
• Shoulder pads – I can’t go there again. I’ll leave this fad to the youngsters to enjoy for their very first time.
• Sheer delights – it’s the start of the “see through” trend and I’m intrigued. I enjoy delicate fabrics when they are contrasted with sturdier ones because it’s feminine and robust at the same time.
• Romper room – jumpsuits and all-in-one playsuits are hip again. Oh dear. We’ll think twice about needing the loo if we wear these numbers.
• Funky footwear – lots of colour blocking, stubby toes and sky-high platforms. Another disappointing footwear season.
• Blazer of glory – blazers with tipped lapels and embroidered crests make their preppy return. Love it. Uniforms are underrated.
• Flashdance faces – black ringed eyes, goopy gloss and heavy handed make-up are the “it” look. Awful. I’m sticking to my subtle 30 second make-up routine.

You will recognize colour and volume, which also featured in the fashion buzzwords for 2008, as common themes for the year ahead.

Beyond fashion, you’ll be in vogue if you live in a modern, chalet-inspired interior, eat locally produced food, cook with copper pots, install a lift in your home and make North Africa your top place to visit this year. For better or for worse, 2008 is full of ‘80’s excess. I’m sure we’ll have a lot to say about what we loved and loathed at the end of this year.

Hot-off-the-press colourblock footwear from Nordstrom’s 08 Spring collection. I can’t say they’re my cup of tea.

Last week The Seattle Times confirmed that Swedish “high fashion low cost” giant H&M plans to open not one, but three stores in the greater Seattle area:

• University Village (which we knew)
• Southcenter mall in Tukwila (their largest store in Seattle)
• 520 Pike Tower downtown (great news)

The article points out that the chain stores are expected to open in Autumn 2008 instead of Spring. This makes the wait for Seattleites a little longer, but is well worth it if three stores are in the pipeline instead of the original one.

After all the hype I’ve created I hope that the Seattle stores are high on H&M’s priorities. I’ve shopped at H&M in Asia, Europe and America and the stores are not created equal. As is true for all fashion chains, the best merchandise goes to their top stores. There’s only one way to find out, so roll on Autumn and let’s see what they have to offer.

Storing necklaces in a jewelry box is not the best solution unless…

1. there are compartments big enough to hold each necklace separately and
2. the full contents of the box is visible at all times.

I’ve found jewelry box storage for necklaces to cause endless tangling and chaos. I forget what I have and refrain from wearing anything that requires straightening out. Ideally, necklaces would be hung tangle-free in an area where you can see them as you get dressed.

I have an inexpensive, convenient solution for my everyday fashion necklaces. I’ve hung a tie-rack horizontally on the wall of my walk-in wardrobe and each hook holds a few necklaces. A hook rack will also work and so will hanging necklaces on nails on the inside of your closet door. No untangling, effortless access, constant visibility and easy accessorizing. What a pleasure.

I much prefer the aesthetic of pretty jewelry boxes, but the messy inaccessibility of my necklaces drove me batty.  Seeing as I don’t wear earrings or bracelets, my jewelry box is home to my rings and nothing else.

USA Today confirmed that Sunday’s Golden Globe award ceremony has been canceled due to the ongoing writers strike. They point out that this is miserable for fashion designers who rely on red carpet events to expose their work and that the cancellation would have a financially draining ripple effect. Make–up artists who make the bulk of their income during award season are out of a job, and non-profits such as “clothes off our back” (who auction off red carpet gowns for charity) can kiss their inventory goodbye.

It is a pity that the designers’ efforts won’t be seen at the Globes, but all is not lost. Well known red carpet dress designer Monique Lhuillier astutely pointed out that dressing celebrities for movie premieres will gain importance if fewer award ceremonies are in the pipeline. There’s also the rest of the award season to look forward to. Hopefully there will be ample opportunity for designers to showcase their work at the Oscars, Grammys and Emmys this year.

I’ll miss reporting on my top red carpet picks at this year’s Golden Globes. Perhaps a glimpse of last year’s favourites will bring back a spot of Hollywood glamour this month.

Coats come in a wide range of different cuts and silhouettes and there are many different things to consider if you want to make the purchase a good investment. You’re after a strong shoulder line, a skimming silhouette and the correct sleeve and hem length in order for coats to look their best. Here are some simple rules to apply:

• Layer properly. You need to comfortably wear two layers underneath a dressy coat (a camisole or shirt, and a fine piece of knitwear). If this is not the case, go up a size or try another style. Casual parkas are usually a little roomier and allow for thicker knits and more layers.
• Ensure that you can move freely. You’ll need to drive, reach out and lift in your coat. This is achievable when a coat is too big, but you’ll have lost your shoulder line and skimming fit. Make sure that your coat is tailored and comfortable at the same time.
• Choose the length that works best for your height. Petites look best in coats that are on the knee or shorter, while taller girls can pull off most lengths. I’ve found coats that finish at the knee best because they work perfectly with dresses, skirts and pants.
• Sleeves should clear the top part of your gloves. Long sleeves are too short if they finish on your wrist. Bracelet length sleeves finish just above the wrist while three-quarter sleeved coats should finish halfway between your wrist and elbow.

Whether it’s quilted, furry, woolen or sporty, a coat needs to drape well and create a flattering, unbroken vertical line. Finding a coat that fits well is challenging and there are unfortunately no shortcuts. You’ll need to try many to begin with, get to a shortlist of candidates and then make a careful final decision.

Fab fitting coats from Nordstrom.

I’ve experimented with all sorts of slippers and the ones that I found under my Christmas tree a few weeks ago are the best yet. They’re made by a German slipper company called Haflinger who take pride in marketing their product as “the world’s most comfortable slipper”. I would have to agree.

Their slippers offer arch support, cozy interiors, a double felt non-skid sole and of course, they look nice. They’re made of breathable boiled wool and are completely machine washable. They set you back a pretty penny ($50 - $65), but you’ll find them on sale on sites like Footsmart and Onlineshoes.

I’ve tried everything from $8 styles (Target) to the kind that mould to the shape of your feet (Brookstone). They either stretch out, lack support, tear, make my feet perspire or feel slippery. Haflinger has found the formula that is perfect for me. Here’s to fabulously happy feet at home.

I’m particularly partial to the cream ones with the lamb appliqué (left). They’re on my feet right now.

Hosting a clothes swap event for a bunch of girlfriends is a great way of passing on your unwanted items of clothing, accessories and footwear to their next happy owner. It’s the perfect party to plan right after a closet sweep and straight after Christmas when our pockets are empty and the weather is miserable (for most of us anyway).

Invite a group of ladies around, asking each of them to bring at least ten tasteful and stylish items to swap. Throw in refreshments and giggle your way to a free wardrobe fix. At best you’ll end up with treasures; at worst you’ll give your clothes a second life. Either way, you will have fun with friends and edit your closet at the same time.

I believe in a small, fully-functional and efficient wardrobe. Those of you who have seen my closet will back me up when I say that I share a small walk-in wardrobe with my husband and I keep all my seasons, footwear and accessories together in one place. I keep my coats in a closet downstairs and my underwear, socks and workout wear in a chest of drawers that I share with hubby.

That’s it. Everything that I need to put together an outfit is in sight and on hand and this is key. I get to shop in my own closet everyday which keeps me calm and makes my toes tingle. It takes a bit of energy keeping your closet organized but once you’re in the routine, it’s easy as pie and worth the effort. I swear that I save time and money by knowing exactly what I have and being able to retrieve it instantly.

Creating a happy, practical and comfortable personal dressing environment is achievable, even if your closet is relatively small. It’s a question of savvy editing and clever storage. Take the time to clean out your closet over the next few weeks and make 4 piles (a pile to donate, to alter, to store and to keep). Once you’ve done that, get organized and introduce a closet system that works for you.

I edit my closet 4 times a year and use a “one-in, one-out” principle which keeps it tight and manageable. The skill lies in updating a wardrobe with the right items to keep your look current, timeless and fab, and in the correct amounts to keep your wardrobe balanced.

These skills can be learned and applied. It also helps to have the right storage and these IKEA wardrobe systems are affordable and may serve as some inspiration.