It’s easier to do dress business casual when you can pull your ensemble together with a sassy jacket. You’ll get away with wearing just about anything underneath if your jacket is fab and you won’t be taking it off. But what do you do when it’s too hot to wear a jacket, but you still need to look professional? It’s all about incorporating the right amount of tailoring and finishing the look off with punchy accessories.

Here are some guidelines for keeping it cool and chic:

• Blouses become your best friend because they’re airy and versatile. Leave them voluminous if you prefer that look and keep it streamlined with straight leg pants on the bottom. Add a waist belt for a bit of extra tailoring and pop a camisole underneath for added interest or if the fabric is sheer.
• Wrap-tie shirts are a modern-classic choice and forgiving around the mid-section. Ann Taylor has perfected these.
• Better-end styled knitted tops that are dressed up with eye-catching accessories and tailored bottoms will give you all the polish that you need.
• Wearing knee-length skirts and tailored walk shorts instead of slacks automatically keeps you air-conditioned.
• Consider sleeveless work-appropriate day dresses with cropped cover-ups if necessary.
• Carry a statement handbag even if you end up sitting at a desk most of the day. You’ll want to make the best impression when you do occasionally see clients.
• Finish it off with dressy open-toed sandals, sling backs or wedges and make sure that those feet are buffed.
• Finally, on fabrics: pure woven cottons, raw silks and linens will keep you cool but crease uncontrollably, so opt for fabric blends instead.

Enjoy the warm weather while it lasts!

These trendy blouse options are suited to a less conservative environment. They will have you looking professional, polished and appropriate, even as temperatures soar. Enjoy their versatility and wear them under jackets when it starts to cool down.

We’re nearing the end of Summer, but the evening weddings will continue well into Autumn. The Summer evening wedding cheat sheet aims to give you a good starting point for planning your outfit. It covers the three big areas you’ll be thinking about: your dress, your shoes, and your handbag. You will also find some pointers back to related blog entries.

You can use this post to comment on the cheat sheet. This is a new format for youlookfab, so your thoughts on what works and what doesn’t work would be much appreciated.

And as always, use the Ask Angie button if you have a specific question that you would prefer to ask in private.

This is a frequently asked question on youlookfab. Unless you’re off to drinks, dinner or a party straight afterwards, casual attire is perfectly fine for the cinema. The possibilities are endless, but breaking outfits down by the bottoms is a good way to summarise your options. Here are three formulas that will work in the cool weather most of us are experiencing at the moment:

• Jeans – match denim up with a longer length T or collared shirt, cropped pinstripe jacket or cardigan, and fashion sneakers or flat boots. Finish the look off with a hand held satchel and string of pearls or boho beads.
• Casual pants – match combat pants or khakis with a collared shirt, sweater, military jacket or denim jacket and converse sneakers. Accessorize with a slouchy hobo or messenger bag.
• Skirt – match a denim, corduroy or cotton twill knee-length skirt with a turtle neck, tweed jacket and tall flat riding boots. Add a waist belt and oversized tote to the ensemble for a bit of extra oomph.

Sweats are not appropriate for anything other than lounging around and working out. If you do need to be smart casual after the movies, stick to the flop-proof outfit. And remember to layer with a camisole underneath and a trench on top for extra warmth. Voila! You are stylish for the movies or any other casual event.

Khakis and sneakers (Esprit), collared shirt and jacket (Gap), cropped hooded cardigan (Anthropologie) and Isabella Fiore messenger bag (Nordstrom).

Sleepwear is where I personally draw the line – there is no style quotient in the land of nod and comfort is the only criteria. If you can’t wear itchy lace sets, that’s okay (I certainly can’t). If you dream best in boxer shorts and a tank, go for it. Shapeless, roomy, comfy PJ’s  are adorable and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

With sleepwear costing as much as outerwear, it’s usually the last item on my shopping list. Then again, this aspect of your wardrobe is extremely personal and best left between you and your bed sheets.

Victoria’s Secret has a super variety of sleepwear, but their quality is not high end. Not a bad place to get a cheap quick-fix if you need something fancy (or sexy).

Our work-out clothes are an aspect of our wardrobe that we often neglect, but you should look and feel fabulous while exercising. While few people feel their best wearing lycra from head to toe, substituting worn, stained and stretched t-shirts is not the answer. Cotton is a bad idea – it holds water while you sweat in temperatures that are cooler than your body temperature. You need clothing that keeps you dry when you perspire. The answer is to invest in the proper gear from authentic sports brands, and to wear it when you work out.

Here are a few ideas to help you feel better in your workout clothes:

• Longer length tops – wear a longer top when you wear lycra from head-to-toe. Cycling shops specialize in these and you won’t have that dreaded draft up your back while you’re touching your toes.
• Layer – pop a shorter sleeveless lycra or spandex blend top over your longer length one. The interest of the extra layer is slimming.
• Half lycra and half not – if you still feel that you can’t sport the all-lycra-look, go half way. Wear a tank top and sports bra with baggy running shorts or athletic bottoms; or a sporty form-fitting t-shirt (layer if you need to) with lycra or yoga pants.

Try and get your mind around feeling self conscious in your exercise clothes. Good for you that you’re getting your bottom into gear! Being healthy definitely increases your style quotient.

A mix-and-match story from Lucy: longer length tank, layering T’s, track top, athletic bottoms, running shorts, and lycra shorts.

Sometimes we need to attend a fancy do straight from work, with no time to go home and change before the event. Going from “desk to dinner” can be done stylishly with a few instant nighttime touches to your business casual or smart casual daytime outfit. Just add the following items: 

• Dressy heels – strappy sandals, jeweled sling backs or colouful platforms are shoes that you wouldn’t necessarily wear to work, but that you could change into just before the function.
• Fancy clutch – it’s imperative to carry a dainty bag to an evening event. Clutches are still my favourite option, but any fancy little handbag that matches your outfit will work.
• Some bling – a beautiful bracelet, necklace or earrings are just the thing to take your outfit into nighttime standards.

The above items are particularly easy to add to a worksuit or separates. By changing your shoes and your bag, and adding a piece of show stopping jewelry, you’ll have successfully modified your work outfit.

Sparkly drop earrings, a cuff bracelet and shiny heels (Nordstrom) are an instant dressy touch.

Winter clothing often makes us feel bulky and unfeminine. Chunky knits, turtlenecks, tweeds and thick soled shoes aren’t half as alluring as your favourite sexy summer pieces. Winter dressing calls for a chic and tailored approach.

Here’s how:

• Choose your fabrics carefully – winter clothing does not need to be thick to keep you warm. Select knitwear and coats made of finer fabrics such as mohair, wool blends and cashmere yarns instead. They are light, airy and just as warm. Chunky knitwear and polar fleece might make you look and feel bigger than you are.
• Keep your clothing streamlined – choose tailored clothing. There is nothing as sophisticated as a perfectly tailored coat. Match it up with a shaped collared shirt, cashmere pullover and ultra-long slacks or jeans with heels for an instantly chic look.
• Wear heeled boots – long heeled boots worn with knee length skirts, jeans, slacks, culottes or walk shorts are always a feminine alternative. 
• Make the most of winter accessories – funky hats, pretty scarves and dainty gloves are wonderful ways to keep warm and look fabulous in winter. Consider wearing accessories instead of bulking up with extra layers.

Keep it lady-like and tailored to feel just as girlie in winter as you do in summer.

Even lanky models look bigger than they are in the bulky knitwear above, but…

…streamlined cashmere and wool-blend pullovers can be more feminine and flattering.

Don’t forget to look fab in the snow! Whether you ski or snowboard, or just enjoy hanging out with others who do – make sure that you do it with style. This is the time to be kitted out in practical, comfortable and flattering gear that keeps you looking posh and polished as you hit the slopes.

It’s a good idea to buy a capsule of gear that you can mix-and-match. In this way you won’t get bored wearing the same outfit 5 days in a row.  Winter white, black, red and bright colours are my personal preference for snow gear simply because they stand out brilliantly against white snow. While you’ll certainly need enough room to maneuver, select inner and outer layers with a bit of shape – you’ll always look slimmer that way.

Stores like REI, Roots, Columbia, Patagonia and Helly Hanson are also on sale at the moment. With the best months for snow sport ahead of us – you might want to update at least part of your winter sporting outfit.

Hard and soft shell jackets, ski pants and wooly hats – all from REI. Winter sporting gear is expensive, but if this is something that you like to do, make sure that you have fabulous gear for the sport that you love.

We’ve all been caught with nothing to wear at some point or another. It’s immensely frustrating to be rushing around at the last minute trying to piece together an outfit for a fabulous bash. The simple solution is to keep a few fairly classic dressy basics in your wardrobe. That way you’ll be spared from disappointing shopping sprees, and prepared for last-minute invitations. 

Dressy basics to keep on hand:

• Little cocktail dress which doesn’t need to be black.
• Beaded top that you can wear with slacks, a skirt or a suit.
• Dressy pants in either satin, crepe or velvet.
• Dressy skirt that’s preferably a-line and knee length for maximum versatility, in either taffeta or raw silk.
• Dressy shoes in mule, sandal or sling-back.
• Perfect clutch that’s small and says something about your personality.
• Dressy wrap that’s a similar fabric weight to the dress or top it will accompany.

The next time you shop and fall in love with dressy items that you think you won’t need – think again.  Build a capsule of dressy items over time and don’t get caught! This can be cost effective, organized and less stressful in the long run.

Grace Kelly-inspired little black dress and fancy satin sling-backs from Bloomingdales.

Gold clutch from Nordstrom.

With the look of a men’s tux, but tailored for a women’s body, the tuxedo suit is a timeless dressy suit option for the party season. There are tuxedo suits everywhere at the moment, and the look couldn’t be easier to put together. It’s suited to most body types and won’t date (Calvin Klein and Donna Karan include tuxedo suits in their holiday collections every season). 

Here’s what to do once you have your suit:

• Add a fitted white tuxedo shirt and let the cuffs and hem peep out from underneath the jacket. Throw in a pair of glittery cuff-links for extra panache.
• Add a colorful shiny camisole for a more festive look.
• Wear the suit on its own, and add a shiny handkerchief.
• Wear cropped shorts instead of slacks as a cooler alternative in warmer climates

Keep the look extremely tailored to ensure elegance and femininity. Keep the accessories girly with pretty heels and a dainty evening bag. Now blow them away with your chic, comfortable and confident sense of style!

Tuxedo suits from Banana Republic, Classiques Entier (available at Nordstrom), and Ralph Lauren.