There are trends. And then there are timeless styles. No matter the fads in town the latter will always have our hearts. Such is the case of the one skirt style that flatters every woman, that’s great for office as well as parties, or more formal gatherings. The PENCIL SKIRT. With autumn here hems and lengths are a bit longer, and we ditch the relaxed silhouettes of summer for more polished, structured and sophisticated cuts and style.

For working women pencil skirts are the #1 office style staple. They’re like this sartorial uniform that’s never passe and you can’t go wrong with. Not to mention how quickly it literally polishes up a look, regardless of what you pair it with.  Which only brings me to my next idea: how easy it is to wear pencil skirts in terms of the ‘How To Style Them?’. Due to their flattering cut, they fit any body shape like a glove. They elongate, they slim yet play up the the curves, they conceal, yet are fitted enough to follow your body line in that very refined sort of way.

Styling them is a piece of cake as long as you keep in mind ONE majorly important tip. Always wear heels with them: stiletto sandals are so very sexy & classic pumps are timeless.  I always used to say that stiletto heels (no platforms) best flatter any outfit and body. And it seems to me, in this case it’s truer than ever, just because you need extra height if you’re wearing a pencil skirt, yet at the same time you want to keep it light in the feet, to get that hourglass effect.

Of course we can still wear flats with them, it’s not a fashion crime, au contraire it’s kind of 50s laid back. I’ve done it a few times, and actually loved it. Even chunky styles work or sneakers, but it’s more of an edgy style.

How To Style the Pencil Skirt?

There’s this new craze in town of pairing high waisted pencil skirts with crop tops. From fitted to loose crop tops in different fabrics or exactly the same ones as the skirt. Think uber trendy deux-pieces. The look is in between those late 90s glam grunge, Dolce & Gabbana imperial decadent bustiers, and retro glamorous looks. Show just a bit of midriff. Wear a coat on your shoulders and why not spice it up with a peak of body jewelry.  Stiletto shoes look best with this look.  Posh pencil skirts paired with simple t-shirts, sweatshirts, or sweaters are a bit more fashion forward in that effortless sophisticated sort of way. Especially the leather pencil skirts. Pair them with a bit of bling, like a statement necklace. Keep your stilettos on.

One look I’ve rarely seen, but I think would be smashing hot is pairing a pencil skirt (that has a slit) with thigh high boots. A chunky turtleneck for coziness OR a basic tee for a balanced look will do the trick.  Pencil skirts & office tops like chiffon or silky blouses are the definition of smart professional styles. Classic pumps on. A blazer on top, or don a denim or leather jacket for a slight edge. 

Why ALL women love pencil skirts?

They’re empowering. Look amazing on all bodies. Are easy to style. Aaaand go from office to cocktail parties, fancy gatherings, dates, important meetings. You get the idea. When you wanna look super hot but also rule the world. 

When not to wear pencil skirts?

Places like to bed, to the beach kinda go without saying. Also one more thing: I might be under last Saturday’s influence on this one, when I went to this very glamorous club, and except for a few girls out there, everyone else was fucking wearing office outfits. Same bloody uniform: painted on high wasited pencil skirts and silky shirts tucked it. WTF? In a club. No. No. We get it, you want to look professional, and be taken seriously, but hello, unless you’re working the night rounds (which btw would require a whole new outfit) leave the pencil skirt + shirt for 9 to 5. Don’t you wanna dance, enjoy yourselves. Or don a crop top with it, or a simple t-shirt.

And while we’re at it, er… no stripper shoes on. Ahh, but what do I know. Who died and made me an expert anyway?!

Okay, with this off my chest, let’s kick back and see some STREET STYLE fashion inspo. :)  What do you think?

Every year I say the same thing once autumn settles in: ‘never before have sweaters been so IN.’ Difference is, this year it’s actually true (Ha!). How so? Imagine all the sweaters styles in history, imagine all the hip designs that were once cool, imagine those granny chic cuts, those 90s crop ones, last year’s chunky and oversized styles. Now imagine you can wear any and look fab. Well, that’s what today’s sweater fashion is all about.

With an extra adage to the whole lot. The TURTLENECKS. The rise of this look in both fitted as well as loose chunky styles comes as no surprise. Not with the 70s on the rise, hence the extension of this trend to menswear as well.  YES women rule the world of fashion, or so they say, but lately whatever we wear, buys can wear too. Whatever’s hot for us is hot for them, whatever’s trendy for us  trendy for them as well. Of course the turtleneck sweater trend for both men and women is no groundbreaking fashion discovery or statement. It’s been done since ever probably.  Only difference is, turtlenecks started off as being super fashionable in the 70s (see all those fashion/style/music icons wearing them), but with their peak came their fall as well: they went on in the 90s I guess through more fitted styles and cropped designs, the 2000’s had them pretty much exiled (with only very few styles surviving).  2014 – 2015 Autumn/Winter gives us a major green light to wearing all the possible turtlenecks we can think of from retro chic, to grungy glam, to hobo chic, granny styles, last year’s oversized messy chunky cuts and anything else that comes with a neck, you know. 

GIRLS: HOT Turtlenecks Sweaters & How To Wear Them This Season? 

Oversized big collar turtlenecks are the stars of the season. Wear them as a sweater dress or over skinny jeans or pants, over mini skirts, flirty dresses, and pair them with heels (thigh high boots or pumps) for a more sexy style, or flats for a chic casual approach.  Style tip: leave your hair tucked in, wear big chunky sweaters as jackets if you can (no layers on top), leave the collar of the sweater messy.  Pair them with more delicate fabrics: chiffon, silk, light textures, lace.  If you feel you look too sloppy in a big chunky sweater the trick is to don heels, they will make you look taller, more polished and give a certain coolness and effortlessness to your look.  Fitted turtlenecks sweaters. These are more classic, more literally 70s style, reminding me of how my mom and dad used to wear them in stretchy fabrics underneath a cardigan or a blazer. That’s the look today. Wear them as a pop of color underneath an outfit, as a nude base to a look, or as a basic sleek outfit (all nude, all white, all black. Monochromatic!) cause you know at the end of the day they’re also the best way to stay warm in winter. And they’re perfect for office. :) Accessorize them with a great necklace.

BOYS: Chunky Cable Turtleneck Sweaters. How To Wear Them?

Oh. My. God. I happen to think there’s nothing hotter in winter (in that cool effortless sort of way) than a man in a chunky oversized sweater with a messy collar all the way up to his beard or stubble. Sigh. Choose loose cuts, yet not too overzied to avoid looking frumpy.  Men can wear casual knitted turtleneck sweaters just about anywhere paired with anything: office, weekends, with boots, sneakers, with jeans, black pants, blazers, jackets, coats, vests.  Fitted sleek turtlenecks. Not all men can pull off this look, but a black simple fitted turtleneck paired with a pair of black pants or black jeans and Chelsea boots, a blazer on top can look so hot in a very 70s classy sort of way. Office appropriate and very very sophisticated.  Let’s have a look at more turtlenecks street style pics…  P.S. This post reminds me of the film ‘Something’s gotta give’ when Jack Nicholson was asking Diane Keaton (who was always wearing turtlenecks even in summer) ”So what’s up with all the turtlenecks?” to which she replied ”Nothing, I just like them very much.” ;)

There you have it.

Apparently everything these days is about size. The bigger the better. Question mark. When it comes to fashion it seems more yes than no, with women’s looks borrowing pretty much all they can from menswear, with slouchy oversized silhouettes, 80s cuts and big bold frumpy coats, jackets and blazers. Blame it on the cycle of fashion, on women’s full plate with constantly being too polished or dressing too fitted, whatever the reason, the outcome is great.

And while there’s nothing new and groundbreaking about a blazer, be it fitted, oversized, slouchy, or structured, talking about the blazer look and wearing one is still considered a trendy thing. In a very classic chic sort of way.  Oversized or boyfriend blazers have been hot for decades. Hello, the 80s, remember, with a quick relapse in the late 90s and 00s, when fitted was the only size everyone was doing, which soon ended to make way to classic blazer cuts and for the last few years to the big blazer also known as the boyfriend blazer.  For this year though it seems to me like even boyfriend blazers went up a size and are bigger, longer, wider, broader (sans le big shoulder pads please!), and it makes me wonder about two things. 1) Do we, or CAN we literally wear our boyfriends’ blazers for a style statement? and 2) Is there actually a right way to doing this massive blazer look?

The current obsession we’re having now with ‘how to dress like a French girl?’ makes me quickly jump to 2 answers for the above questions. What would a French girl say: YES to (1), and NO to (2). Duh.  Truth is it takes a certain kinda swag and attitude & GREAT personal style to pull off a boyfriend blazer look per se, without any attention to what you’re pairing it with. That said, there are girls who look amazing in oversized blazers and slouchy trousers and frumpy tops. It’s hobo-chic and it works. For some.

It’s got to do with the details of your look: from hair to makeup, shoes, bags, accessories. Adding a bit of jazz to your hobo-chic look with these is what sets you apart from a just-hobo look.  For the rest of the world though, the safest way to do the oversized blazer does actually imply a RIGHT way to nail it, by paying attention to ONE style trick: keep at least one item of your look fitted (trousers, jeans, skirts, or top) to create a balance in the silhouette. Think like an architect.  Another trick to pulling off an as-big-as-you-want-it-to-be blazer is playing with lengths. More and more bloggers, celebs, and fashion savvys are opting for the blazer dress, which is a fab way to dress for a posh evening out, a cocktail party and so on, but it’s also inspiring to see how great a big-ass blazer can look with a mini skirt, shorts, or short dresses. Sizes in this case can be either slouchy or fitted, cause you’re playing with lengths, which will create a visual balance.  For chicness and sophistication purposes you can consider: rolled up sleeves, wearing your blazer slung on your shoulders, using a belt over it, popping your collar (I can’t believe I just said that! Well… for cold days you know), adding a scarf over it, pairing it with sporty tops, statement accessories for example, and so on.  Enough talk. Let’s see some photos for inspiration… :)  Right way or no right way, one thing’s certain: oversized blazers have never been so hot, and they’re not going anywhere!