Style Fashion Q&A
Style Q&A with Suzanne Smith of Betty Be Good Boutique PHOTOS COURTESY BETTY BE GOOD BOUTIQUE
Can you clue us in on some unexpected trends this season? The shacket! A shacket (shirt-jacket) is a heavier-weight, usually plaid button-up worn as outerwear. While it made an appearance in spring 2021, the true moment of the shacket is yet to come in fall 2021. Expect to see shackets in all the traditional plaid colors — red buffalo check, black and white, and navy — but also in nontraditional colors like magenta, hunter green, camel, and wine. The shacket is the perfect outerwear style for our mild PNW winters, so I can see this trend really being practical for our shoppers. Another trend making a play is the sweater vest. Layered with a classic white collared button up or a basic long sleeve top, the sweater vest is a callback to preppy ‘80s fashion. The tennis skirt that’s been popularized this summer is part of that fashion theme.
After a year of working from home in pajamas, I’m not ready to forgo comfort completely. How can I balance dressiness with coziness when choosing office-ready autumn looks? Fabric is the key to building a wardrobe you love wearing. Office looks have traditionally been constructed of scratchy polyester suiting and blouses that feel awful on the body, but fabric technology has come a long way over the past decade. Bamboo, modal, and cupro are some beautiful naturally sourced materials that are now widely available in basics, blouses, blazers, and dresses. Consider a blazer made of jersey knit for a stretchy and comfortable alternative to the polyester “straightjacket” of the past. Blazers paired with jeans and playful tops or basics are a trendy way to bring back the professionalism to your wardrobe without sacrificing comfort.
Do you have any creative ideas for layering favorite summer pieces like tanks and dresses to wear again during the colder months? We love the idea of transitioning dresses from summer to fall with a cropped cardigan or pullover sweater. There
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