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

Fall fashion is always the most highly anticipated of our collections. Shoppers can’t ever get enough of the chunky cardigans, cozy plaid flannels, and soft knit pullovers.

are a few ways to make this work. For a cropped cardigan, the style we love best is a chunky knit with buttons. The cropped-style cardigan brings in the waist for definition of the body and won’t add bulk. Another way is to layer a pullover sweater over a summer dressy using a belt to pull up the sweater to your waist and tuck the sweater out over the belt. This gives the illusion of your dress as a skirt. Very cute!

Fall is my favorite time of year for fashion, but my outfits eventually start to feel repetitive. What would you recommend to spice them up beyond usual gotos like scarves and boots?

I always say the most cost-effective way to spice up your wardrobe is with a new pair of jeans. New blues bring new life to your tops, sweaters, and basics unlike any other single item of clothing. Basics are another place to add more interest and excitement to your closet. Beautiful new basics in soft and wearable fabrics will bring life to everything else you own.

What excites you the most about fall fashion in 2021?

Fall fashion is always the most highly anticipated of our collections. Shoppers can’t ever get enough of the chunky cardigans, cozy plaid flannels, and soft knit pullovers. We’re seeing highly layered looks for fall 2021. Knits layered with other knits, plaids layered with vests, cropped sweaters and sweater vests. Everything is knit — including skirts and tops — and I’m truly excited about the return of the sweater dress. This is, in my opinion, a response to the demand for comfort.

What can shoppers expect to find at Betty Be Good this October?

Our shoppers can always expect luscious-feeling knits, basics, tops, and outerwear during the fall season. We’ve fallen in love all over again with plaid, yet we’re taking a less traditional approach with colors as we stock non-traditional plaids with feminine color palettes to dress up or down. Our denim collection is classic, stretchy, and wearable… and always mid-high rise.

We are launching the BETTY private label, which is a hand-picked collection of our most luscious styles of the season. This will be the first BETTY brand collection exclusive to our two boutiques. Lastly, shoppers can always expect affordable and adorable fashion, footwear, and accessories with everything in our collection still under $60. Find us in Lynden on Front Street at Fairway Center, Birch Bay Square in Blaine, and online at shopbettybegood.com. 