try before you buy

Camel coats never really went out of fashion, yet just yesterday the Olsen sisters (the non-twin type) Ashley and Elizabeth were both snapped out and about in NYC sporting the classic cover-up. We had forgotten how chic this wardrobe essential is, so are mighty grateful to the stylish clan for putting it back on our radar. Let's take a quick refresher course in finding the perfect camel coat, shall we?

• Choose your length: Short or long, a camel coat will still look good — as Ashley and Elizabeth well prove — but how you wear it should differ. Longer overcoat styles look best with clean, monochrome ensembles (to reduce bulk) where as shorter, blazer styles will work with tiered tops, flirty print dresses and shorter under layers. 
• Aim for classic details: The genius thing about this topper is that it will literally go with anything, so don't limit your options by choosing coloured trims, loud buttons or contrasting collars. Simple tortoiseshell, gold or black buttons are perfect. Less really is more.
• Be prepared to invest: When buying classic wardrobe items, like a coat, you should consider paying a little bit more in order to get the best fabric possible. Look at the label. Natural fibres like wool, cashmere or angora mixes will stand the test of time better than an acrylic or poly-blend. 

What better time to refresh your what not to wear guidelines than the start of a new year? In our years on the job, we've seen some pretty bad stuff: nip slips, visible underwear, exposed bra straps, and far, far worse. But beyond the more obvious missteps, like revealing too much, there are a handful of other fashion blunders that can wreak havoc on your style. We're breaking them all down below — and giving you the cures to correct even the most dreaded of fashion faux paus. Read on:

1. Those dreaded, yellowing underarm stains. After a certain amount of wear, it becomes almost inevitable that our white button-downs and t-shirts start to yellow under our arms (come on, it happens to everybody) — and it's not caused by what you think. Sweat is not the culprit, but rather the reaction of your sweat with aluminum, a common ingredient in most deodorants. The Solution: While the best solution is to toss our tops when that starts to happen, we can be a little more diligent about cleaning our whites to ensure the process is, at the very least, a little slower. We recommend investing in some special detergent or good old OxiClean or Preen for the best results. Whatever you do, steer clear of bleach, which can cause more harm to the garment's fabric and colour.
2. Sizing up/sizing down. One of the worst (but easiest to prevent), sizing can make or break a whole look. Case in point: those gaping holes between buttons on a button-down that's much too snug across the bust, seaming that hits too high or low (or anywhere it's not supposed to), long sleeves that are too short/too long, or pants that are far too tight. These all add up to outfit mistakes that can cheapen your look — but they're easy to avoid. The Solution: Pay attention to fit and fabric when you're shopping. No matter how deep the discount, it's never a bargain if it just doesn't fit. The only loophole is a good tailor — if you score a great designer find that's just a little too big, tailoring can do the trick. Just be warned: it's easier to take in a garment than it is to let it out.

For the rest of our fashion blunders and solutions, keep reading.

Carolina Herrera's launch of the CH White Shirt Collection proved to be more than just a party — the celebration was also a celebrity how-to in styling the designer's new line of classic button-downs. This trio of fashion insiders — Olivia Palermo, Julia Restoin Roitfeld, and Leigh Lezark — each took on a piece from the collection and gave the smart staple a style-savvy twist. If you've ever overlooked the button-down or cast it aside as a humdrum wardrobe necessity, these three renditions may just serve to sway your opinion. Certainly, there's a little fashion fodder here for every personality, from Olivia's leather pants to Julia's more elegant evening look. Just read on for the styling takeaways, courtesy of three of our favourite fashion faces.

• The sophisticate: Leigh offered a more conservative approach, the kind you just might take to the office — perhaps with a polished blazer to top it off. She kept her style simple but selected a cap-sleeved version to inject a little more interest and drew attention to the collar by buttoning the blouse to the very top. Wide-leg pants balanced out the slim proportion on top — great for curvier bodies or pear shapes — and she finished with a pointed-toe pump for a sophisticated edge.
• The trend-driven alternative: If you thought the white shirt couldn't translate to your trendier looks, think again. That's the beauty of a wardrobe classic like this, and as Olivia proved, it works so easily with cooler pieces, like her leather bottoms. Olivia's look is ideal for taking out to dinner or a night out with the girls. She balanced the slim proportions of her pants with an oversize button-down, then glammed it up with details like her metallic clutch and pumps.
• The elegant evening option: We love Julia's dressier approach. She gave the white button-down the evening treatment with a high-waisted maxi skirt that accentuated her waist with a sash — the kind of styling juxtaposition we've loved from the likes of Sharon Stone (remember that Gap button-down at the Oscars?). It's simple enough, but Julia added a bit of a sultrier effect with a more exposed neckline, revealing just a hint of her black bra, and sealed the look with a red lip and a leopard-print clutch in tow. Take note: this is perfect Christmas-party material.