Wearing is Believing

Fresh Squeezed

Hot hot hot for spring: citrus hues.  Shades of grapefruit, lemon, lime and orange are everywhere you look right now -- and they’re a refreshing cure to the wintertime blues! 

While her hubby was bringing change to Washington, Michelle Obama (at left) was her own breath of fresh air in a lemony Isabel Toledo sheath and coat with bright green pumps.  Since then, a profusion of eye-popping color has unleashed, perking up bags, basic cardigans and shorts. 

Citrus colors will wake up the neutrals in your wardrobe: they look best paired with navy, browns, khaki, and naturally, white.  Avoid wearing these bold hues with black -- the contrast between black and citrus colors is far too harsh. 

 While some of us cannot pull off shades of yellow (it tends to flatter deeper skin tones), fairer women need not be left out in the cold: try pale peach or a rich grapefruit pink (like J. Crew’s  Silk georgette pleated tank, at right).  Another option that will flatter anyone: choose a citrusy bag (like J. Crew’s Belle clutch, at left in Clementine, or Francesco Biasia Emily Shopper in Papaya) and shoes and pair with your favorite neutrals.  Shoes and bag need not match with this fresh-squeezed trend -- just have fun giving your wardrobe a citrus splash!

Trendspotting: Texture

Ruffles or ridges? Both, if you ask designers and fashionistas right now.   New techniques have made it possible for fabrics to do anything but lie flat.  This season’s dresses, skirts, and tops have guts, with  sculpted peaks and valleys, layers and folds.  Reese Witherspoon recently wore the look in silvers and greens at a movie premiere, actress Diane Kruger shopped in a textured skirt (at right), and designers like Prada and Carolina Herrera have embraced the trend, too.

One of the best things about this trend -- when done well, it can accentuates a tiny waist, draw attention to your greatest assets, or camouflages flaws.  Look for pieces that are well-cut (particularly with pleats and folds), and most importantly, try before you buy.  When going for crinkled texture, cut is less important -- these looks are often looser -- but do make sure the sculpting falls well on your frame.

Want to try this alternative to embroidery or beading?  Add some architecture to you your wardrobe with a tiered skirt from J. Crew and Banana Republic.  Paired a tiered skirt with a breezy short-sleeved blouse and peep toe pumps, you’ll look trendy yet classic.  Tops are available in an array of colors and price ranges: Juicy Couture (at right) makes a gorgeous silk ruffle top (a splurge at $498), and for a more casual look, Old Navy makes a crinkled tank for just $10 (at above left).

But my favorite thing of all about this texture trend-- you can skip ironing in a pinch and call it style!

Who is Rodarte?

Reese Witherspoon smoked the red carpet in an out-of-this world Rodarte minidress reminiscent of the space theme of her latest movie, Monsters and Aliens.  The metallic minidress, in shades of silver and green, showed off an asset Reese rarely flaunts-- her fantastic gams! 

Accessorized with platinum peeptoe pumps (with a flash of neon at the heels) and blonde waves, Reese’s stellar look was distinctly different from the futuristic feel the dress took on on the runway in Rodarte’s fall ’09 show a few weeks ago, where it was paired with high boots and slicked back hair.  However, I think Reese pulled it off beautifully, as the dress seems made for spring!

The pleated, well-constructed metallic dress is a perfect example of the work design duo Kate Mulleavy and Laura Mulleavy are known for.  The sisters attention to detail and meticulous construction helped win them a 2008 CFDA Swarovski Emerging Womenswear Designer award.  It's easy to see why Michelle Obama and Kirsten Dunst are fans of this up-and-coming design house!

What do you think of Reese’s look?  Does it work with pumps or does it need high boots?  Witherspoon didn’t wear much jewelry -- what would you wear with this dress?

In Bloom: Spring Florals

Spring is here, evidenced by the abundance of bright, vibrant florals hitting the runways and streets!  Scarlett Johansson was anything but a wallflower in big floral-patterned strapless gown at the He’s Just Not That Into You premiere recently.

Scarlett’s springy dress was by Oscar de la Renta, but you can try the trend for much less.  Flirty floral dresses, tops, bags and shoes are available in a huge variety of color schemes and prices.  Try White House Black Market’s Silk Floral Bouquet strapless dress, which features an explosion of hydrangeas and peonies.  The dress’ black and white undertones make it easy to accessorize with shoes of those colors, or a necklace like Holsted Jewelers’ Black White and Brilliant Necklace, which incorporates both.

A hot pair of heels, like Jessica Simpson’s Floral Print Pumps ($89, at right) or Guess’ watercolor floral Carrie pumps ($90), is a great way to try out this trend.  Pair with a pencil skirt and ruffled blouse for the perfect breezy warm weather look.  

With a straight pair of trousers, the ruffly Pindo Falls Blouse (available at Anthropologie)is perfect for the office or an after work cocktail -- or pair with jeans and bright flats for lunch with friends on the weekend.

In The Trenches

I have a confession to make. I’m a bit of a coat queen.  This fact was pointed out to me on a recent shopping trip as I grabbed a cobalt blue mini trench off the rack with great excitement, hastily put it on and found the nearest mirror.  I instantly pictured it with a pencil skirt and heels, and realized that coats really are one of my favorite elements of style. 

The biggest reason: throw a well-cut, beautiful coat over even the most unfortunate sweatpants, and you’ll instantly look more pulled together.  Even the most tragic ensemble can be bumped up a level with a great coat.  With an amazing outfit, a good coat or jacket is the icing on the cake, and there’s no stopping you.

Needless to say, I’m pretty excited by the gorgeous, vibrant trenches that are all the rage this spring.  Trench coats are a staple in any woman’s closet -- classic and conservative yet sexy.  Paired with spring’s bold colors, the trench gets a modern update as breezy as an April day.  This eye-catching trend goes one step further in metallics like gold, bronze and silver.

Trenches are truly versatile -- throw them on over a dress, skirt or pants for instant polish.  This season’s brights look great with a skirt (like the ensemble I pictured with my cropped Gap trench I mentioned above) or wide leg pants.  In terms of footwear, anything goes -- a great pair of peeptoe pumps, boots or platform pumps, and you’re good to go.

This spring’s bold trenches are available in a wide range of prices to suit any budget.  One of my favorites is the teal Calvin Klein (above left, available at Nordstrom) with an asymmetrical zipper and belt -- which accentuates any waist.  Although I couldn’t find my $85 mini trench online, Gap also makes a cute trench that won’t break the bank, in colors like mineral green and strawberry.

Love, Love and Cartier

More than 150 years old, Cartier is the ultimate in luxe, classic jewelry.  Edward VII of England once said of the jewelry company: “They are the jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers.”

Cartier is releasing three new collections sure to catch your eye.  A twist on their signature trio of interlocking bands, the new Trinity collection features a smattering of delicate diamonds stars.  Hypnose, inspired by a 1912 bandeau designed for Nancy Leeds (who later became Princess Anastasia of Greece and Denmark), is a collection of geometric black and white pieces.  My personal favorite, the classic Cartier love bracelet, gets an update with six new bejeweled styles.  The Love bracelet is designed to be put on by your paramour with a tiny screwdriver (and is very difficult to put on solo!) -- a sexy take on traditional gift jewelry!

While their pieces are gorgeous, Cartier luxury doesn’t come cheap.  While you’re saving up for your Love bracelet (or searching for the man to buy you one), get a similar  look with Holsted Jewelers’ Genuine Blue Topaz and CZ Bracelet.Or if you'd like to create a look like the pieces in the Trinity Collection, try Holsted's Tri Color Sterling Silver Rolling Ring, which is strikingly similar for a fraction of the cost!