All Things Spring

I love Spring! Everything is fresh and bright including the clothing. Even when it is cloudy and rainy, a bright outfit or accessory makes the day that much better.

What do you need to brighten up your wardrobe?

This umbrella will make you want to go out on a rainy day. Made by Totes and sold at Target for $16.99, this bubble umbrella comes in lime green (shown, even though it looks yellow), pink, electric blue, black and clear. Could be the best accessory you buy all season!

RUFFLES

Love these two pieces!

This beautiful rose satin box clutch by Sondra Roberts (left) is a great clutch to wear to all those spring weddings! I found it at Nordstrom for $98.00. Pair it with a simple light pink dress with no print. Or a white linen dress, but only if you're not attending a wedding. The nude ruffled verticle tote pictured right is by Be & D and is $990.00 at Nordstrom. Nude shades are good compliment to all the bright colors that are trendy this spring. 

PATTERNS AND PRINTS

Vibrant colors used in unique patterns are hot right now! If you're not too sure about putting bold patterns in your outfit, try starting out small with a handbag. Jessica McClintock (left) makes this stunning sequined clutch for $78.00. This clutch seems to have every color in the rainbow on it, so you can't really clash your outfit with this bag. The tote (right) by L.A.M.B. is a great piece for a cloudy day. Right now it's on sale at Nordstrom for $196.90, which will really make a cloudy day better!

I was walking through the Water Tower Place in Chicago and saw this dress in the window at French Connection. This is a great example of spring's color, pattern and floral trends. This dress has a great vintage feel to it with the high neckline, cap sleeves and ruffles on the hips. You might be worried about the ruffles making your hips look too wide, but the princess seams on the skirt will counter-react that.

Anthropologie has a great selection of spring dresses that have a vintage or retro feel to them and this is the season to wear it! Spring is the best season to pull off the vintage, feminine, ultra girly look. 

Here are some looks to try from Anthropologie...   

The top dress is a great example of how to wear prints, stripes especially. The lines are neither vertical nor horizontal, so no need to worry about the lines making you look distorted. If anything, the diagonal lines will make you look thinner. The colors are great too!

The bottom dress is a good, abstract print for those who are wanting a more subdued hue. The colors are very pale, but still very in for spring. The skirt on this dress is very flattering. The pleats at the waistband cinch in the waist and take emphasis off the hips and belly area. If you're meeting the girls for a big lunch, this is the dress to wear. It will hide your after-eating-tummy-pooch. :)   

                                                   

Solid color dresses are another way to go with your spring outfit. This color of yellow has been pretty steady in popularity for the past few seasons, so don't be afraid to pull an item from a previous season to your new spring look. We are in a recession after all. The nude ruffle Be & D tote pictured above would look great with this shirtdress.

You can also go for the nude look this spring in this silk, ruffle dress. The gathering at the neckline and ruffles along the torso and hem are perfect details. I would stay away from this dress and others with similar necklines if you're big busted. Too much gathering and ruffles will make you look even bigger. This fabric is great for warm days because silk is a natural fiber and will allow your skin to breath. If the day is very hot, stay away from polyester, which is synthetic (man-made) and does not breath at all and you'll be even hotter. Pair this dress with the Sondra Roberts rose clutch pictured above for a perfectly feminine look!

Enjoy!

Must have summer handbag

Chanel quilted handbags are the way to go this spring and summer. This classic look is always in style, but this season it is particularly popular.

The chain-linked strap and quilted lamb leather are an iconic style of Chanel handbags. If you want the authentic handbag, be prepared to drop between $1,000-$1,600!

I must say, I NEVER condone purchasing a counterfeit item! It seems harmless to give $20 to that creepy looking man in China Town for the counterfeit designer handbag. You might think why not. These bags are so good that takes a professional to determine if it's a counterfeit or not. I have done a lot of research on counterfiet goods and essentially when you give the street vendor in China Town that $20, you're giving them $20 to spend on drugs and weapons; you're giving your money to criminals. So...don't! I have a pretty long paper all about this topic and I could go on  and on about this, but I'll stop myself now.

There are plenty of options for those who can't afford an authentic Chanel bag that don't help criminals make their living and don't steal a designers identity. 

Marc Jacobs does quilted leather almost as well as Chanel and at half the price. This red leather quilted  crossbody bag is a great substitute at $595.

Still need a lower price?...

This black, quilted crossbody bag is from Forever 21 and at $17.80 is a good alternative for a cheap spring bag. The bow in front adds a feminine flair that is also trendy this Spring. You can get this bag in white and light pink also, but the bow is still black, which doesn't look so great. I suggest you keep with all black. The color blocking is too '80's for me.

Enjoy!