White Time

Calvin Klein Collection / Photo: Monica Feudi / GoRunway.com

It's finally warming up... and that means it's time to start thinking white. My (usually season long) quest begins to find the perfect whites -- jeans, shorts, tees and tanks -- for sunny days. 


A little inspiration from the spring 2011 runways...

Thakoon / Photo: Monica Feudi / GoRunway.com

Alexander Wang / photo: Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Michael Kors / Photo: Yannis Vlamos / GoRunway.com

Akris / Photo: Simone Leonardi / GoRunway.com

And check out my post on the stark shade on the Well Appointed House blog.


Has anyone found any good basic spring/summer whites yet? 

Buckle Up

Ralph Lauren Fall 2011 Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

I have posted before about how I've only recently ventured into the world of accessories -- I think it has to do with the old pregnancy/post-pregnancy body morphing, which has forced me to experiment more with new looks. And belts have been just the best discovery. Sounds a little ridiculous to say I've "discovered" belts but what I mean is, I've finally figured how to make this basic accessory work for me. They literally change up my looks (for the better, I think) in an instant.


I worked them during pregnancy a lot -- to show that I wasn't just a ball of baby (above the bump, just under the bust). And post-pregnancy, they've been a staple -- to show that I actually have a real waist again. So, I couldn't be more excited to see lots of belted looks on the recent runways.  More evidence that such a simple accessory can really make an outfit go from plain to polished. 


Love the velvet waist-cinchers -- over a dress, jacket and sweater -- at Carolina Herrera.

Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Alessandro Viero / GoRunway.com

Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Donna Karan showed a belt on nearly every look of her collection.

Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Tone on tone at Michael Kors. 

Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

I buy a lot of belts from J.Crew -- I love the skinny patent and metallic versions in different shades. They are super easy to work with and very inexpensive. I wear them with tops (like my staple silk tanks or button-up shirts) under long cardigans or blazers. This past winter, I've also belted a lot of heavy cardies or wrap sweaters. And I love sparkly sashes for night and day (that includes ribbon necklaces - - see my post Simple Statements). The point is to refine your look while adding a bit of hourglass dimension to your shape.

J.Crew

J.Crew

J.Crew

Gap

Gap

Beating the Winter Grays

Loving the pops of color on the Golden Globes red carpet.... Gets me in the mood for spring and inspires me to perk up my own wardrobe -- which for some reason has been all shades of gray lately. This bold movement couldn't have come at a better time, now that the winter doldrums have officially set in (it is major gloomy skies and mounds of snow outside). I especially love the peachy-pink shades (which go great with gray, by the way) like Natalie Portman (Viktor & Rolf), Emma Stone (Calvin Klein Collection), and Rhea Durham (Michael Kors) wore. I'm not sure if I'd do head-to-toe electric shades like Angelina Jolie (Versace), Julianne Moore (Lanvin), Claire Danes (Calvin Klein Collection), and Sofia Vergara (Vera Wang) but a pink tee under a charcoal sweater or a pair of emerald flats is something I could handle.

These tops from Net-a-Porter (Miu Miu, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Jil Sander) would look great with my staple gray skinny jeans and a charcoal cardi thrown over.

Labels like Jil Sander and Calvin Klein Collection did a beautiful job adding burst of brights to their spring runways.