With the advent of spring comes a flutter of fashionable inspiration. No matter where you might find yourself, the urge to inject a pop of color or a splash of print is a natural instinct. Just like the flowers in bloom, we look to the sun and want to reflect back with a cat-like purr. This season, the designers—high and low—have given us plenty of choices. Fashion has broadened its curtain to encompass minimalist trends with the romance and whimsy of bygone eras. The Victorian age meets the future, only to recognize itself in the new millennials. What is a lady to do? Have fun with it!
Aegean Contrast-Cuff Blazer & Slim Striped Pants, by Nanette Lepore. bergdorfgoodman.com
Don your favorite straight-leg, capri, or wide-leg pant, available at any price point, with a bright-colored tunic, floral-print shirt or jacket, or even a satin top in a bright color that suits your complexion. Accessorize with a pair of flats, print wedges, or glamazon heels to express your personality.
Basic Button-Front Shirt & Baroque A-Line Skirt, by Carolina Herrera. bergdorfgoodman.com
If skirts are your preference, the prints and solids combination can work for top and bottom. What hemlines have gained in length can be offset with the longevity of a stripe or well placed slit. A flared skirt in a bold print will look very fetching with a crisp white shirt à la Carolina Herrera.
Striped Techno Twill Blazer & Pencil Skirt, by Marc Jacobs. bergdorgoodman.com
Designers are there to inspire; their creative flair serves as a guide to point our compass and interpret looks like Marc Jacobs’s bold color and white stripes. No need for the head-to-toe look; a vertical stripe–more flattering than its horizontal brethren–can work on its own as a single, signature statement, dressed up or down in a peekaboo shirt under a skirt suit, or as a cropped jacket to bring an edge to the polish of the monochromatic shirt, skirt and trouser.
A bold print or a stripe is a good choice when dressing up a look, whether you are attending a garden party or meeting with the board. At the heart of the choice is the play on proportions: Know what will fit your body well and where the emphasis should be toned down. Dries Van Noten is a master at combining prints, but it’s the volumes and light fabrics that can serve you nicely in your search for clothes that will put a spring in your stop.
5F Tops in Silk & Satin. bergdorfgoodman.com
Stiffer fabrics work, but not all the time—softer cottons, silks, or linens that move with the body are more forgiving and easier to pair up. If the new, architecturally inclined collections that received such praise in Paris last October are injecting some excitement into your femininity, begin by experimenting with a neutral or fuchsia or tangerine in shiny satin and see how much wear your closet will give it. A wardrobe gains in time, as do we!
Editor’s Note: Our fashion picks are meant to serve as a guide to your selections of the price points, colors, and silhouettes that best complement your unique style.
