Spring Wish List

At the beginning of every season there's always pieces that I say I really want and I'm going to buy, but either I find that I already have something similar, or I end up spending money on other things instead. So this season I decided to make a wish list of all the things I've been coveting, that I've seen in magazines, blogs, or the runway.

1. White denim jacket

Jean jackets are one of my favourite things to wear in the spring, mostly because it just means I don't need to be lugging around a huge heavy winter coat. But lately I've just been loving the white denim, as I feel it gives a fresh take on the typical blue denim, and can actually be worn with even more (I still love my blue denim and wear it to death!). The thing I also love about this particular one from Joe Fresh is that it's collarless (very trendy) and more boxy than fitted. 

2. Jumpsuit

Of course I have a few shorts rompers that I love to wear in the summer- they're so easy to wear and, depending on the colour/pattern, you can dress them up or down for almost anything. But what I don't have is a long jumpsuit that I can wear in cooler weather, and these are oh so trendy right now. You can never go wrong with classic black; you can do bright or muted accessories with it depending where you're wearing it.

3. Kimono

As I talked about in my post Floral Kimonos, I am absolutely loving this trend for spring. And although the floral ones are probably my favourite, there's many other kimonos you could get, such as plain or other patterned ones. They're just great for warmer weather because they're so lightweight, but still give that little something to your outfit.

4. Platform Sandals

I started seeing some styles of sandals like this last summer, and it was only towards the end of the season that I decided i had to have a pair (I never did buy a pair last year). They're super comfortable, have great support because of the thick heel, and are the perfect balance of casual and chic. A pair in a colour like these white ones are perfect for the coming season!

5. Matching crop top set

Although crop tops are in for this spring/summer season (read my post Cream Of The Crop), I can't really explain why I'm so into these matching sets right now. I just think they're so cute and trendy, and they give you a very polished look. What's also great is you can mix and match each piece with other tops and bottoms, and even if it's a distinctive pattern, it'll be a completely different outfit. That's definitely worth it!

6. Ankle strap heels

I've been seeing this style for a while now, and you can do the peep toe for warmer weather and the closed toe for when it's a bit cooler out. The thick strap helps with support on your ankle, and won't dig in too much like a thinner strap.

7. The perfect dress

Though I have many spring/summer dresses, I actually surprisingly don't own a pink one. And now that pink is a go-to colour for spring, I decided that a dress in this colour is a must. This piece is also great because of the shape and fit, and will go perfectly with a denim jacket for during the day, or heels and a statement necklace for a night out.

I can actually already cross off some of these items, as I've been getting my closet ready for spring since the new year (what can I say, I literally can't wait for spring to come). I'm so excited for the weather to start getting warmer so I can finally start to wear them!

Weekend Highlights

I hope everyone had a great first March weekend, and that the rest of them will be less cold and snowy! This weekend was busier than the last few for me, now that I'm in the second half of my school semester and things are starting to pile up.

Friday I started shopping for my photo shoot I have to do for a school project. This project has been very stressful for me lately, as I need to use a professional photographer, hair and makeup artist, and model, and cold calling is definitely not my strong suit. But I knew once I got my theme and story figured out and started shopping for it I would start to get into it. And I was so right. Not only was I so excited to actually start buying clothes and accessories that would bring my idea to life, but it lifted some of the stress, since some of the work is now done. That's not to say I'm anywhere near done even the planning stages of my shoot, but it's definitely a start!

Saturday night I went out for dinner with some girls from work and it was definitely the night out that I needed to get my mind off of school and projects and midterms. The only thing that would have made it better was if there hadn't been a snowstorm! And of course, Sunday night was the 86th Academy Awards. It was so much fun to sit around with my family, some bottles of wine and takeout, and watch the exciting show. Stay tuned for my post later in the week where I tell you what I think were the best Oscar celeb looks!

What did everyone else do this weekend?

Floral Kimonos

This spring trend is a combination of two great pieces for the spring season of any year: light fabrics and floral prints.

Even though it's spring and the weather's only getting warmer, you sometimes still need a light layer on top of your tank or tee, or your outfit might just not be complete without one more garment. That's why kimonos are perfect for spring and summer; they're so light but still let you add some chic to your look. And why not throw some floral prints on them so they're just perfect for the season?

They come in all different lengths, silhouettes, styles, and colours, so you have so much room to make the look your own, while still being super trendy.

(Love how this one was styled as a bathing suit cover-up!)

Check out my post Anticipation to see how you can wear this trend even before the weather gets warm!

Anticipation

There's nothing like seeing spring merchandise in stores to get you out of your post-holiday, mid-winter funk. Sure winter was nice at the beginning when the snow was first falling and there was Christmas and new year's to look forward to, as well as cozy days in front of the fire during your days off. But now the snow has turned into slush and the holidays have come and gone. 

But it's also too early to start wearing all the lighter fabrics and shorter skirts and dresses, since it's still pretty cold out. But there are ways you can incorporate these looks and pieces into your pre-spring wardrobe without freezing or looking like you shouldn't be wearing that for another few months.

A great tip is to add some bulk and chunkiness to a light-weight item you want to wear. For instance, you can wear a thicker cotton or wool turtleneck under a sleeveless or short-sleeve dress. You can wear a heavy denim or chambray shirt under a cropped tropical wool or linen sweater. Take this floral kimono from H&M (what could be more springy?) But throw on a heavy turtle neck or sweater underneath, like this one from Club Monaco. The leather accents also make the look more wintery.

Shorter skirts and dresses are easy to warm up, by just wearing a thick or knit tight under them. You can also throw on a cardigan or wool blazer on top, and you'll look and feel cozy while still showing off your latest spring find. A spring maxi or midi length skirt is also good because it's long enough that you don't need the tights to make it more weather-appropriate, so you can create that look by doing something warmer on the top. Add an ankle boot to the outfit for an on-trend, stylish look.

You can also wear a spring colour, pattern, or fabric now by pairing it with a fall or winter colour. Try a dress like this one from Zara with a forest green, cable-knit cardigan like this one from Top Shop. The cardigan adds the perfect amount of cozy to the look, and with a cable-knit tight will look perfect for the pre-spring season.

Sweater Weather 2.0

Sweaters are a basic staple; they keep you warm, come in many different fabrics, prints and colours, and you know they'll always be in style for fall/winter. But this season, they have a new and exciting spin to them.

It's almost impossible to walk into a store now and not see some sort of rhinestone, jewel or other embellishment on cold weather's best friend. It's such a great contrast between the chunky, casual material and the dressy, fun accents.

The sweater has come so far that it could even be worn for a night out. And if you pair it perfectly, dare I say, you could even wear one to a holiday party this year? Especially a classic black, fitted sweater, perhaps paired with leather trousers and a statement shoe?

If you want to ease into the trend, you might want to try something like these necklace sweaters from Joe Fresh (left) or ASOS (right). You could either be wearing the embellished sweater trend, or not, and no one will know until they see your back (where the necklace part doesn't reach).

  

You could start off small, like with this sweater from Zara. The rhinestones blend in a bit with the grey, but stand out just enough to give the top a little something.

If you wanted to go a bit further, try something like this bejewelled striped sweater from Tory Burch. The pattern is classic and simple, making the top look stylish and not too crazy, even with all the jewels.

If you wanted to jump right into the trend and are not afraid to stand out, this Top Shop piece is probably more what you're looking for. The colourful sequins allow you to pair the top with just about any colour, and because it's knitted, you could wear it in fall, winter or spring.

Here are just some other great embellished sweaters from ASOS I wanted to share with you!

 ASOS Collection

 ASOS Collection

 ASOS Collection

 Needle & Thread

Fall Must-Haves

Fall is one of my favourite seasons, and not just because my birthday is in the fall. I absolutely love fall fashion, and even though I’m still in summer mode when it starts arriving in stores (I’ll admit it is a little depressing), I can’t resist starting to buy some autumn pieces already.

I’ve compiled a list of what I believe are 5 must-haves for autumn. Some of the photos are recent and intended for fall 2013 trends, but these trends can be applied to any given year, as they tend to stay mostly consistent. Some years the trends do change though, or designers will put a new spin on an old style.

1. Cords

You can find corduroys in almost any colour, and I absolutely love them for the cooler months. I bought a pair of mint-coloured cords in the fall of 2012 and they were the perfect summer/fall transition piece because of the light shade mixed with the cozier fabric. They were also great for the following spring because it was still pretty cool out, and the colour was perfect for the spring/Easter pallet.

I personally love these printed ones from H&M. The base colour is black and the pattern is neutral so you could pair these with pretty much anything. Alternatively, you could choose a very simple or black top without the outfit being too plain, since the trousers are patterned.

2. Fur vest

Currently I’m favouring the mid-length darker fur vests for this fall. By darker I’m talking brown or black; off white is best for spring, when you want to lighten up your wardrobe.

This picture from We Heart It styles the vest beautifully. I love the gold accessories; I think it’s the perfect tone for fall. Don’t get me wrong, I still wear silver jewelry most of the time (even in fall), but with this black vest and beige sweater, gold is definitely the way to go.

3. Ankle boots- with or without a heel

I absolutely love a bootie with a heel, but I do understand that some people are unable to walk around all day in heels, myself included. Luckily you can find a boot with almost any size heel, and if you choose the right one, they can double as a day shoe and a night shoe.

Take these Giuseppe Zanotti black leather ankle booties. These will go perfect with any skinny trouser or dress pant for the office, as well as a mini skirt or leather pant for a night out. Also check out the purple suede ones for a more adventurous look.

4. Leather pants

Pairing these with a light-feeling blouse, fur vest, and ankle boots is the perfect go-to outfit. You don’t need to accessorize too much since the pants and vest already lend the outfit their contrasting textures. But if you do decide to add a necklace or bracelet, I’d tone it down with ones that match the blouse or shirt you’re wearing, so the accessories don’t take away too much from the outfit itself. I also love pairing these pants with a knit sweater. With this outfit, alternatively, feel free to accessorize since it’s not as layered as the vest option. I would do a shorter, chunky necklace and chunky bracelets.

Another way to wear this trend is to do to shorts in a leather/pleather and wear thick or knit stockings. I love this sort of look for cooler weather (it also looks nice with tweed or wool shorts). Pair shorts like these high-waisted shorts from Topshop with a sweater like this one from H&M. The fabrics provide the perfect contrast and the colours look great together!

5. Wide brim hat

And when I say wide brim, I mean very wide brim. I don’t know why but I just love these. When you think of a wide brim hat, your mind probably automatically goes to a straw or other beach appropriate hat. But in the right colour and material, it’s the perfect accessory for autumn. I would invest in a wool hat in a maroon, beige, or brown (like this one from Levi's), and these colours can be added to any look to top it off (pun intended).

I just want to add one more must-have that I think deserves honourable mention, since it's timeless and seasonless. Denim. Light or dark. It can be paired with absolutely anything, even more denim (although this look must be executed with extreme caution and precision). So I will end this post with a few photos of beautifully-styled denim for fall. Let me know in the comments what your fall must-haves are!

 Stockholm Streetstyle

 TheBlackCatGirl

 We Heart It

 We Heart It

 H&M