For example: bring out your little black jacket or little black dress, and look in your scarf drawer for a bright, colorful, long silk scarf that speaks to you.  Now, place the scarf around your neck, tie it in a bow, and position it more toward one side, just like you see in the photo above [an asymmetrical, over the shoulder 2010 trend].  Voila!  A bonafide touch of spring appears!  Lose the chain necklaces, the studded belts, the boots and the tights.  Don a pair of  patent leather pumps, pearl earrings, very sheer nude hose and you are in business.  And for that mid-May ladies luncheon?  Belt the jacket, push up the sleeves and add a red cuff bracelet.  Instead of pumps, switch to bare legs with peep-toe strappy wedge heels.  How easy was that?  And fun! 

 

The scarf pictured above is a long silk rectangle I have had for many a year [you don't want to know just HOW many] and I bring it out every spring.  It's a bold floral print which just happens to be very "in" this year!  Flowers are everywhere [2010 trend] and on everything from shoes to blouses, from belts to bracelets.  I saw a divine Chanel handbag festooned with the Chanel trademark camellias in the March issue of Vogue.  At a mere $12,500, who can resist?  May I suggest a flower pin at $25?

 

A word of advice about these adorable flower pins . . . many are just too small and will be lost on you, like the ones at JCrew.  Others are so big [White House Black Market], they call to mind Bozo the Clown water squirting boutonnieres.  So, a good rule of thumb for the style conscious?  Look for a flower [or any brooch, for that matter] between 3"-5" inches in diameter. 

 

If  flowers are not your thing, try a tribal print blouse or knit top, preferably African or Native American inspired [2010 trend] or a bold Graphic T-shirt [American Eagle has some really cute ones @ http://www.americaneagle.com click Women, then Graphic T's ] as a layering piece under your black jacket.   Another way to freshen up your look would be to add a great statement necklace.  Chains are out. Shells, beads and textiles are in [2010 trend]!  I saw a beauty, the Tanika Necklace for $50, in the Chico's catalog: http://www.chicos.com/store/browse/catalog.jsp page 17. 

It's a sophisticated look that would easily transition into summer when you start wearing mostly neutrals like tan, blush, khaki, white and dove grey [2010 trend]. 

 

What are the trendy colors for spring?  Pastels are in . . .  Boo hiss.  Colors like pink, lavender, mint green, pale yellow and baby blue are not in the least bit sophisticated nor are they very flattering.  And worst of all, they can make us look matronly!  [My Aunt Gwenn, one of the most beautiful and stylish women I know,  has never worn pastels that I can remember.]  So, if you truly love pastels, why not create some lovely Easter table settings with scads of pink and yellow tulips; or choose a pastel accessory, like a handbag or a brooch for your jacket lapel.  Vibrant colors, on the other hand, like cherry red, apple green, royal purple and lemon yellow, are always on trend, fashionable and the perfect accent colors for spring. 

 

Neutrals, which they are calling "nudes" this year, are the really big news of the 2010 spring season . . . and oddly enough, they are neither news nor new.  Instead, these are the iconic American basics we all wear year after year . . . wheat linen slacks, white jeans, white shirts and T's, khaki slacks and chinos, sand safari jackets, and last but certainly not least, the quintessential classic, the tan trench coat.  We are simply witnessing yet another "nude awakening"!  You will never go wrong with these pieces as the "spring-board" of your warmer seasons' wardrobe.

[Oh, and did I say that faded denim jean jackets are OUT?  They are.  They have been "out" for a few seasons now.  Sorry about that.]

 

And finally, please remember that THE most beautiful accessory you can possibly wear this spring is a big bright smile!

Everyone says so. 

 

Happy Easter to all, 

Nancy 

Next month in the May edition of  Style File, look for More Trends: the Picks and the Pitfalls.

 

Epictetus, ancient Greek

philosopher