New Arrivals/NewTrends: Springtime

I happen to love warmer weather. I love my spring/summer wardrobe so much more than my fall/winter wardrobe. I get so excited to see the spring new arrivals in store and online because it’s the beginning of my favorite shopping season.

So what stylish trends will you see this spring? Jumpsuits and rompers are everywhere. Floral and pastels are always hot in spring. I’ve seen a lot of attention to detail…. ruffles, bows, peplum, ties, buttons, ect. The details can make a big difference so notice the details in the items you favor. Do you prefer ruffles on top or on bottom? Do you like wide leg or bell sleeve? Do you like tight fitting or loose and flowy? All these choices you make in your wardrobe (whether you realize it or not) are most likely based on your body type and your personal preference for what you think looks good on you. By paying attention to your choices, you can learn a lot about your own shopping habits and personal style.

Lately I’ve been checking out items at Madewell. The have a great twist on the classic wardrobe that is a little trendy mixed with tomboy. It’s the mix that makes it unique. This spring they’ve done a great job of mixing the romantic spring trends with a little edge. If you’re looking for something a little different this spring but still very much on trend, stop by Madewell and pay attention to the details.

Swiss-Dotted Ruffle Top

Countyard Ruffle Hem Top

Eyelet Keyhole Peplum Top

Ruched Wide Leg Jumpsuit

Apiece Apart Nueva Costa Floral Maxi Dress

Silk Cami Slip Dress

Cold Weather Trend Alert: Velvet

Velvet is a trend that seems to make its way around every few years. This season it happens to be as hot as ever. Velvet is a thick lush fabric that calls for snow and holidays. It’s not an everyday fabric. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t versatile.

Velvet is currently available in multiple styles, including tops, dresses, shoes, and jackets. Not only can you find just about any style, but the color selection spans the rainbow. Once you’ve found the item that best reflects your personal style, how do you pair it? Such a deep rich texture can be paired well with almost any other option. Pair a velvet top with jeans, wool pants, or a simple pencil skirt. Pair a silk cami with a velvet jacket. Pair a velvet dress with patent leather shoes. The options are limitless. The occasion for velvet is another story. It’s not the sort of thing you wear to the playground, or your kids soccer game. Velvet falls into the category of your Sunday Best. It’s a great way to add a little sparkle to your outfit. And as the Holiday Season approaches, we’ll have a few opportunities to dress up a little… so bring on the velvet!!

J. Crew Wrap Dress in Drapey Velvet

J. Crew Going Out Blazer in Stretch Velvet

J. Crew Sadie Ankle Boots in Velvet

J. Crew Faux Wrap Top in Drapey Velvet

Madewell Velvet Button Down Cami

Madewell Velvet Daylight Top

Ann Taylor Velvet Moto Jacket

How it Looks on the Hanger

Most of us (dare, I say all of us) shop online. MANY of us shop for clothes online. It's so much easier to shop from the comfort of home after we've put the kids to bed than to try to find time to go to a store. The flexibility of shopping online outweighs the disadvantages of not being able to see the product up close. But what about trying it on?

An item of clothing does not fit everyone the same way. So trying an item of clothing on is an important step to deciding if it will work for you. How it looks on the hanger can be deceiving. So if you are going to shop online be sure to check out all the pictures of the item. Normally you will find anywhere from 2 to 6 pictures of a clothing item that is being sold. Often you'll see a picture of someone actually wearing the item. This can be helpful.

Even though it's not your body, you can get a sense for how the item looks on someone. Two dimensional pictures of an item that is lying on a white background will not help you to determine how that item will look on you. A picture of the item on a model will at least give you a sense of dimension (where the hemlines are, how an item falls, where the seams are and so on). Pay attention to the details to get a sense of how that item will look on you!

This is also true in store. When you see an item on a hanger, keep in mind that item may look differently onyour body, This is why when you do shop in store, it's so important to make sure you try things on. This is your chance to see how different styles and colors will look on you!

Here are a few items from Madewell that will help you to see the difference between an item on a hanger versus an item on a body. The Madewell website features all items photographed on a hanger. However, once you click on the item you can see additional pictures of that item on a model. Check out a few examples, I've posted below to see the difference.

Eyelet Cutout Dress

Notice: The side button detail on this dress is not visible in the first photo above.

Silk Lily Ruffle Top in Echo Grid

Notice: Where the front V and the armholes fall can help you give you an idea if this fit is right for you.

Quilted Side Tie Dress in Moroccan Desert

Notice: This picture gives the dress life. The first photo is not eye catching and you might be quick to discard it. Seeing the way this dress falls is more attractive.

Bellflower Ruffle Dress

Notice: Thelength of the dress and the overall silhouette are more obvious on the model than in the first photo.

Next time you shop, whether it's online or in store, pay attention to how the item will look on you. That is what's most important to us!