Women everywhere are elated when Spring rolls around. I mean sweaters and jackets and layers all sound great in the Fall but come Spring, we want to shed our layers and show a little skin. The great news is many of the pieces you have from Winter can easily be transitioned into your Spring wardrobe. For example, that great sequin or embellished cami you have been wearing with a sweater and jacket it over it can still be worn minus the jacket. Perhaps you will throw over it a little lighter weight cardigan or a new jacket for Spring. Or if you have a great skirt that you have been layering with tights? Take off the tights and put on a pair of Spring boots. Spring Boots are all the rage this year. Think perforated leather and lighter colors (ecru, ivory, pale violet).

Many of todays fashions can cross easily from one season to the next. This Sequin Mini Dress from Chili Pepper could have easily been paired with skinny jeans and a great black velvet jacket or a wrap and some hot black boots. For Spring however, you can do some great strappy sandals and put a light weight cardigan over top. As the weather really heats up for Summer, wear it all by itself!
The Luna Pullover from LTB is a great light weight sweater. In the Winter, you could have easily worn it jeans and a heavier jacket. Now that spring is here, throw it on with a denim skirt or some great white pants!

A black skirt can take you anywhere. The For Linda Skirt is another great transition piece. For Spring, you can pair it with a cute light weight top and endless shoe options.

For those of you who don’t have the pleasure of knowing me personally, all of my friends and loved ones can attest to the fact that I always have some obsession of fashion. While I discussed previously the trend of nude/skin color pumps, I finally have a pair of my own! I am so enthralled with them that I have been wearing them around the house for hours. I think that a nude patent leather pump actually have even more options than black. They literally look great with EVERYTHING. If you don’t own a pair, I suggest you run out and get some right away.

Spring 2009 is all about BOOTS! Yes, I said boots. This doesn’t mean you can take your heavy black or brown Winter boots and start wearing them in the Spring time. There are hot new style for Spring. Look for lighter colors such as ivory, light grey, lavendar, slate, peach, yellow and any soft hues. You will also see a lot of perforated suede. Not only does it look lighter and prettier for Spring but it will also be a bit more comfortable for the weather.

This season the colors of the sea will be at the forefront of fashion & style. Think pale blues, light greens, and aqua mixed with soft Earth tones such as ivory, taupe, or sand. I personally love this beautiful palette and find it calming. With soft subtle hues, it makes accessorizing a breeze. You can pair both more powerful accessories or delicate pieces with these great tones.

I am quite happy to report that sequins are still in fact fashionable for Spring. This is great news for those of us who have been enjoying this trend. The last twist are stripes of sequins in various colors. I have yet to see something like this that I like but the jury is still out. Another important look for Spring are metal studs/embellishments. Look for these on shoes in particular.

Statement earrings are a great look for Spring 2009. We love the large Peace Hoop Earrings from Saundra Messinger which will be available at Artfulwears. If you are wearing a large earring, there is no need for a necklace.

Menswear inspired fashions are also hot for Spring, Think a tailored button down shirt and jacket.

All the top designers are showing nude hues in their Spring collections. From skirts and dresses to shoes, you will want to make sure you mix a few flesh colored pieces into your wardrobe.

Great news for pant lovers, anything goes for Spring. Whether you like wide-leg or skinny or a voluminous trouser, everything will be in style. If you are a skirt person, slimmer styles are more the trend.

Last but not least, break out the belts. The wider the better.

I really didn’t think these two no-no’s need be published, but apparently I was wrong since I saw both violations this evening.

1. One shoulder tops or dresses are not acceptable. They are in fact tacky. For a brief period of time a few years ago, they were ok but now they are not. Please don’t think they are fashionable as I assure they are not.

2. Vests are NOT back in style either. I really do not think this needs further explanation but if you feel the need to put on a vest, I beg you to resist the temptation and save yourself from a big fashion mistake!

Leg wear is a hot topic this Fall! Yes, Stirrup Leggings are in fact back. UGH, I thought we got rid of these in 1988! So let’s talk about the rules for leg wear this Fall/Winter 2008.

Stirrup Leggings are still in fact hideous with open shoes. They are great however with boots. As long as you can’t see the Stirrup, I think they are fine. There are a few exceptions but to play it safe, I saw leave them alone unless the stirrups are covered.

Patterned tights and hosiery is huge this Fall. I say play up a great, sophisticated pattern with a coordinating skirt or dress. You can combine patterns but do this very discerningly. One pattern or print must be very subtle if you are combining it with another.  I am personally enjoying some great new hosiery. If we have to stay warm, we might as well do it fashionably!

Jeans are no longer just for casual wear. With a barrage of premium denim on the market, jeans are an essential item in your wardrobe and definitely can be dressed up for a night out on the town. Personally, I love to pair jeans with a great sparkly cami or embellished top with a great pair of shoes. You can also do a dressier velvet blazer or fun jacket.  It looks effortless and put together. A darker wash on denim looks a bit more sophisticated and polished. Additionally, a dark wash makes you look thinner. If the jeans have some embellishment that dresses them up as well.

Having just returned from the Spring fashion  markets, I have a lot to report on in terms of trends. However, my personal favorite trend is that Eco-Friendly and Green Fashion is tres chic! We saw a tremendous growth in the number of new lines available with stylish garments that were green. Not only were they green, they were truly adorable.

For those of you who are unaware of why it is important to embrace Eco-Friendly fashion, here are a few facts.

Growing of non-organic cotton is a toxic nightmare. Over one quarter of all the pesticides used in modern agriculture are applied to the modern cotton plant. So while it maybe comfortable, it’s an environmental nightmare.

These pesticides used contain some of the most dangerous compounds known to man, including cyanide. Of the nine major pesticides used on cotton five are proven cancer-causing chemicals and all nine are classified by the EPA as type 1 and 2 – the most dangerous listing possible.

Artfulwears will be presenting you Sworn Virgins next week. Sworn Virgins is a gorgeous, contemporary clothing line made from Bamboo. It’s eco-friendly and reasonably priced.