Spring is that incredible time of year where fashion is always fabulous. Here is a list of what I love for Spring 2010:

1. Platform Shoes – Not only are they more comfortable than a regular heel, they are also usually a bit higher. Higher is sexier!

2. Caged Heels – They were around last Spring but they are everywhere this Spring and they are hot.

3. Nude Color Shoes – Again, you saw dribs and drabs this year and you had to have one pair. Now you need a few different styles Or I do anyway…

4. Nautical – Ok, don’t go over the top crazy and be corny about it but subtle nautical inspired looks are fresh and fun.

5. Navy Blue – Navy blue or deep shades of a marine color (goes along with the Nautical trend) are replacing black. I love it and can’t get enough.

6. Neons – I really didn’t think I would see the day where I was loving neon again but the way designers are integrating just a touch of neon with neutrals is fun. I wouldn’t spend a lot of money on this trend however as I think it will be gone next year.

7. Red Accessories – Hot red shoes, an resin Apple piece of jewelry, red clutch. I love them all as a netural thrown in with anything.

8. Skinny Jeans – These are the newly discovered love of my life. You get them hemmed and can wear any heigh heel with them!

As I removed my new sequined high-heeled sandals this evening and looked around my closet, I became keenly aware of my total obsession with sequins. What started out as a few items has turned into literally a whole wardrobe filled with sequins. It’s total sequin insanity! I guess this is what happens when a trend lasts for 2 years. So before I get into the list of the myriad of sequined items I have in my enormous close, I want to offer up a few tips on how to wear (or not wear) sequins.

First of all, be careful of sequins in patterns. Two colors of sequins or tonal variations can work well but prints made of sequins (like zebra or mixes of bright colors) can be tacky or even scary. Limit your outfit to one sequined item. You don’t want to overdo the sequin thing. So if you are doing sequin shoes, leave the sequin top or bag in the closet. Last, consider age appropriateness and placement. Sequin pants work well when you are 20 or 30 but not very well when you are 50 or 60. Most importantly, sequins no longer have to be limited to “dressing up”. They can be incorporated into a simple outfit for a night at the movies to add a little fun to your look.

So what are all the sequined items I have in my closet and how am I wearing them?

1. Shoes – I just happen to stumble upon a FABULOUS pair of black sequin Elie Tahari peep toe sling-back heels. How could I resist? These are incredibly versatile and super sexy. While you can obviously pair them with dressy dress, you can also dress them down with a more casual dress or rock them out with jeans and a tee. After acquiring these show stopping heels, I then ran into a great pair of sequin high-heeled sandals with thing ankle straps. They were SO hot and on sale, I had to get them in two colors. Again, they can be dressed up or down.

2. Dresses – Well, the Nannette Lepore gray merino wool mini-dress with wide bands of sequins from two years ago is still smokin’ hot. It’s definitely for evening and cool weather and not as versatile as some of the other sequined items I own. I am not sure if I count the two black Summer dresses that are mildly embellished with sequins but we will put them on the list.

3. Jackets – I have two and they are both show stoppers. The first one is shiney silver sequins all over and comes right below the waist. It’s all sequins with no visibility of the fabric underneath. The other one is, yes you guessed it, black. This one is a slight wider shape and the sequins are less dense. Both work equally to go over a cocktail dress or thrown on with jeans and tee.

4. Camis & Tanks – Ok, so there are truly more camis and tanks than I can talk about individually but I believe we are somewhere in the neighborhood of 12. I generally like to wear these with jeans but a few of them look great with a black skirt for a more dressed up look. There are a few black ones that work equally well on their own as they do layered underneath a sweater or jacket.

5. Clutch – The clutch speaks for itself. It’s a chocolate brown satin with yellowish lime and metallic gold sequins on the front. It’s perfect with a simple brown or gold dress or denim. Not very versatile but fun.

6. Tube Top – This piece deserves it’s own space. My Mom had this in her drawer from the 80’s and it’s truly awesome. It’s a simple black shiney sequin tube top perfectly constructed with room for your bust. It’s a reminder that great garments stand the test of time. I love it paired under my funky gray cotton cami top dress but the options are endless.

7. Skinny Jeans – I feel like I am saving the best for last. We have all seen lots of sequin leggings out this year and I definitely dig them but I am in LOVE with my black sequin skinny jeans. They work almost identically to leggings but giving you a better look at the waist. My favorite way to wear these is with a simple white ribbed cotton tank and my black suede shoes with the sexy red heel.

While I am not suggesting everyone go sequin crazy like I have, I think it’s just great to understand that add a sequin item to a simple outfit gives you a very chic yet effortless style.

Rainey Day is the hottest new jewelry designer in NYC and I am so excited to be featuring her gorgeous collection at Artfulwears.com! I was bestowed upon me the exquisite Dripping In Chains Necklace. It is an intricately woven series of copper chains with a suede tie. It’s chic, funky, and rock n’ roll all in one.

What I Love: I am all about unique. This season we are seeing a multitude of layered chain necklaces, however Rainey’s technique of weaving the chains together gives them a bold style that is truly unique. The Dripping In Chains Necklace makes a statement, yet it is very versatile. We love the copper since most other designers are doing gold, silver, or oxidized silver. The suede tie is also a bit of twist. Not only is it pretty and a bit rock ‘n roll, it allows you to adjust the necklace to the perfect length.

What I Am Wearing It With: I happen to have the perfect rock n’ roll inspired dress by Salvage, but truly the Dripping In Chains Necklace can be paired with a great variety of clothing. I paired it with a simple white top and jeans to let the necklace by the center of attention. I love the concept of this necklace being the focal point of an outfit. It’s the perfect accessory to funk up clean basics. It really pops against white but looks great with black as well.

About Rainey Day: In Rainey’s words “Creations originally mine, now uniquely yours…accessories that reinvent creative fashion statements. I have been called the REINVENTION DESIGNER. I create fearless accessories that inspire women to confidently reinvent their own unique fashion statement. I design elegant, sculptural, high-end, limited edition artisan jewelry inspired by exquisite semi-precious stones and unique scarves of the finest silks.”
How To Get Yours: Artfulwears will be featuring a small collection of Rainey Day’s necklaces and bracelets that are inspired by Rock N’ Roll from September 20-27, 2009. Each piece is handmade by Rainey herself and they are truly special.

Set II of Artfulwears month long Rock N’ Roll trunk shows is featuring one of my personal favorite jewelry designers, Annie Hammer. Her pieces are unique, beautiful, edgy, and adorn my body on a very regular basis. From Sunday September 6 to September 13, Artfulwears is featuring an exclusive Rock N’ Roll inspired collection from Annie Hammer.

Annie’s jewelry combines a variety of metals, leather, skins, precious and semi-precious stones, and Swarvoski crystals. Each beautiful detail is well thought out and proportioned. She has a gift for creating fashion forward pieces that are still timeless. By envisioning things in a sculptural form, Annie then translates them into gorgeous pieces of jewelry.

My favorite piece from the trunk show has to be the Heavy Metal Necklace. This multi-chained, layered necklace is truly a statement piece. It can be worn with a great white shirt and jeans or put on with your favorite little black dress. It’s truly a work of art.

Don’t miss out on this great one week even!

It’s a special week at Artfulwears, as I have two beautiful dresses to tell you about. Even more beautiful is that they are eco-friendly. Jae Basilio is a beautiful eco-friendly knit line that is modern and contemporary.

If you like short, we have the Trey Shirt Dress. It’s relaxed and comfortable, yet very sexy. If you are into the maxi trend, we have the James Maxi Dress. It’s a colorful and fun but can definitely take you from day to night.

What I love? Both the James Maxi Dress and Trey Shirt Dress have soft and sumptuous knits. They simply feel amazing against your skin. Plus, I personally feel better knowing my skin is not absorbing toxins from my clothing! These dresses are both incredibly versatile.

Mostly every woman I know loves a piece that you can easily take from day to night, like you can with both of these dresses. They would also be GREAT for travel since they don’t wrinkle. Which also means after you wash them (by hand of of course), you don’t have to iron them. Last but certainly not least, the fit of both dresses is fantastic.

What I am wearing them with? The Trey Shirt Dress, looks full on the hanger but is completely sexy on. I paired Trey with a gorgeous pair of multi-color heels, a great layered necklace, and a brown clutch. One of the things I love to do with a solid dress is a print or multi-colored shoe. You could easily pair this with a flat sandal for daytime too. Perhaps you want to take this into Fall, try pairing it with tights and some high-heel boots. I would tend to lean towards dark browns or greys to perhaps tone down the fuschia. If you are looking to dress it up for a more cocktail look, try a hot pair of oversized “diamond” hoops and a some black patent heels. You will not run out of options with this dress. It can be easily reinvented by changing your shoes and accessories.

The James Maxi Dress and I went out completely casual. I did a flat Born black flip-flop and tossed on a cropped denim jacket over top. However, if I was looking to take it for a night on the town, I can see it with my HOT gladiator style purple snakeskin heels or my black Kenneth Cole wrap suede heels. I was pleasantly surprised at how many shoe options I had for this piece. If you want to make it ultra-summery, you can try a white strappy sandal as well. The maxi dress is high-fashion this season so you can’t go wrong. The dress is well designed to accommodate a busty girl and the style is an easy fit.

The Basics: The Trey Shirt Dress is made of 55% silk and 45% cotton. The weight is fabulous and it’s very breathable. I have fuschia but it’s also available in Plum, which I love, and black which is obviously incredibly versatile. The style looks great on a variety of bodies and is generously cut. It hits just above the knee.

The James Maxi Dress is 93% cotton and 7% spun silk, make it uber comfy! Did I really say that? The multi-color stripe fabric has black, white, blue, purple, yellow, red, and grey. Like I said, this gives you a lot of shoe and accessory options. This dress is ankle length but can easily be hemmed to suit your body. You can tie the straps as a halter or simply cinch them and tie them to wear the dress strapless.

How To Get Yours: Artfulwears is having a Jae Basilio Trunk Show from Sunday May 17 to Sunday May 24, 2009. All trunk shows begin and end at 7:00 p.m. Both of these hot dresses as well as as one other great style will be available.

Why Eco-Friendly? Like most people, you probably think cotton is natural and “healthy”. In reality, growing of non-organic cotton is a toxic nightmare. Over one quarter of all the pesticides used in modern agriculture are applied to the cotton plant. So while it maybe comfortable, it’s an environmental nightmare. Not only do these toxins get into our water table they also absorb into your skin!

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.

About Jae Basilio: Janet “Jae” Basilio is a gradaute of the Fashion Institute of Design. She brings her west coast style and travel inspirations together to create this chic and modern line of knitwear. Her designs look equally fabulous paired with denim for a casual look or standing alone for a more formal occasion. Launched in 2007, we expect to see a continued array of fabulous garments from Jae Basilio.

Noah Handbags Trunk May 3, 2009 – May 10, 2009 at Artfulwears.com

So one day an email magically appeared in my inbox from Noah Handbags. Normally, I delete these emails but this one caught my eye because the bags are simply gorgeous. The brand has modern, clean lines, and is very fashion forward but still look timeless. I immediately picked the phone up to call the designer. The rest is history as they say. I had the privilege of trying out the Lasercut Butterfly Clutch. All the photos shown are various angles of the same bag both folded and unfolded in the Aranico (orange) and Bleu.

What I love? The Butterfly Clutch by Noah Handbags is striking! It has very clean lines yet packs a punch. I was torn by which color to choose because they all appealed to me in a different way. However, I went with the Aranico (Orange) because I felt like it really made a statement and would be hot for Summer. While this bag is made of entirely animal friendly materials, it gives the appearance of very polished patent leather. I also love the price. This looks like a VERY expensive designer bag and it’s only $175.00!

The Basics: This clutch is truly the perfect size (15.5″ W x 7.5″ H). You can actually put a reasonable amount of things in it without it looking stuffed or  losing it shape. That is a quality I really adore in a bag. Not on that you can fold it over for the envelope style but you can also hold it by the handle and make it bigger. The inside is almost as fabulous as the outside. It has a pocket for a cell phone and another small pocket I used for lip gloss. Plus, an inside zipper pocket. Basically it has all the big bag features in a nice, compact, sleek design.  For those of you who aren’t fans of orange (this of course boggles my mind), there are several great color choices. My other favorite is the Vetro, which is a pale celadon shade but I would equally love the Chocolate or the Bleu. I think the toughest decision is choosing a color. Made from a Italian PVC material, overlaying canvas and straw.

What I am wearing it with: On the Butterfly Clutch’s first excursion, I paired it with a very simple vanilla colored tee shirt dress that has a very earthy feel and some chocolate brown gladiator sandals. I was so enthralled with the bag that I wanted it to be the center of attention (it was). For it’s next journey, I paired it with a dark denim skirt and orange linen top. However, there are SOOO many more outfits I want to wear it with. Truth be told, I have a secret obsession with orange so there are many choices in many closet. But this looks great with denim as well as all earth tones: chocolate, khaki, ivory, olive. Bonus: This bag works just as well for day as it does for night.

About The Noah Handbags: Noah Handbags is a play on words for “No Animal Harmed”. Designer Joe Donza was confident in launching his new brand that you can in fact have beautiful, high-quality bags without sacrificing the well-being of animals. I would say he has achieved inarguable success! By blending classic silhouettes with modern day twists, bold colors and graphics, the Noah collection has set itself apart from it’s competition. In addition to being animal friendly, Noah is striving to be green as well. Noah is doing all of these things while maintaining moderate prices. The collection features cotton, Italian PVC, and hemp with many additional fibers on the horizon for Donza.
Who else loves them? Ok, I know this sounds repetitive but truly this bag has turned heads everywhere I go. I have been stopped left and right with people asking me where I found my bag. Plus, all my friends are chomping at the bit to get theirs.

How To Get Yours: The Butterfly Clutch, as well as several other gorgeous bags from Noah, will be available at the Noah Handbags Trunk Show at Artfulwears.com starting at 7p.m. on May 3, 2009, for one week only. During the show the bags will be 20% off!

I don’t think there are any other more appropriate words to describe these shoes other than H-O-T! In fact, they are so fantastic I don’t even know where to begin but I can assure you that the Trinity from Klub Nico will be in heavy rotation within my 150+ pairs of shoes.

What I love? The gunmetal color is incredibly versatile and perhaps the biggest selling point of this shoe. While it does have a slightly gold undertone, you can easily pair these shoes with clothing in the gold, silver, or bronze color families. I love how they blend. In addition to the metallic color tones, the Trinity obviously works incredibly well with a variety of colors from coral or green to purple or white. They are equally as versatile as my nude patent leather kitten heels, which were my favorite shoes of the season.

What I am wearing them with? I happened to be the lucky owner of a fantastic gunmetal leather motor cycle jacket from Cino that looks amazing with these shoes. So the jacket has been added to a lot of the looks. I have paired them with a black dress, as well as a denim skirt and two different tops with bronze/gold embellishments. Most recently, I let the shoes be the center of attention with a pair of dark jeans and a white button down top. Truly, these shoes make a statement!

Who else loves them? Whenever I obtain a hot new item, my friends and family always want to check it out but needless to say they don’t all love the same things. Truly, EVERYONE loved these shoes. From young friends to my Mom’s friends (long past the age of collecting social security), they all want a pair. My girlfriends with very basic simple tasted loved them equally to the wild and crazy girls.

The Basics: The Trinity is made of a gunmetal colored leather with a gold tone buckle over the top of the foot and around the ankle, which allows for a more precise fit. However, we all know it’s about how they look. The peep toe is sexy and the braided leather detail on the top finishes off the look. They have a 1/2″ platform with a 4″ stacked wood heel (so a net height of 3 1/2″).

More Details: The Trinity is a really well made, beautiful shoe that is well cushioned and comfortable. I must confess I am not the expert on how comfortable they are for walking for long periods of time since I have a really tough time

walking in heels but I believe these would be a great find for anyone who is used to a 3 1/2″.

About Klub Nico: Klub Nico shoes, celebrating it’s 5th anniversary in June, are designed in northern California by Kelley Lehner. Inspired by Brazilian culture and lifestyle, her shoes are playful, sexy, and ultimately feminine. Texture, color, and unexpected embellishments are at the forefront of Kelley’s designs. Using only the highest quality materials, all of Klub Nico’s shoes are manufactured in Brazil. The brand is focused on designing styles for today’s modern woman who is fashionable, on the go, busy,  and fills a variety of roles on a daily basis. For this woman, Klub Nico delivers great value, comfort,  and versatility. I look forward to my next pair!

How To Get Yours: The Trinity Platform Heel, as well as 6 other gorgeous styles from Klub Nico, will be available at Artfulwears.com from Sunday April 19, 2009 at 7 p.m. EST for exactly one week. As part of this special event, each pair of Klub Nico shoes will be 20% off.

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.

I have to say I was pretty excited about this outfit. I found this Sequin Mini Skirt VERY on sale and had to buy it! Originally I thought I would throw it on with a denim jacket and white ribbed tank. However, I came across this gorgeous sleeveless tuxedo top that I thought just looked perfect. The tank and jacket are still a great option to dress it down for a fun night.

What you see here is clearly a party outfit! The shoes for this outfit were key. You need a slim shoe with a mini skirt and I didn’t want anything that over powered it. I chose a simple pointy toe black pump. I chose a bold bracelet and a simple yet visible earring, but truly you could have gone without any accessories. The skirt makes enough of a statement.

Recently it occurred to me that I am constantly giving fashion advice and tips but sometimes you need to see things to understand them. The old saying “a picture is worth 1000 words” is so true. So I am starting a new series on the Artfulwears Blog, “What I’m Wearing!”. They will be pictures of my outfits as well as our readers. I will explain why I chose items I am wearing to help you understand the fashion choices. I welcome the readers to email their photos of outfits that they love to blog@artfulwears.com.