again with the juicy couture…i’m scaring myself a little. but gah, this top is so cute! and marked down 40% in the net-a-porter summer sale. it’ll be darling with shorts this summer, and i can totally see this dressed up for work with a contrasting cardi and trouser jeans. nab it for $106 while you can. fab.u.lous.

agh…my wallet is positively groaning. neiman, saks, bergdorf, nordstrom - everyone has started their spring sales, and my restraint is wearing thin. but i was doing pretty well until shopbop’s designer sale started.

now, those gorgeous anya hindmarch silver woven d’orsay pumps (wow, that’s a long description for a pair of shoes) i wanted a month ago have made their way from a worthy splurge down to a very responsible buy. same goes for that stunning chocolate brown woven elrod. and her stunningly beautiful grey studded shoulder bag.

and these fantastic gatsby pants by peter som do, in fact, remind me of an afternoon soiree circa f. scott fitzgerald. they were just featured in the june vogue, so it’s a wonder they’ve already hit the sale rack. marked down to just under $500, they’re still a splurge, but if you have the bod to carry off the volume (read: long and lean), they’re a classic style that is well worth your next bonus. while you’re at it, check out som’s luscious take on the classic cardigan - long, lean and oh-so-stylish, it would definitely be a worthy addition to your wardrobe.

loads of other unmissable options to peruse, so head over and get your shop on!

oh, how i love sale season…truly my favorite time of year. today, i’m oohing and aahing over everything basic boutique has just marked down…it’s a really lovely mix of spring-friendly items and a few pieces definitely worth storing away until next fall. a few of my faves:

i love the unique styling on this gorgeous silk blouse by twinkle - marked down to $138, this might just be the perfect spring blouse. use it as a shell during the day, dress it up with a pencil skirt at night, or jeans on the weekend.

something about this gorgeous dolman sleeve cashmere sweater by twig just sings to me. not sure if it’s the dramatic cut, paired with the incredibly subtle, neutral color, or if it’s the way they’ve made cashmere look light as a feather, and drape just beautifully - whatever it is, pick it up for $129, before someone else does!

if i worked in an office, i’d nab this crisp cotton lantern sleeve jacket by cynthia vincent, and i’d use it as my suit alternative all summer long. the styling has that perfect blend of classic polish and high fashion, and it’s on sale for less than $200.

this swing dress by rachel pally doesn’t seem like much at first glance, but give it a second look, and the potential really starts to unfold. that gorgeous neckline is perfect for girls with a smaller bust - it really gives you something different to show off, no wonderbra required. the pattern is subtle and chic, and the jersey fabric drapes like silk with none of the fuss. best of all, this baby is 70% off - for $112, you have all of your summer parties covered!

check out all of the finds at basic boutique’s spring extravaganza - you’re sure to find something you can’t live without.

man, 10 minutes on sigerson morrison’s website, and i’m as smitten as i was when i first discovered the line years ago. i’m not saying there aren’t some definite misses in the collection from time to time, but overall…yum.

honestly, these orange patent heels are just fabulous, though. my favorite thing about all of my sigerson shoes is that they’re just a little bit eccentric, but in that timeless way that keeps me going back, no matter what’s “in” that season. my green suede d’orsays are still among my all-time favorite purchases. and i can definitely see these beauties being next on the list.

of course, i’d probably get more wear from these lovely patent flats…as i live in flats 95% of the time. but the heels are just so fun and exciting. hmm.

check out all of the pretties here or here…happy spring!

i am having oh so much fun with the “new and improved” old navy. these lovely t-strap sandals bear a striking resemblance to a pair i’ve been coveting for at least two years now, but at literally 1/20 the price. not bad for a day’s browsing…

i nabbed the white, in the vain hope that my pasty pale skin will be a little bit more tan in months to come. but i’m sort of in love with this fabulous bright green color too. at $19 each, i probably should have just bought both, but i decided to tack these on instead (in yellow…divine!). again, not as cute as the original, but for $14, i’ll take it.

ooh, and use code STUFFSAVE for 20% off your old navy purchase through 4/24.

i’ve been coveting a new scarf for positively ages - and the coveting was finally reinforced when even my darling hubs told me he’d seen more than enough of the ancient (but lovely) j.crew version i’d been sporting for the last 3 winters. i know it’s not really scarf weather any more, but i continue to covet nonetheless.

for me, the ultimate would be one of the many beauties by missoni, who does an amazing job of making scarves that will go with anything, and in virtually any weather.

the version above ($225) is a cotton blend, so it’s never too heavy, but at 9″ wide, it’s still thick enough to bundle you up when you need the warmth.

and i’ve been in love with this silk-trim version since i first spied it months ago. sadly, at $660, it’s probably not coming home with me…but it’s definitely in the “covet from afar” category.

either way, i’m sure to be warm and toasty all summer long. hey, that air conditioning can get bitter!

ever since i read an article in the april vogue about the author’s first marimekko dress, i’ve been craving big pattern…in a big way.

there’s the original, of course, which one can’t overlook. this site has more options than just about anyone, and their pricing is pretty impressive. i love this tunic style shirtdress ($219), which gives you the fabulous pattern, but the conservative styling reins it in and makes it office-appropriate.

but then, i think if you’re jumping on this look, the “reined in” thing isn’t really the point at all. i love this blouse (on sale for $109), which is completely over the top, in the best of ways. wear it with a skinny black pant or pencil skirt, layer a turtleneck underneath, leave it open & call it a jacket, or close it up and call it a blouse - this is a piece i’d never get tired of.

i’m also loving some of the less obvious versions floating around this spring. this version by puella ($176) is a little bit 70s flower child, but the styling keeps it modern.

if adding color on top of pattern is just too much for you, try this big, bold black and white number by mika piirainen ($183). i love the swirling pattern and classic cut - this is a dress that’s so classic, your daughters are sure to fight over it one day.

and, if all of this pattern is just a little more than you can convince yourself to try, consider dabbling with a fabulous marimekko scarf ($20), which can give you that splash of crazy color and pattern, without stretching your boundaries too far. for me, if i can track down these absolutely amazing wooden brooches (which seem, tragically, to be out of stock absolutely everywhere), i’ll die a happy woman.

(PS…i would also be remiss if i didn’t mention the marimekko line for H&M hits stores tomorrow, 4/10. a sneak peek can be found here..enjoy!)

this spring, i can’t help noticing that designers are returning to some of the tricks of the trade that really make me ooh and aah. intricate pleating, ruffles, and other fabulous details turn everyday styles into something really extraordinary - finally, you don’t have to look like every other girl on the street.

this pleated tunic/minidress by jovovich-hawk ($395) would be endlessly versatile for the warmer months. pair it with a slim black trouser now (just swap out the slip for a cami), and wear it solo for a fabulous outdoor party dress when summer’s in full swing. the texture is so striking, i don’t even think you need to accessorize this - it speaks for itself. hmm, well, maybe just a bold cocktail ring (which would be 20% off with code CYBR20)…

i love the gorgeous slate blue color and the over-the-top ruffling on this silk top by joie ($185). this would be every bit as cute with a white pencil skirt as it is with shorts - and those lovely ruffles are sure to hide the results of one too many frappucinos.

and the pintucked top and bold belt on this girly taffeta blouse by twelfth street ($192) just scream summertime chic to me - again, love this with a pencil skirt, maybe a wide-legged ash grey pant, jeans, tailored shorts…the options are endless. oh, and it’s an additional 25% off (today only!) with code 25TODAY.

these are just a few of my faves - if you’re in the mood for a little extra za za zoom in your closet, i’d suggest a stroll through shopbop’s spring blouse collection - they’ve done a really excellent job of pulling some unique options together.

i’ve been really in the mood for scarves lately, and with good reason - they’re absolutely everywhere this spring (huge thanks to coquette for the runway pics). as french women have known for decades, a colorful silk scarf can instantly transform an average outfit into a chic ensemble. so i’m thrilled to see american fashion finally following suit.

but i find that i avoid accessorizing with scarves as often as i might like, and i think i’ve finally figured out why. square scarves, i’ve decided, are a lot of work. the folding, the twisting, the meticulous styling…it’s all just so much effort, and not really what scarves are all about anyway. but, when the hubs recently picked up a gorgeous oblong scarf for me, it was love at first wear.

oblongs, which usually range from about 4″ to 16″ wide, and anywhere from 50″ to 80″ long, are infinitely versatile. toss them around your neck to dangle long, tie in a simple half knot (my favorite), or wrap them in any way you would wrap a winter scarf (find a few how-tos here, as i’m terrible at written instructions for these things).

use them as a belt (i love replacing belts on dresses with scarves), a head scarf (this look is impeccable at the beach, when your hair is a mess - and unlike a square scarf, an oblong will cover just the right amount of your head without turning into a babushka), or tie them in a big floopy bow at your neck to recreate that 80s “big bow” look that seem to be back these days.

another favorite look of mine is to replace (or just wrap) the handle on your favorite handbag with a scarf. this works best if your bag has metal fixtures at the handle bases - simply tie one end of your scarf to one fixture, and the other end to the other fixture. let the original handle dangle a bit, and voila. (i’ve asked my lovely michael kors skorpio bag to help out with this demo)
as for where to buy (we are all about shopping here, of course), most of the images in this post are from echo designs, which makes absolutely lovely scarves. my personal favorite right now, though i’d normally advise colorful scarves, is this black-and-white version, taken from a photograph by mena suvari, of all people.

echo also has a stunning vintage collection - they’ve recently reintroduced several of their older, classic designs. i love the retro style of this stoplight pattern. the colors of this moroccan tile design would complement just about any neutral ensemble. and this mod fish scale pattern is pretty fabulous too. best of all, most of echo’s scarves won’t set you back more than about $50, so you can afford to experiment. the trick is to pick a young, colorful design, so that you don’t look like you raided your mom’s closet.

there are also loads of gorgeous options at shopbop right now, if you needed further proof that scarves are as of-the-moment as you can get. my faves are the DVF options, which have that retro style/glam thing down perfectly.

the truth is that once you get a scarf (or several) home, if you’re willing to be adventurous, the options really are limitless. and i think you’ll realize what french women have known for years: just a touch of chic makes all the difference.

i know, we don’t often do the celeb-stalking thing here on SMC, but i couldn’t resist today. gerard darel has been a superstar in europe for years, and he’s finally catching on stateside. i got a little sneak preview of his latest collections in my in-box this morning, and couldn’t resist sharing this mega-size hobo that all of the starlets are carrying around lately.

and it’s no wonder: if you’re still insisting on toting a bag that will actually carry everything you need all day (instead of sacrificing preparedness for the beauty of that cute little clutch), darel’s midday midnight hobo is just about perfect. i love the rich, saturated colors, and the leather is so wonderfully slouchy that it just melts into your torso when you wear it. a nice feature on a huge bag, as it allows you to carry it without looking ridiculous, no matter how stuffed or empty it is.

to snag the bag that katherine heigl, jessica alba, cameron diaz and the like are loving this spring, head to shoprumor.com with your $895 in tow. they’ll have to special order it for you, but having tried last year to obtain a darel bag in the US, i can tell you it’s all but impossible. i love that gorgeous orange-red that cameron’s carrying (duh), but the purple is definitely of-the-moment, and that green is absolutely stunning too. you just can’t go wrong.