There is no such thing as “one-bag-fits-all”. A heavy black satchel looks wrong with flirty summer attire;  while a whimsical straw tote is odd with a heavy winter coat. If bags aren’t your thing, you can limit your handbag inventory down to a complement of three, one of which is the a Spring/Summer bag.

You have options when it comes to warm weather bags:

• Printed canvas – perfect for a summer vacation in any array of appealing patterns, shapes and cotton-rich fabrications.
• Bright colours – add a colourful dimension to your ensemble in either plain or patent.
• White – freshen up any Spring/Summer outfit with white accessories.
• Sporty stripe – a punchy, crisp and sophisticated alternative for the “neutral gals” among us.
• Straw – the beach-inspired style has a distinctive urban edge (but remember that some straw bags can be scratchy).
• Metallic – silver, bronze and gold bags remain a versatile choice. Sport them futuristically or in rustic woven weaves.

Sunshine and hot temperatures are about adding a fun element to your wardrobe. Consider a cheerful handbag to match the mood.

Printed canvas (Fossil), straw (Monsac), sporty stripe (DKNY).

Red patent and metallic (Kate Spade) and white Satchel (Kenneth Cole Reaction).

Espadrilles are forever fashionable. They’re the perfect ultra casual (yet sophisticated) Summer shoe. Their raffia-wrapped wedge heels make them particularly “of this fashion moment”, and this season there’s an array of styles and colors to choose from. But most of them are either too high or hopelessly uncomfortable.

So the quest to find a fashionable yet comfortable and affordable pair of shoes continues. While none of them make it to my “6 to 8 hour”  mark, there happen to be a few “4 hour” options around. They’re perfect with dresses, skirts and knee length walk shorts. Have a peek below and perhaps they’ll meet your all-day requirement. (And remember not to wear them in the rain).

Espadrilles by Andre Assous, British footwear giant Clarks, and Born (available at Nordstrom and Zappos.com).

As an inverted triangle, you are a rare breed (less then 1% of the female population). Your broad, square shoulders, narrow hips, straight waist and slim limbs give you plenty of options when it comes to dresses, but you’ll still need to think about how they affect your body. You’ll want to wear dress silhouettes that soften the line of your shoulders and create curvature from the hips down.

Some guidelines on how to find that perfect dress:

• Choose dresses with straps that hit close to your neck. This will narrow your shoulder line.
• Keep your necklines scooped, sweetheart or V-shaped. This will lengthen your neck and balance out the broadness on top. V-neck halter dresses are the perfect solution.
• Wear full circle skirts that flare out and retain their shape.
• Avoid dresses with cap sleeves and tapered skirts as they will accentuate your broad top and narrow bottom.
• Dresses that are dark on top and light on the bottom will help create a visual balance.
• Strapless and tunic styles are also good options. Tailored sleeveless sheath styles will work if the shoulder measurements are short and close to the neck (allowing you to show your shoulder bone).
• You’re the only body type that can wear dresses with broad horizontal stripes.

That wraps up my blog posts on the best dress shapes for different body types. Feel free to ask questions if you’re still unsure about which dress silhouette is best for you. No more excuses ladies, we can all look fab in the right type of dress!

Yoked tunic dress and halter styles with full skirts narrow the shoulder line (Nordstrom).

Strapless styles and horizontal stripes balance out the silhouette (Macy’s and Nordstrom).

Palettes…

• Purples – eggplant, magenta, peacock blue
• Reds – crimson, bordeaux, scarlet, tomato and fire engine red
• Greens – chartreuse, apple and Irish green
• Black –futuristic woven metallic threads, sequins and lots of texture

Styles…

• Put your dresses away because it’s all about pants: Jodhpurs, wide-legs, skinnies and cropped
• Puffy everything: sleeves, dresses, skirts, pants and jackets
• Hourglass everything: nothing low slung …wide, wide, wide belts
• Lantern skirts and pencil skirts
• Novelty coats
• Oxford shoes and spectators
• Riding boots: fringe last year and a now a deep trend
• Framed  bags
• Rectangular rings
• Patent, patent, patent

Lots of new twists on watershed trends that started coming through last Autumn. We are used to the look. After all, fashion is an adaptation of the eye.