Mothers Day is an opportunity to spoil our Mothers (and ourselves) with the gift of style. In keeping with the notion that stylish is a mixture of both timeless and of the moment, my top picks for for Mums are:

• A scent
• A bright pair of shoes or handbag
• A dazzling day dress
• A sassy new hairdo
• A white shirt
• A new pair of specs
• An updated pair of jeans

As I did last Mother’s Day, I’d like to dedicate this blog entry to my late Mother who remains one the most stylish women I’ve known. We at youlookfab wish you a magnificent and stylish Mother’s Day.

I would have thanked my Mum for being as wonderful as she was with a pair of red patent shoes, a bright yellow handbag or a bottle of YSL Opium.

Finding a fashionable, comfortable and affordable pair of shoes is a tall order. With my finicky feet this was my fashion challenge each season. And then I stumbled upon farylrobin, a sassy footwear company that was started 5 years ago by New Yorker Faryl Morse. In her words…

“Women are passionate about their shoes… and their independence. I started farylrobin with those two passions in mind.”

Farylrobin shoes are funky, playful and distinctive. As Faryl says…

“We try to make shoes that are so visually appealing to you that you think “I’ve got to have those!” The kind of shoe that makes you happy just thinking about putting them on. The kind that actually feels as satisfying on as it looks. Yes, you can have it all!”

Can we have it all when it comes to shoes? Looking at the customer comments on Zappos.com, I started to feel a glimmer of hope. “Comfortable” was a word that popped up frequently. So I ordered a pair. After traipsing around in them the whole day, I can genuinely recommend them to others. They are beautifully made, soft on your soles and cheerful to look at. I am delighted to be part if the farylrobin flock.

Farylrobin sandals and pumps cost between $115 and $150 and are available at Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Amazon.com and Zappos.com. The colourful 3-inch pumps shown above made my feet very happy.

Red started to trend for Autumn 2006. It wasn’t forecast as a major colour for Spring 2007, but it’s everywhere. Favorable reactions to the resurgence of the colour last season have kept the trend alive and kicking for a good while longer than expected.

There seem to be more red shoe and handbag options available than any other bright. This is nifty news because red is a basic colour. Alongside staples like black, white, cream, grey, brown and tan, there’s red. All colours can be matched with the right shade of red (it’s strangely glorious combined with pink and orange). If you prefer sticking to neutrals, remember that red also falls into this category. Sport maroon or paprika instead of fire engine red if the classic feels too bold. There is a shade of red for everyone, gents and children included.

Anything red (clothing or accessories) makes my “must have” list for Spring and Summer. Take advantage of the abundance of red product that’s on hand. It’s the perfect combination of timeless and “of the moment”.

Red bag (Nordstrom) and shoes (Zappos.com).

The start of a new season and the end of an old one calls for a little extra organization. It’s a good idea to get niggly wardrobe tasks out of the way so that you can shop in your closet for Spring and Summer. Below is a checklist that I’ve found useful:

• Take coats and knitwear to the cleaners so that they are ready to wear next season.
• Pack away ski and snow gear.
• Unpack warmer weather clothes if you store them to conserve closet space in Winter.
• Take shoes and boots to be re-soled and cleaned if necessary.
• Take clothing that needs to be altered to a tailor.
• Make sure that you are wearing the correct bra. The size of our bust changes due to weight loss/gain, age and breast feeding, and it’s imperative to keep up with these changes. 60% of all women are in the wrong bra size so make sure that you aren’t one of them.
• Check white clothes for yellow armpit stains and irremovable spots. If tilex won’t remove them, pass them along.
• Scrutinize your Spring and Summer clothing. The aim is to have a fluid wardrobe that’s brimming with flattering, wearable possibilities. If this is not the case, do some closet clean up.
• Get a pedicure. Sandals will be coming out for Spring and those feet need to look the part.

Have fun adding this season’s luster to existing favourites. You’ll be sure to strike up a bargain in the two months of Summer shopping that are left.