Aldo stores sell footwear and handbags. The quality of their handbags is better than Target, H&M and Forever 21, and yet the prices are not much higher. These four synthetic handbags caught my eye last week when I was in their store with a client. Quite nice. 

• Aldo’s Dockwiller Bowling Bag: It’s SO lightweight. And the off-white is lovely for Spring and Summer. It’s also available in coral. 
• Aldo’s Sedlack Clutch: A peacock feather printed vintage-inspired clutch with wooden handles is so fun! It’s also available in yellow. 
• Aldo’s Crate Clutch: A streamlined neon piped clutch is a super little update for any outfit, be it a gals night out, date night, or a wedding event. Check out both colour options. 
• Aldo’s Lare Satchel: This is the crossbody bag style of the moment. It’s cool in this neutral metallic shade. 

And while I’m at it, here are two versatile, good quality clothing pieces for work or play: 

• Ann Taylor Scoop Neck Short Sleeve Top: An excellent basic that’s substantial, non-clingy, and sleeved. In a viscose blend, it’s more like a sweater than a knitted top and does not need a camisole to hide cleavage or transparent fabrication. It comes in four colours. 
• Halogen Ruched Three Quarter Sleeve Jacket: If you’re looking for a lightweight woven jacket to accentuate your curves, try this shape. It’s amazingly flattering as it nips in at the waistline and skims your shape. Particularly great on a fuller bust line. The vertical integrity is very effective and the sleeves are “already scrunched”. Available in petites and regular sizes.

Sometimes, all it takes is a new handbag or simple clothing piece, like a basic top in a new colour, to change up the mood of your outfits.

We recently flew to Chicago to attend the wedding of a friend. I was excited about this trip because I LOVE weddings, adore Chicago, looked forward to catching up with Chicago friends, and was of course thrilled to attend the YLF Saint Patrick’s Day Gathering. The whirlwind trip was even better than I expected because the weather was unseasonably sublime. Warm, sunny and very opposite to the sleet and cold that we left behind in Seattle. 

It was a pleasure to prep the outfits for all three wedding events. There was a rehearsal dinner, the main ceremony and reception the next morning, and a banquet in the evening. I shopped my closet for all three outfits, and you’ll probably recognize most of the items. I kept the palette neutral across all three ensembles adding colour with footwear and clutch in outfits two and three, which you’ll see later this week.

I am often in a modern classic mood when it comes to dressing up for wedding events and I guess that’s because I don’t get bored of classic silhouettes. They are called “the classics” for a reason and that’s really the long and short of it. I also enjoy the juxtaposition of lady-like items with my boyish haircut and straight-ish body type. As long as the items are updated, crisp, and well made, I feel fab in a modern classic vibe. 

I matched a full, printed box-pleated skirt with one of my favourite button down shirts of all time. You saw the skirt at fashion week last month and the white shirt at fashion week last year. Although full skirts are on trend, it’s a retro classic in my book. I buttoned up the shirt right up to the top for part of the evening, allowing the oversized collar and mother of pearl buttons to function as an accessory. I scrunched up the sleeves to draw attention to it’s buttoned cuffs. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I happen to love a strict and dramatic buttoned-up look. Into the evening, I unbuttoned the shirt for a different outfit vibe.

I finished off the look with micro polka dot black hose, a textured pewter clutch, skinny black patent belt and black stacked pumps. No jewelry other than my watch, wedding ring and specs. I chose my oversized black specs to contrast with the whiteness of the shirt. I find solid black high heeled pumps, especially when they are pointy toed, a severe combination for my pale skin and blonde hair. So that’s why I opted for round toes and colour blocked heels. The bamboo heels add a softness to the outfit and bookend my blonde hair. This was Greg’s favourite wedding outfit of the three. 

I have to suppress my desire to wear this white button down shirt more often because I love it so much. When it warms up, I want to wear it twice a week because it works with virtually all my bottoms. But I also want to keep it somewhat “special”, which means practicing the art of self-restraint.

You are on Team Spring if you prefer dressing for Spring. You love the freshness of the wardrobe items, the colour palette and the warmth that is associated with Spring dressing. You are on Team Autumn if you prefer dressing for Fall. You adore the colour palette, the texture-richness of Fall wardrobe items, and the temperature change that is associated with Autumn dressing. 

Well. This is harder than I thought. Autumn is hands down my favourite time of the year in the northern hemisphere. Along with the breathtakingly beautiful foliage, I love pulling out my woolly Autumn pieces, sporting boots and warmer weight jackets and scarves, and wearing texture-rich neutral ensembles. Autumn in Seattle is stunning. It’s dry, crisp and sunny, and warmer than our often ghastly Springs that feel like Winter. 

On the other hand, I love sour Spring colours, fresh patterns, and crisp fabrications. Soft silky blouses, impeccable white shirts, bright shades of clothing, crisp trench coats, white jeans, ballet flats, cheerful full skirts in happy colours, and lightweight blazers are also close to my heart. If Spring in Seattle was sunny, warm and gorgeous, I would be sitting this poll out on the bench unable to choose between the seasons. But I’m going to bat for Team Autumn because it’s a magical time of the year in my neck of the woods, and dressing for that season is so very enjoyable. 

Over to you. Are you on Team Spring or Team Autumn? Tell us why and no batting for both teams.

I had a hard time keeping this as short and sweet as last year’s list because the colours and trends look extra fresh and fabulous to my eye. The most important thing to do this season is embrace colour, and I can’t stress this point enough. It’s seldom that we see a retail season full of brights, neon, pastels, mid tones and earth tones. If you like these shades, snap them up in wardrobe items that tickle your fancy as soon as possible. We could be stuck with a narrower colour assortment next year, and the year after that. Make the most of colourful product while it’s in stores. 

As always, the list cuts across all body types, fashion personas and age groups. It’s a question of finding the right items, at the right prices, and wearing them in flattering and appropriate ways so that they reflect YOUR style. 

1. Something Bright: If bright clothing and outerwear is not your cup of tea, choose a bright accessory, pair of shoes, or toenail polish. Shades of orange and emerald green are especially big this season. Remember that you don’t need to wear bright clothing from head to toe. Mix up a bright with neutrals and muted colours to tone down the effect.  
2. Something Pastel or Mid-Toned: Pastels and mid-tones look fresh and work well with brights for a tonal outfit vibe. They also look great with shades of blush and nude. Think across ALL items of your wardrobe: clothing, footwear and accessories. 
3. Something Floral: Floral pattens look fresh, and come in all shapes, sizes, colours and vibes. Please don’t be put off the floral trend if you are allergic to the pattern. There is a floral for everyone. Some are bold and chaotic, while others are subtle, tonal and sophisticated. Wear a floral away from your face if that’s more your cup of tea. 
4. A Soft Bottom: This season embraces soft dressing, which means wearing soft fabrications both on the top AND bottom. Sport a pair of soft trousers, shorts or a skirt instead of rigid denim, wool blends and rayon blends. 
5. Midis: We saw this trend come through last year, and there is more on the way. You don’t need to be tall to wear a midi skirt as our petites show us over and over again when they post their midi outfits on our forum. Follow the guidelines if you’re stuck or apprehensive about the length. Nothing beats the elegance factor of a midi in my book. 
6. A Soft Boxy Blouse: Boxy soft blouses in polyester or silk blends are a gorgeous look with slim bottoms. Relaxed, yet pulled together, and oh-so easy. Rein in the volume with a belt if you prefer a more structured silhouette, or tuck them into pencil skirts to de-bombshell the vibe. Button them up to increase the trendy quotient. 
7. A Denim Shirt: It’s a great way to dress down dressy bottoms, or wear the denim-on-denim trend. It’s a versatile neutral that works with just about anything, especially patterned skirts and pants.  
8. Non-Neutral Bottom: Think out of the box for the bottom half of your outfit. Sport skirts, trousers, clamdiggers and shorts in brights, pastels, mid tones and patterns. Yes, patterned pants! The patterns can be subtle and not bold (like micro checks and pinstripes). I just bought a tomato red pair of dressy slim bootcut trousers and am blown away by their versatility.  
9. An Unexpected Patterned Piece: It’s a particularly pattern-rich season and pattern mixing is HUGE. Patterned tops, scarves, dresses and skirts are more obvious patterned choices, but if you dare, think further than that. Patterned blazers, trousers, shorts, jeans, shoes and handbags are the more unexpected patterned choice. Remember that patterns can be subtle. A pair of neutral snake skin shoes functions as seamlessly as a solid neutral.  
10. A Colourblocked item: Think colourblocked clothing items, handbags and footwear.  
11. A Denim Jacket or Denim Vest: They are the perfect way to toughen up and dress down a look. Think blue denim, white or colours. I have two blue denim jackets, dark and faded, that are wardrobe work horses each season.  
12. White Items: Adding white items into your outfits screams Spring and Summer. Choose your whites, from optical white and off-white to cream and bone. I wear all the whites actually, and mix them up in one outfit. Think white tops, trousers, shorts, clamdiggers, jeans, skirts, dresses, blazers, jackets, trench coats, footwear, eyewear and handbags. 
13. Daytime Sparkle: Go on. Be a devil and wear a little shine during the daytime. Mix it up with denim to dress down the bling.  
14. New Shape Flats: Flat oxfords are still very on-trend, as are loafers, pointy toe flats, and slipper flats. Sport them is a solid, colourblock, or pattern.   
15. Ankle Strap Shoes: Ankle strap detailing on pumps, wedges, sandals or flats is a look that I expect will stick around. The silhouettes are a little tricky to wear from both a comfort and stumpyfying factor because of the horizontally cutting line and strap-rubbing potential. But there are ways to overcome these challenges, which is a topic for another day.  
16. Wedges: Modern and fabulous, in both low and high heeled silhouettes, and dressy and casual incarnations. Every wardrobe needs a modern wedge of sorts.  
17. Day Clutch and/or Chain Handle Bag: These handbag darlings are guaranteed to kick your outfits up a notch. Remember that clutches needn’t be impractical. 

There’s also the unstoppable cropped pants trend that is going to be as big for Autumn. Despite it’s popularity, I have not listed the item as a “must have” because it’s a hard look to pull off with sass and style. Please proceed with caution. 

Here are some more wearable Spring and Summer trends that might tickle your fancy: Sporty looks, high-low skirts, peplums, Spring boots, slouchy trousers, harem pants, wedge heeled sneakers, metallic sneakers, Spring trench coats, floral suits, low slung belts, dropped waistlines, pastel suits, asymmetrical tops and hemlines, cropped tops, maxi skirts and dresses, full skirts, pleated skirts and jumpsuits. 

How does the list look, ladies? Which trends and items resonate the most, and how are you going to update your wardrobes for Spring and Summer?