Joy - LOL. Well, a trip to the meat packing plant should finally put the mean girls in their place, no? Lol. I love your ideas for doing a Valentino-inspired look. I'll have to look for the embroidered jacket. I have been knitting a hat for 10 years... hahaha!

Astrid - I'd probably find a dress the easiest. I pretty much hate denim in summer. One thing I'd like to find this summer - a pair of culottes. I think those are a good way to do *shorts* at the office.

I just viewed the entire collection and it is FABULOUS. I like every piece and Love 90% of the collection. Thank you so much for posting the link. Now I have to do like 60 pins!
Anyway as a former retail manager yep spring and resort wear are definitely all you're going to find in the stores these days. I think any of the ornate pieces could go to work as a jacket or top paired with your basic office fare. The shorter dresses could be worn under a plain sober jacket and look fabulous and fresh.

Rachylou - I don't do summer. I pretend it does not exist. Yes, I am that woman walking around in black from head to toe. Just like the seeker in Stephanie Meyer's The Host. Well that's not going to change but I really need to get some light weight black this summer. I did get two summer toppers (okay totally dumb luck) that I was lusting for the HL villous asymmetric sweatshirt jacket and it appeared on Angie's summer picks. Not sure if Angie would consider the HL sonar cardigan a summer topper although it's light and it can be worn a bunch of different ways. One blogger feather factor, described it (with the funnel neck up) and belted like a jedi tunic. I could not resist. I did not try!! Now I need some tunic tops. But I usually try for trans-seasonal stuff which means I swelter for 3 mo. There's got to be a better way!! PS the valentino collection is amazing!! Gorgeous embroidery! I think you should get the entire collection it would totally work!!

Lol, gryffin. However, if that's how you do black in summer - that's pretty brilliant. I wish I had that kind of vision when I look at HL on the rack. Sadly, when confronted with it in person, I don't get it.

Day vies, I didn't know you once did retail. Makes me want to pick your brain, hehe. I love to shop, and yet I really don't get it. I'm terrible at it. I get confused. I'm going to do what you suggest for the office. I want to go tribal. I *am* tribal, it just that it's that weird west coast tribe...

I'm looking forward to boyfriend jeans and ankle pants, wanting to get the S/S oxfords that have been on my list since last year... And at the same time realizing that our transitional season is usually really short, and the things I enjoy wearing will be too hot very soon after winter ends. I'll be lucky to get two months of spring. Then it's sandals and dresses and I am not excited about that! Hoping the wide leg trend translates to loose flowy summer pants maybe?!?
I'm actually looking forward to getting out my S/S stuff and purging some mistakes from last year. Hoping for better judgment and quality this year.

Summer! This is the first time ever that I am buying clothes for summer this early in the year. I live in Toronto and this year is really, really winter! I have a very small summer wardrobe. It's hard to shop for because summers here are hot and very humid. I'm trying to find ways to be somewhat stylish and cool at the same time. Not an easy task! I also have a very casual summer because I am a teacher and therefore have summers off. Poor me The plus about shopping now is there is still a lot of choice and many retailers are offering great deals so I don't feel bad that I'm not waiting for summer sales.

Ooo Ah; my immediate reaction when I hear Valentino but the tapestry/embroidery vibe could look a bit too crafty, old fashioned for me, hard to pull off even when you are a super model.
Re shopping for summer in winter- in the UK doesn't really work because it never gets warm enough to wear summer weight unless travelling or a freak heatwave so I tend to layer on and off between seasons.
Thanks for your positivity and warmth and great to meet you. Always good the hear about fashion in California as I lived there for 10 years and love rooting for bargains in Loehmanns, Marshalls and Ross.

Those Valentino pieces are gorgeous. Good luck incorporating them into your work wear because it will look fab when you do. As far as summer i'm pretty well set except for needing a couple new pair of denim shorts and I would like a pair of metallic sandals.

You've gotten a lot of great suggestions... just need to add I could totally see you in some of those things