GOLD CUP & KENTUCKY DERBY EQUALS FUN SPRING DRESSES

What will you be wearing to this spring's horse races?  Think stylish and chic yet unique.  After all, a lady never wants to walk in to an event with someone else wearing her look.  Create your own ensemble with a trendy hat and jewelry. 

Coral and blue make a statement in this lace dress by Madison Marcus.  Add a fabulous hat and nude sandals and you are ready for the races!  

Madison Marcus Contrast-Lace Ponte Dress, $328 

Tangerine/Coral is the color of the season for ladies dresses.  This Bailey 44 dress packs a punch with lace underlay and draping.  

Bailey 44 "Movido Dress", $182

Sashay your way in Chiffon.  This light flowy fabric brings spring ease into your look.

Blaque Label Chiffon Dress, $134

Ark & Co. Chiffon Dress, $68

Bold Spring Colors, such as lemon, chiffon, turquoise, and pink look chic at the races.

Amanda Uprichard Peplum Dress, $188

Adele Fado Short Dress, $105

  

Alice + Olivia "Goddess" Dress, $297

 4.Collective Basket Weave Capsleeve Waisted Dress, $285

 

Mad for Prints this spring.  Bold geographic prints in bright spring colors look fresh. 

Trina Turk Crushed Dress, $328

 

 Velvet "Zane" Floral Print Maxi, $165

What will you be wearing to the races?  Happy Shopping!

XOXO,
Divine Style DC

SPRING'S WARM-WEATHER LEATHER

Leather is typically thought of as a fall/winter staple, but don't pack away your key pieces yet.  Leather made a big statement on the runways for Spring/Summer 2013 wear.  The key to these leather pieces is color, shape, fabric, and accentuating with it.

Color:  This season is about wearing leather in bright vibrant hues or soft pastels.   Pair these colors with neutrals, such as white, gray, navy, or bone color to pack a punch.  Tangerine, coral, pale pink and mint green, lemon chiffon, and cobalt blue are just a few shades that are on trend for the season.  Put away your black, caramel, and brown hues and add some color!

Milly Leather Dress, $450                       Amanda Uprichard Leather Peplum Top, $268

  

Nasty Gal Pleated Leather Skirt, $58

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Shape:  Look for timeless pieces that you can transition between seasons.  Sheath dresses, fit and flare dresses, and pleated leather skirts.  Cropped lightweight jackets are stylish for spring.

Alice + Olivia Box-Pleat Leather Skirt, $495    Vince Perforated Leather Shift Dress, $1150

  

Bebe White Leather Blazer, $398

Fabric:  Spring leather pieces should be a lightweight leather, soft fabric.  This feels supple and smooth but very light to the touch.

Accents:  Not ready to jump into this trend?  Accent spring fabrics such as chiffon and silk with leather trim and leather panels.

Cynthia Steffe Dylan Dress, $198

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Here's to being fabulous in leather this season!

XOXO,

Divine Style DC

GAGA FOR GREEN

Green is everywhere this season from dresses, skirts, blouses and tops to accessories and shoes.  Mint green and kelly green are two of the most shades for summer.  Add some green to your summer looks!

Collective Concepts Racerback Printed Blouse, $59

Great blouse to wear with a white skirt or white wide leg linen pants.  Add a bright shoe to pop.  Or try this with a bright blue pencil skirt.

Jack by BB Dakota Gallant Dress, $49.99

Great dress for most figure types.  Pear shaped, those with tummy issues or large chests all look great in this.

Trinity Abstract Print Silk Blouse, $44.99

An abstract print blouse with lots of colors is a great fun look for the office.  Pair it with white or navy to make the top stand out.  

H&M Peplum Dress, $34.95

Amanda Uprichard Crystal Dress, $195 (H&M has similar style for much less)

Suzi Chin Sleeveless Knotted Sheath Dress, $128

Trina Turk Bali Hai Cover Up Dress, $145

Anne Klein Belted Bold Stripe Dress, $82.90

Perfect dress to be office appropriate but still add bright colors into your look.  Pair with navy or skin color heels for the office and strappy bright heels for night.

Whether or not you have green in your outfit, add green in your accessories to stand out.  It is a great bright color that coordinates with almost every other color.

Armani Exchange Ostrich Embossed Satchel, $98

Armani Exchange Ostrich Embossed Leather Wallet, $48

YELLOW CRUSH

Yellow is everywhere this spring/summer season.  Over and over again I hear people say "but I can't wear that color".  Yes you can!  It is a matter of finding what shade works best for your skin tone and hair color. Fair, light, medium (or olive), and dark skin tones all work with different shades.  Fair colored skin looks great in a bright citrus yellow.  Olive skin tone can wear mustard, pale yellow, citrus, or lime green/yellow.  Pale skin looks best in mustard color or marigold.  Dark skin tones can wear pale yellow, citrus yellow, or mustard though.  If you aren't sure what shade looks best for you, go to a fabric store and pull out swatches of different shades or find the shades online and print it and hold it up in a mirror and outside lighting to see which illuminates you.

Styling Tips:  Not ready to jump into a full yellow outfit or wanting to slowly ease into this color trend?  Try adding yellow accessories, such as a handbag, scarf, jewelry, or shoes to an outfit.  Wear your yellow shoes with a dark color such as navy, or black to give a fresh look that will flatter your hair and skin tone.

Tinley Road Double Stone Ring, $24  Wendy Mink Cocktail Hour Yellow Calcite Ring, $173

 

Phospho Boho Drops, Bauble Bar, $34

Sam Edelman Lorissa, $200

Melie Bianco Natalie, $54 

 JJ Winters Envelope Bag Yellow Boa, $121

Remi & Emmy Glastonberry Woodstock Satchel, $298

Wear a yellow print.  If all over yellow is not flattering to your skin tone, pick a print in a color(s) that work well for you.  Choose an eye catching print with yellow mixed in with colors that are flattering to your skin tone to look current.  Patterns are big this season.

Renee C. Blouse, $46.95

Diane von Furstenberg Moriko Dress, $255.50

Wear yellow with a more flattering color.  Are you loving the kelly green and bright blue hues that are all over this season?  Try a yellow top with bright blue pants or kelly green skirt.  Add a belt in a metallic tone, such as gold that highlight the outfit and pull it together.  Then add colored jewelry, such as bangles in gold, yellow, and other tones.  Layered bangles are great this season for adding color to an outfit.  Or try yellow with a navy suit or dress.  This is a fresh color combination.

Pair this blouse with white pants, a green slim fit pant, navy blue pants, or a white pencil skirt with blue heels.

Amanda Uprichard V-neck Cap Sleeve Blouse, $133 (lime) Guess by Marciano Contrast Piping Skirt, $94.99

  

Pair this romper with bright green or blue heels and bag for fun.  Wear with a navy or black blazer to work.

Catherine Malandrino Drape Front Romper, $295  Aqua Colorless Crop Blazer, $108

 

James & Joy Aubrey Off Shoulder Top, $70 Trina Turk Ashton Pebble Beach Textured Skirt, $228

 

ELECTRIC BRIGHT COLORS

A bright colored dress, top, necklace, or shoe brings color to your face and makes you appear current and trendy.  Try adding an electric bright piece to your current winter wardrobe with black, gray, camel color, or navy.  These are great transition pieces as we move to spring as well.


This Amanda Uprichard dress is a great pop of color for winter and spring.  Add fun tights and heels or boots with a blazer.  A great necklace and bangle completes the look. $206.

This Nanette Lepore Blouse is a great addition in turqoise/seafoam, $148.

This Kimberly Taylor Dress has an open back detail.  The lime green color stands out.  $295.

 

Try a silk-chiffon blouse in a bold color.  This by BCBG, comes in three colors (pink, yellow, and blue jade). $168

Or a fun colored top with an interesting detail such as this open back design by DV Dolce Vita, $88.

 

This deconstructed sheath dress in bright pink, from Ann Taylor, is a fabulous option for winter and spring.  Perfect to add a statement necklace and fun heels.  $148, available February.

Add some color with a fun handbag or work bag.  This hot pink Ostrich Embossed Satchel, by Michael Kors, is a stunner.  $895.  Ann Taylor's Luxe Leather City Bag, $248 in yellow will be available in February.

 

Lastly add a bold necklace in a bright color to stand out.  Sunburst necklaces are very popular right now.  Ann Taylor Sunburst Necklace, $78, available February.  Kendra Scott Harlow Necklace in Turquoise makes a statement, $195.  Large stone earrings in a bright tone are another good option.