Spring Wardrobe Essentials

​Spirits are lifted as spring emerges from hibernation and shows signs of sticking around. Even in Arizona, despite our mild winters and seemingly endless days of sunshine, there is a different feel about the season as warm tendrils of air waft around us and bees are sent into a frenzy over the blooming wild flowers.

This is my favorite season for clothes and weather. Always has been, even back in England the heavy skies weighted down by gray begin to lift and lambs frolic in the countryside whilst daffodils push their way through the moist ground. With Easter around the corner it means a long weekend from work and the promise of lashings of chocolate. Oh wait, that was almost twenty years ago when I could get away with lashings of chocolate!

But I digress...let's get back to our wardrobe!  Here are my picks of essential pieces, mostly classic with a modern twist for a solid spring collection. ​

1. Light Blue Jeans

Zara Relaxed Jeans

A lighter wash denim makes for a great mix with pastels, neutrals and lighter colored tops, perfect for this time of year.  My current recommendation is a high-rise slim boyfriend style, they're cooler and more comfortable to wear than second-skin skinny jeans.  Perfect with sneakers or flats and a basic tee of course, but put on your high heels or even kitten heels with a glamour top, and you've got your evenings covered as well! 

​2. Basic White Tee

Naturally this is a basic all year round, but spring is a great time to refresh your white tee collection with a new and improved version, especially if the old ones are looking a bit tired.  I retire my old ones to "night night" tees, there's always a need for pajama tops! 
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​3. Silk Neck Scarf

This small but effective addition to a spring wardrobe is right on so many levels. It can be an inexpensive accessory that will amp up any outfit, either tied around the neck, the wrist, an ankle, a handbag, worn as a hair band, or just looped through your jeans belt. It adds color, texture, pattern and sass! The satin, or faux silk scarves look just as effective as the real McCoy, so it's not essential to spend a fortune on this piece. They are so worth it, it pays to have a few in various patterns and designs.

4. A Slip Dress

Put yourself perfectly together for an elegant occasion with a simple slip dress. It's sexy, understated yet sophisticated, and best of all, it can be made super dressy or casual. Pair with flat mules or slides and wear over a tee for a daytime look. You can even throw a denim jacket over your shoulders, or kick things up a notch with some sky high statement heels. 
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​5. A Denim Jacket

Ahh, the ever faithful denim jacket. Everybody needs one so now is your time to invest in a long time favorite casual classic. It's a great way to ward off a springtime chill and add another layer, or dress down a smart outfit for a street style daytime look. At this time of year, the lighter denim works well with the muted pastel shades of the season and it's a softer look when paired with spring and summer dresses.

Wear with light blue jeans and enjoy the denim on denim trend. No matter what, with dresses or pants this jacket is a faithful puppy! 

​6. White Flared Pants

Zara Flared Trousers

Whether you're going to lunch, brunch, dinner or cocktails on the Cote d'Azur, white flared trousers will elevate your style for any occasion. They've never really disappeared from the fashion scene other than the cut having made a few variations over the years, otherwise a pair of white smart pants ooze classic sophistication.  This year leans toward a slim but relaxed fit through the hips and thigh graduating out to a flared leg. It's a style that is both flattering and elongating, and works well for most body types. 

Pair with a smart blouse or shirt, a light weight sweater or a fitted tee for a dressed down look.
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​7. Light-Weight Resort Pants

Zara Printed Trousers

A narrow leg slim-fitting pant is a smarter alternative to dressed-up jeans and a more relaxed alternative to smart trousers. These are the middle man of your spring pants collection. In fact, these pants could stand up for themselves and be the whole shebang in this list of essentials, they're perfect for almost everything.

​8. Light-Weight Sweater

Add a thin sweater to your spring collection for the sake of those chilly mornings or evenings. A lose fitting sweater in a silk or linen mix not only adds a warmer layer, but also a stylish substitute to pair with any of your pants above or even as a topper over your slip dress giving the impression of a skirt and top. 

​9. Killer Heels

Zara Floral Embroidered High Heel Court Shoes

Spring is the ideal time to be tip-toeing through the tulips, so you may as well tip-toe in a pair of heels that keep you on your toes! Current trends have invited some new players into this department with lower heels, even kitten heels but equally as stunning with bright colors, embellishments and dainty sling backs. The lower heels certainly help out those of us with questionable balance or altitude sickness! 

​10. Flat Loafers

Zara Loafers With Tassels

The all important flats, we need them let's face it. However much we love heels, there are days when only flats will do, but hay-ho, not your granny flats! May your flats be the style in your outfit and the spring in your step.  Here are my favorite picks for stylish flats.
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11. Button Down Shirt

Another classic wardrobe staple that goes above and beyond. A silk, crepe or satin button down shirt can take you from the office to dinner, and can make a pair of ripped jeans shorts look half decent. Bold colors, pastels, patterned or solid, any one of these choices will add a myriad of options to your spring wardrobe.
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As always, thank you for stopping by