A Spring and Summer Wardrobe’s Best Friend
By Alicia Galanto

Spring is such an exciting time to accessorize your wardrobe. Not only do spring and summer bring out the best in fashion, but now is the time to take risks and push your personal boundaries. Bold, bright colors are huge ~ in every aspect of the word ~ this season. Handbags, shoes, jewelry, and everything in between are lighting up the streets. The brighter the colors, the better off you are.

Another great thing about this spring is that fashion is taking a turn towards real art. Artistry is a major part of the latest accessories, showing itself in hand painted fabrics, architecturally creative shoes, textures galore, and a real jump back in to design. The shoes for this season are out of control with designed, unusually shaped heals you never thought you could walk on, intricate embellishments, and fresh ideas that bring modern footwear to a whole new level. If you can’t quite picture yourself stomping in heels that resemble tree branches or bridges, there are a lot of flats and sandals that channel the same feeling of color and art and they’re just as trendy for the season.

Sometimes spring and summer can be intimidating because the trends run a little more outside the box. Don’t be scared, this spring and summer natural colors are still hanging on: khaki, subtle animal print, and army green. The easiest way to sport these colors and “safari” fabrics is through jewelry, which is easy to add and take away from any outfit ~ and can turn a look around instantly. Bangles, necklaces, and chandelier ear rings are all a big part of accessorizing. Try adding natural colored jewelry to a bright outfit or vise versa, adding bright jewelry to a natural outfit. Just a couple of minor changes can give you tons of extra mileage out of a single outfit, too!

Handbags are another great way to change up your look without breaking the bank If you pick a couple of bags to use through out the season, you can mix and match them to many looks to stay trendy. Just like a lot of pieces this spring and summer, handbags are screaming “rainbow!” Handbags, purses, and clutches are coming in a wide variety of colors from purple to green to yellow. But again, if you’re not in to such bright, bold colors, there are other just as hot-n-trendy options. The subtle animal print also translates well onto the canvas handbags. Textures are also big this season, and handbags are a good way to incorporate different feels and materials ~ try a sexy snake skin clutch or a soft leather satchel.

I always like to refer to the following pieces as the “forgotten accessories:” belts, scarves, sunglasses, hats, and hair pins. These are the easiest accessories to work into a number of different outfits, plus they’re more affordable and easier to transition from season to season. Belts have become a staple of accessorizing because one belt can make ten looks. When you’re adding accessories of any kind to your closet, always be true to your style and keep in mind what will work with the wardrobe you already have (that way, you’ll look chic and like you’ve got your finger on the newest trends but you won’t have to buy an entire new wardrobe!). Scarves are chic and perfect for a cool spring night or a nice summer dinner. They don’t take a lot of effort but the effect is timeless. Sunglasses are taking on new shapes, hats are no longer a thing of the 50s, and cute hair pins are perfect for uncontrollable summer hair.

Whether or not you decide to go the rainbow route or try the natural look, spring and summer are the best times to test new looks and see what makes you feel best. Be confident, be adventurous, be you!

Pic: Carlos Falchi Python Clutch