Lady Gaga Shredded Leggings

In a season that’s turned its fashion focus to the legs a weird thing has happened, it shouldn’t surprise me but for some reason it did. The trend for the last couple years leaned toward leggings so I thought it was logical that with the focus on legs and short skirts and shorts that leggings would be on their way out. But leave it to the legging industry to come up with leggings that show off the legs while covering them.

Believe it or not, shredded leggings and shear leggings are quite the fashion statement this season. And somehow this look actually works.

The other week I saw a teen who had layered her leggings with a hot pink pair underneath and a shredded pair on top. She looked great and something about her whole ensemble spoke to the 80’s girl in me.

I actually love leggings because they can be so slimming and add just the right visual interest to a simple little black dress. So rather than throwing out your old leggings, shred them and create your own designer leggings.

Mother's Day

So what does your mom want? Well, that’s up to you to figure out but I’ll give you a few great ideas to help you out.

Fitness shoes. MBT came up with the idea, Skechers popularized it with their heavy Shape Ups ads and Reebok came  up with an affordable pair of fitness shoes. Now you don’t have to stick to athletic shoes, but can also find some sandals that promise to whittle off the weight and slim your legs while you walk, what mom wouldn’t want that?

Another huge trend this year is camping. This is not the perfect gift idea for every mom, but if yours likes the outdoors and isn’t afraid to spend a night our two in the wilderness there is a whole slew of gifts you can find that are related to camping.

If you’re brave enough to buy your mom some jewelry for mother’s day the statement necklace is very popular but not always appropriate for moms.  If your mom is more subtle than a statement necklace, try pearls. Pearls made a comeback last season and are still riding the wave of popularity and they always look classy.

And if nothing seems right, how about a gift certificate for shoes. Every woman either loves or needs shoes and what’s better than picking out your new favorite pair on your child’s dime?

Jennifer Aniston Little Black Dress

Every woman needs a few little black dresses in her arsenal for those occasions that require something sexy, simple and slimming. And we all know there are more of those occasions than we could ever plan for. The key to pulling off an effortless grace when one of those situations crops up is careful planning, having just the right little black dress on hand.

Some little black dresses are timeless and every woman should own at least one of those but there are trends in little black dresses that can refresh your look. This season the one shoulder dress is very popular as is asymmetry and both of these looks increase the interest of a simple black dress, letting the dress garner attention rather than accessories.

But if you want to go the accessory route there are some ways to dress up your standby black outfit with the latest accessories. This year a statement piece of jewelry is almost essential. The bib necklace is super hot, but word of warning, many of them are metal and can snag your favorite little black dress so give it a trial run or choose wisely. Scarves and wraps are on the way out but still so practical for those chilly evening so wear them while you can. And belts are still a hot accessory and can add some zip to a few dress styles.

Just remember that the key to looking really great in a little black dress is the effortlessness of it, so never ever let them know you’re trying.

Heidi Klum Pink Handbag

So I’ve seen and reported on the fashion trends they’re pushing at us this season and frankly it’s a little depressing. Head to toe denim looks, tattered clothing, heavy clogs and mules. It’s not that these trends are bad but they’re not the way I envision a spring wardrobe, quite the opposite in fact.

I can’t believe I’m alone in this and I expect others will want to be trendy but will still want to feel fresh, and bright and springy. So I think we’ll see spring showing up in accessories in the spring and summer of 2010. I rushed out and got a pink handbag after I wrote about them and I get compliments everywhere I go. It’s a wonderful way to stay trendy with the somber and drab trends this season and still add a splash of fresh spring color.

In jewelry it’s all about the statement piece, nothing new there. But it’s the bib necklace that’s really making people take notice and works very nicely with really understated looks. Bib necklaces make such a loud statement that you don’t need an expensive or eye catching outfit, just let the necklace do the work.

Another way to boost the spring feel of your outfit is to add a scarf or a wrap in your favorite spring color. Many climates have some chilly temps in the spring so throwing on a scarf or wrap is also a practical idea and it adds an edgy to almost every outfit. But be warned, the scarf and wrap trend is winding down so you don’t want to rely on this spring look every time you go out.

Rihanna Global Inspired Shoes

This year fashion is going global with inspirations from around the world dictating the modern wardrobe. From belts to britches and shoes to sarongs, everything will have a bit of a global touch.

Shopbop has a lookbook section dedicated to the global trend, more specifically, desert tribes inspired apparel. But you don’t have to go with a complete look to get the global feel in your wardrobe, begin with a small piece and work from there.

Global accessories can include something as simple as an animal inspired jewelry piece. A small piece of jewelry doesn’t lend much to the global look but a statement piece can say a lot.

There are a number of shoes that fall into the global look but the most popular trend in sandals lately has been the gladiator look which is very global in its appearance. But going a step further and finding something that really speaks volumes like the Balmain Guiseppe Zanotti for Balmain Beaded Sandals really spices up every outfit, even a simple pair of jeans and a white t-shirt.

Just remember when establishing your global look not to cross cultures too much or overdo one thing, it might actually come across as costume-like. Instead pick a piece or two and let them carry the outfit.

Emma Stone Statement Belt

They say the economy is turning around but my checkbook definitely doesn’t reflect any upswing in income. So how do you stay on top of the styles and look trendy without going broke. By shopping for deals and knowing what’s hot and what’s not. I’ve found a few must have accessories for 2010 that are under $50 and versatile enough that you can wear them a lot.

Belts have been popular for a year or more now as a statement accessory. They will still be going strong through 2010 and will continue to be a piece that draws attention by dressing up a simple shirt or dress and calling attention to itself. I have found two belts for under $50 that I really like, the Elegantly Waisted Snake Cummerbund Belt for $50 is an interesting eye-catcher with its faux snakeskin and faux wrap style in a nice neutral color that will go with a lot and the Hidden Closure Belt is more understated and less flashy but features the hidden closure which is almost essential for wearing over a dress or shirt.

Statement rings have been a must have for a long time now and they’re still quite popular but now there are other statement pieces that can be your eye-catching accessory. For statement earrings I like the Lavender Stone Tear Drop Earrings. I’m a fan of neutral accessories because they match a lot of things and one huge trend in accessories in 2010 is natural elements so these are perfect as an under $50 accessory. For a statement necklace I like the Micro Pearl Necklace, at $48 this is a really pretty piece of jewelry that will dress up almost any casual piece and suddenly make it more elegant.

Just remember when wearing your statement accessories that only one statement at a time is allowed.

Straw Hats

Springtime is just such an incredible time of year with mother earth showing up in full force. It’s hard not to at least take a moment and be awed by the flowers popping out of the earth and the trees exploding with buds so it’s no wonder that for spring 2010 women’s accessories are paying homage to nature.

2010’s spring accessories are not the typical spring colors, with pastels everywhere, but rather they’re more neutral and muted but still a reflection of nature.

To get the look for this season look for natural fibers like Boutique 9’s Joanna Raffia Sandals, braided hemp like Juicy Couture’s Stone Wrap Bracelet, and straw in the Mar Y Sol Opal Straw Clutch. Notice how all these elements are clearly visible in the accessory and they’re very natural in color but muted neutral colors.

Seeing the trends this season is a little surprising as the feel is much more fall than spring with colors and weight feeling heavier. Even shoes are trending fall with clogs being the must have shoe of the season. I think the best way to be fashion forward and still feel fresh and springy is to add a touch of color to your outfits in unexpected ways, you can even look to the earth for more inspiration with your color pop.

Reese Witherspoon

Today is Reese Witherspoon’s birthday, the starlet is 34 today and really looks better than ever. Yep, even in this incredibly casual ensemble.

Reese Witherspoon is seen above with her boyfriend Jim Toth on vacation in Ojai, California taking a vacation not only from their homes but from all the trappings of celebrity too.

There is just something comforting in seeing a celebrity dressing the way I do on a regular basis and not really looking any better than I do. Reese is wearing a plain old pair of jeans, nothing cutting edge, no distressed jeans, boyfriend jeans or any other trend, just regular jeans like we all have tucked into a drawer and pull out on a regular occasion. Her grey short sleeved t-shirt is also very nondescript, probably not a $100 t-shirt but a standard $10-20 t-shirt you can pick up at your local Wal-Mart or Target.

The only thing that Reese is wearing that’s cutting edge trendy is her cross body messenger bag. This style handbag is very popular and it’s also a practical choice that can be worn in a number of different situations. But here’s it’s worn in the best situation, as a casual practical accessory to an everyday outfit.

This just proves that no matter what her age and no matter what she wears, Reese Witherspoon is one class act.

Victoria Beckham Messenger Bag

For financial and practical reasons I set a challenge for myself in 2010, to not buy any shoes. Shoes are my one true love and it’s been a challenge but so far I’ve been successful. That is I’ve been successful in not buying shoes but maybe not in saving money. It appears as though my addiction has shifted to handbags.

The handbag fixation started with an oversized pink handbag because that is one of the big trends for the spring. I may love this pink handbag more than any other purse I’ve owned, but then again it hasn’t kept me from looking at other handbags.

One of the huge trends I’ve noticed this year in handbags is the way the leather is handled. Whether it’s a perforated pattern in the leather, braided straps, or leather fringe, it seems that everyone is looking for a new way to work with leather and make it more than just the foundation of the handbag. One of my favorite examples of this is the Foley and Corina Wrapped Chain Hobo with its pebbled leather, scalloped seam, wrapped leather banding and leather fringe. Somehow they managed to work a number of different leather treatments together and not make the handbag look fussy or overdone.

Another handbag trend that is moving into the staple realm is the cross body or messenger bag. Initially this handbag trend was focused on larger, more utility looking purses but now they’ve transferred the style to more attractive and pretty handbags. Long straps make any bag a cross body purse and this insures we’ll be seeing more of this trend.

The best thing about these 2010 Spring handbag trends is that you can actually find a bag that you can find a purse that features all three of these trends, like the Matt & Nat Commix Drawstring Bag.

Sarah Jessica Parker

One of the trends that seems to be moving our way is statement earrings. Statement necklaces are still riding a trendy wave so big warning to all those who are a little fashion impaired, more is not better. Choose your statement accessory wisely and go with that one statement only. This trend is okay in my book but I have a really funny class picture from the 8^th grade when I was wearing my statement earrings, the picture would have been great except for those silly earrings, so again, choose wisely.

Another spring 2010 accessory trend that we’re seeing around is the fur vest. Sort of practical in that it offers a bit of warmth in the spring I can see some people adopting this look. And then I can also see them looking like they shaved a Muppet and tried to wear its fur. Fake fur in bright colors is garish and most of these fur vests are going to fall flat. The ones that look more realistic will make you look big and bushy in the mid section. Not a good idea anyway you look at it.

And (drum roll) the big accessory trend for spring 2010 that gets my nod of approval and sends me racing to grab my credit card and buy my very own, the pink handbag. Perfect! Could there be a better accessory for the spring? It’s a happy color that goes with nothing yet can go with everything if it’s trendy enough. So go pink this spring and prove you’re as cool as the trendsetters.