Remember the days when trends lasted one season? To be caught wearing last season's "it" item was the Kiss of Death. Now we cross our fingers and hope that skinny jeans and metallics comeback for encore performances. Well, we got our wish. And for those of us who love wearing dresses-even in the dead of winter-we can hold on to most of those too. Finally, the style mavens are cutting us some slack!


A Leg up on Leggings


You've probably noticed that leggings are back in a big way, so if you were holding out to make sure the trend caught on,now's the time to catch up to the early adopters. According to Michelle Antonelli, design director of Cable & Gauge and Spenser Jeremy, wearing leggings can be tricky (and you thought it was as easy as one leg after another).


To avoid further confusion, Ms. Antonelli breaks it down for us.


How to wear leggings


  • Pick an easy style dress in one of the new baby doll, a-line or trapeze shapes.
  • Go soft by selecting a feminine printed georgette or an easy soft knit dress in a great color.
  • Keep it simple by opting for a solid color legging in black or brown.
  • Keep it in proportion. Make sure the dress or top you select hits just at or above the knee. If you're wearing a mini-dress, select Capri length leggings and a ballerina flat.
  • Skip the hosiery and show off your ankles and the top of your foot by wearing a ballerina flat or colored pump.


Dressing up for the transition from winter tospring/spring to summer


Fashion divas hate to give up their favorite frocks, and fortunately layering is still a key trend, which allows us to wear make a smooth transition. Here are some simple tips from Ms. Antonelli on making your must-have dress span a couple of seasons.


Favorite Sheer Printed Dress:


When the weather is chilly pair with a great turtleneck, tights and boots. When springtime arrives shed the layers and slip into a strappy metallic sandal with the great completer - an abbreviated length cardigan. For a super casual summer look, treat yourself to a fabulous pedicure and slip on your favorite flip flops.


Essential Sheath Dress:


Layer a fine gauge long sleeve knit tee to give the essential dress a jumper look for winter. On a chilly spring day trade in the tee for a soft short sleeved tee or slip into a colorful topper jacket that is just about two inches above the hem of the dress. When it's time to go sleeveless be sure to select a structured patent leather flat or go for a coloror special detail like a bow or buckle. Jimmy Choo recently featured a rich red with vanilla trip and a bow that would be the perfect addition to the essentials heath dress.


Knit Dresses:


Matte jersey dresses or separates can be your year-round friend. Pair with your favorite short cardigan a pair of warm and cozy tights. Many women find knits an essential addition to their travel wardrobe or for those in between days when Mother Nature hasn't quite figured out what she'd like to do.


The Return of Metallic: How to Make It Work


According to Antonelli, if the runway is an indication of what's here to stay, then metallics will be with us for yet another year. Designers have embraced shimmer and retailers are still hot formetallics, but how can we be on trend without blinding ourselves? Here are two quick tips to keep in mind the next time you reach for a metallic piece:


 

Find Your Shine:


Don't be afraid to experiment. Handbags, shoes, belts, Lurex sweaters and dresses in brocade or jacquard fabrics all feature different degrees of shimmer, from metallic glazes to simple touches of metallic, hardware details (grommets, buckles and rings) and two-tone trims. Cable & Gauge features gold metallic thread details and hardware in its nautical and classic neutral resort styles that can be worn from late winter and into spring. The summer line will also offer shimmery shells.


Opt for Simple Shimmer:


Remember less is more when it comes to metallic and the trick to pulling off the luxe look is to pick one piece and let it shine. It's easy to start at the top by selecting a metallic knit with a special detail like a kimono sleeve or a blouson shape and dress it up with a velvet skirt for cocktails or pair it with jeans for a casual look. Experiment and investigate this trend, it's here to stay... at least for now.


Special thanks to Michelle Antonelli, design director of Cable & Gauge and Spenser Jeremy for her fabulous advice!


About the author:


A. Covington is a fashion writer with a penchant for handbags, silk scarves and luxury accessories. She lends her fashion sense to the women's fashion blog The Divas Dreams. Her readers get a regular dose of fashion tips and articles on handbags, fashion trends and accessories. Amy maintains three blogs for Belisi Fashions, a luxury accessories brand based in Palm Beach.



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