What's in Store

“Coolness and absence of heat and haste indicate fine qualities”
Ralph Waldo Emmerson, 1803 - 1882

It’s early fall and blazing hot in California, so what better time to think about winter coats? Really- we owe it to ourselves to be well dressed in our fantasies of ski lodges and hot toddies. Forget about khaki trenches and black raincoats. Don’t play it safe with your coat- take a risk and make a statement this season.

Color

Don’t worry about your new coat matching everything in your closet. When it’s cold enough to don, it’ll be buttoned up so no one will see the rest of your outfit while you’re wearing it. Pick a color you love and live it up.

Fabric

If you’re sticking to a traditional color, seek out a distinctive texture, like satin or velvet. A classic cut suddenly becomes a head turner in a non-traditional fabric. It’s not often you can luxury and function, so go for it!

Prints

With plaids, polka dots, wallpaper prints, geometric designs and exquisite embroidery detailing showing up on coats this fall, why not make the leap and pick a patterned coat!

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“Yellow colored objects appear to be gold.”
Aristotle, 384 - 322 B.C.

Here’s a fun exercise: Gold is going for $673.40 a troy ounce, which works out to $9,818.17 per pound. Multiply that by your weight and you’ll know exactly how much you’re worth in this spring trend.

Steppin’ Out

Who needs roads paved in gold when you have gold heels? Create your own good luck and wear them with everything from jeans to suits.

Coin Purse

Flaunt your wealth (even if it’s mostly knowledge) with a gold purse. Anything you put in it (breath mints, bobby pins, etc.) will feel a luxury commodity.

Rain Maker

Every storm cloud will have a golden lining with a metallic rain coat. I’ll understand if you do a rain dance or two.

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This morning, Constance White, eBay’s Style Director, appeared on television shows across the country.  The topic: spring fashion trends. 

According to Constance, the key items women should invest in are a trench coat, a metallic handbag, a pair of Lucite platform shoes, teardrop earrings and a versatile spring dress. 

According to Constance, this spring, the hot trends include:

A light color palette with several bright, bold colors

As dictated by the top designer lines, the color palette for spring is light and bright with some key pale neutrals like white, silver, gray, off-white and yellow. We’ll also see some knock-em-dead bold brights such as true purple, fuschia, orange and kelly green.

Metallic bags and clutch purses

Metallic bags in various styles will be everywhere, from high-end lines like Chloe, but also from more affordable, everyday brands like Nine West. Clutch purses are trendy this season, in styles that can easily go from day to evening.

Cropped jackets and trench coats

Every spring light coats are key, but this year we’ll see more fashionable takes on the traditional trench coat. Designers have created trenches in beautiful hues and also bold, nature-inspired prints such as leaves, flowers, insects and animals!

Platform shoes and flats

Affordable shoes abound this season with platforms in heels and wedges, and particularly in patent leather or with a Lucite heel. Dainty flats are also a hot look as they go well with most outfits and can be found in a ballerina style or a dressier, open-toed style in this spring’s colors, metallics or nature-inspired prints.

Drop earrings and hair combs

Feminine accessories set the stage for glamour with hair combs and brooches with bright flowers, jewels and other natural elements such as colorful insects.

Strapless tent and trapeze dresses

Dresses add a touch of sophistication to any outfit, whether for work, leisure or socializing. Mix and match accessories and shoes to take the same dress from work to play. Casual, yet elegant dresses in strapless or trapeze styles keep a feminine silhouette without hugging too much skin.

Tailored shorts

Shorts and pants will take on a very tailored and fitted look this season with dressy trouser shorts in a Bermuda length that can be worn to the office, to cropped cigarette-inspired pants for a classic put-together ensemble.

What’s going out of style?  Constance said peasant skirts, chandelier earrings, bangle bracelets and pointy shoes.

Stay tuned for our top product picks in each category.  In the meantime, feel free to share your favorites.

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“And you must tend to the garden of your closet.”
Me, paraphrasing Voltaire, 1694 - 1778

Nature is a fan of super-sizing things. Dinner plate sized dahlias, peonies the size of small dogs, frisbee sized clematis. And of course, the largest flower of all, the Rafflesia arnoldii (Corpse Flower) has a 3 foot diameter and weighs almost 15 pounds! While none of these may be in your garden, they can be in your wardrobe. Oversized floral prints are in full bloom this season. If a bud garden is more your style, use silk or rhinestone flower brooches to spruce up your lapels, skirts or handbags. 

Coat

Brighten up your outfit with a cheerful coat. You can wear it over jeans, chinos or work pants for instant panache. A mid-thigh length works with skirts as well.  

Shirt 

Put a little spring in your suit with a floral print top. Keep it conservative with pearls or add artisan jewelry for more texture. Wear it with jeans or solid colored skirts on the weekend.

Skirt

Don’t be afraid to introduce more color. A coral or turquoise top looks fresh and cool with a brown and white skirt. Red or yellow paired with a black and white print is crisp and modern.

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