10 Spring Wardrobe Essentials

You’d think that with a blog entitled A Bit Coquettish its author would be the biggest tease.

Hardly the case.

Spring—you know that pretty young thing?—has got me beat; she’s elusive, she’s coy, she’s smart. She’s well-seasoned in the game of playing it hot and cold and has mastered the art of playful banter. Just as you think you’ve finally won her over, she turns the other way. A warm smile turned cold shoulder in as little as a day.

But time is a funny thing. With just enough persistence she’s yours; nudge her in right direction (a little sunshine paired with a flash of skin with a new crop top) and she’ll find her way eventually. You want to impress with an entirely new wardrobe dedicated to her specifically, only it’s unnecessary. Work with what you have, adding just a few new (or resurrected) things, and she’ll be just as delighted.

Before you pen your shopping lists into your Filofaxes, edit your wardrobe. Play the role of the stylist and editor and play it well: purge your closet of the things that have become irrelevant to who you’ve become, that no longer fit, that no longer inspire you. Think minimalist: you’re set free by what you don’t own. Let it go, seek release. Less is more. Worldly things are what subconsciously hold us back. Save your money, not your old clothes. Donate them. Repurpose them. Make room for change in both the physical and metaphysical. (Your space is a reflection of you.) Be creative and realistic all at once.

Only when you’ve accomplished the first step can you move on to the next step.

Hold your breath ladies, this is the fun part. But don’t get carried away! Newness breeds excitement, but only for so long. The adrenaline rush is only temporary. Remember that, and remember which and what things haven’t failed to inspire you well past the honeymoon years. I have a leather paneled sheath dress I could wear forever and always and never tire of it; a teal dress that just oozes good memories and the making of more, a crocodile-embossed Michael Kors bag (gifted to me by my brother!) that never fails to make an outfit… I could go on. Things that don’t bore you – read: that aren’t impulsively purchased for the sake a trend – do exist. Always keep that in mind when shopping.

That said, here are the Perfect 10 Spring Essentials. The Perfect 10 for me, at least; they may not be for you. But here’s to hoping that this list will be a starting point for wherever you want to take your spring 2012 wardrobe…

1. The perfect mani + pedi. I love a classic red creme and nude—two shades which never fail no matter the occasion or mood du jour. These are the most perfectly of their kind I’ve come across thus far. Zoya “LC” is a saturated coral-red with pinker undertones. Very retro and kittenish. Zoya “Minka” is a classic, pearly beige-nude with yellow undertones. It’s milky, demure, and is a staple pedicure color. I’m aware that I’ve tried to get away with listing two items as the first of the perfect 10; in my mind they’re inseparable.

 2. The cropped black skinny pant. One that just grazes the ankle a la Audrey Hepburn, or, a full-length skinny pant cuffed to that length. It’s incredibly flattering—more so than a full-length—when paired with both heels (a classic pump!) or ballerina flats. It’s timeless, it’s versatile, it’s practical, it’s beautiful. I live in a stretch version (like a jegging but far more substantial and professional) by Calvin Klein Jeans; they’re brilliant.

3. The cropped light-wash jean. Some say denim is for the lazy as it requires no thought. But it’s less thoughtless than it is effortless: a distinct difference, and not simply through nuances in synonyms. The proof is in the words of the great and wise: Yves Saint Laurent was quoted to have said “I wish I had invented blue jeans. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity—all I hope for in my clothes.”

I love a black pant or dark-wash skinny jean more than the average girl, but I can never turn down a cropped, light blue denim pant. There’s something so very Lolita and Sophia Loren and Guess about it, especially when paired with a white shirt tied at the waist. Worn with Converse or a high wedge for day, and later with a pump for the evening, there’s simply something innocuous yet so very suggestive about a hint of the ankle…

4. Floaty, sheer blouse(s). In whites and creams, or pastel candy colors, or demured brights. Vest tops, three-quarters. Traditional or Mao collars. Tucked in, or tied at the waist for the beach. Take your pick. Gorgeous over a pretty balconette bra paired with a cropped pant (see above) and a pair of pumps (my personal springtime uniform) for day, and tuck it into a bandage skirt for a night out. Simple, classic, feminine. Fin.

5. Beach babe bikini(s). I know it’s not yet summer; here’s to wishful thinking. Aside from imported chocolates and caffeine rushes, few things make me happier than a drawerful of swimsuits begging to be debuted at the beach or poolside. I keep it simple: VS beach babe or beach brights, depending on my mood du jour. It’s either black or jewel tones, or anything tan-enhancing (loving all things orange and coral at the moment!).

6. Colorful scarf. To grace the neck, to wrap around your head, to keep neatly tied on your bag for occasions that call for a bit of spontaneous sprucing up. I dream of Missoni and Cavalli, but anything that catches the eye and makes your heart flutter will do. Think of it as you would a piece of statement jewelry; it can elevate and change a look instantly. The difference one scarf makes in an outfit is incredible, and the possibilities of its use are near infinite. Be creative with it.

7. The classic trench. No explanation is really needed. It’s practical, it’s feminine, it’s stylish. And it looks fantastic over whatever it is you decide to wear, be it a simple tee and jeans, corporate professional blouse and pant, daytime sheath dress, or cocktail mini. I’d give anything to feel like Audrey Hepburn, even if it were as fleeting as the few minutes of donning a trenchcoat for my walk from Point A to Point B. Le sigh.

8. Bright day-to-night dress. Celebrate spring and embrace the power of positive dressing. Invite color in and be bold with prints! If it’s out of your comfort zone, stick to one at a time: color first, then prints (or vice versa). Test the waters in a familiar silhouette, i.e., a fitted sheath dress. Again with the versatility for optimum wear and practicality, because we’re busy women with busy lives. Perfect alone for a casual outing, with a denim jacket thrown over for a little bit of coverage or warmth (what have you), but equally appropriate for the workplace with a (preferably black) blazer and (black pump). It transitions easily for a nighttime event. Slip into ankle booties or a platform heel and throw a leather jacket over; silver drop earrings are optional (but they’d look fantastic).

9. Nude pump. Black pumps are reserved for the fall and winter seasons, until replaced by a patent nude pump come the warmer months. The difference it makes in an ensemble is more than noticeable, lightening and brightening even the darkest of color palettes worn up top. Plus, a little elongation of the leg never hurt the soul; it’s but a matter of finding the right nude complementary to your skin tone. I’m a firm believer in the closed, almond toe heel with a bit of toe cleavage.

10. Neutral leather satchel with exotic embossing. The best is saved for last: the handbag. Amongst things I believe in (like toe cleavage; see above) is the importance of the handbag to both the woman and her outfit; the handbag inadvertently tells a stranger the story of who its owner is.

Like a nude shoe, a nude bag can change the mood of an outfit completely. The look becomes considerably lighter in every sense; it’s airy, sweet, open. Neutral leathers always look so lush and sophisticated; take it to the next level with a leather that has been embossed with an exotic print. Python? Crocodile? So, so hot. The above is a python Chloe Paraty, a veteran lust-list item by bag whores like yours truly, but brands like Michael Kors, Zara, and Il Bisonte carry gorgeous renditions of the spring leather satchel as well. It’s all about the hunt. Patience, my dears, is a virtue.

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{images via google, net-a-porter, topshop, zara}