White dresses were pretty much a staple for designers’s Spring 2009 collections. Almost every show featured one or more, mostly of the cocktail dress variety. They were so prevalent, some fashionistas have claimed the little white dress might replace the little black dress this Spring.
It’s hard to argue with how ideal they are for the season. They’re light, optimistic and look great against tanned skin! And, don’t be fooled into thinking white makes you look fat. It all depends on the cut of the dress. Even black dresses, which are supposed to be slimming, can make you look heavier than you are if the cut isn’t flattering.

Runway Inspiration

Like I said, white dresses were in nearly every Spring 2009 show. Here are a few of my favorites.

Shown: Chloe, Lanvin, Stella McCartney, Giorgio Armani (images from style.com)

Celebrity Inspiration

{More celebrities wearing white dresses.}

White Dresses for the Office

Wearing white to the office is totally okay. It’s true that white dresses can look a bit more summery and, incidentally, more casual. So, if you need to look more professional in your workplace, layer a blazer or belt a cardigan over the dress and opt for heels instead of flats. Read more about which shoes to wear below.
The dresses I’ve chosen to spotlight here are more conservative than those in other categories since you’ll want to look respectable at work. Make sure you wear the proper undergarments for all white dresses, but especially for those you wear to work!

Shown: Adrianna Papell Belted Dress, Lauren Shirtdress, Banana Republic Sheath Dress

White Dresses for Going Out

White dresses are fresh, flirty and convey a sense of romantic innocence. Therefore, if you’re wearing a white dress for a night on the town, choose one that shows a bit more skin and a grown-up style.

Shown: BCBG Laser Cut Dress, David Meister One Shoulder Dress, Forever 21 Luster Party Dress

White Dresses for the Weekend

For the weekend, go for a flowy white sundress. It’s perfect for backyard get togethers, Sunday brunches and spa dates with your girlfriends. Since these dresses are usually made of a thinner material, pay special attention to the undergarments you choose.

Shown: Lauren Sundress, Charlotte Russe Lace Dress, Old Navy Tube Dress

Versatile White Dresses

These white dresses can be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion. They’re everyday, everywhere dresses.

Shown: Banana Republic Sheath Dress, New York & Company Belted Dress, Forever 21 Floral Overlay Dress

How To Wear White Dresses

Like I mentioned before, it’s all about the cut when it comes to white dresses. Find a dress that fits you well and flatters your figure. To dress up or down, add a blazer, a belt at your natural waist or a cardigan. Since white is neutral, you can technically pair it with any other color and be okay. However, there are some colors that work better for this season. Choose bright, bold colors, light brown leathers, lavender and classic black for best results.

Undergarments

White dresses, unless made of a very thick material, are almost always see-through. To avoid distasteful showing of panties and bras, wear undergarments that match your skin tone. And, always wear a slip! Go for a light nude or white slip.

Shoes

Depending on the style, you can wear flats or heels with white dresses. For work wear, choose classic heels in black, light brown, nude or a bold color like navy, pink, red or green. For evening wear, go for a bright, fun or metallic pair of heels. For weekend attire, opt for flat sandals.

Accessorize

A white dress is a blank palette. You can keep the simple elegance of the dress by adding a thin strand of pearls. Or, you can go all out with statement jewelry. Choose monochromatic jewelry for the best pop and contrast. Bright pinks, turquoise, green, yellow and black are all great options. Or go for the metallic look with a gold statement necklace and wide cuff.
Wide belts work best with white dresses, adding another dimension to the dress.

White dresses are pretty much THE dress trend this season. Find one that works for your style and budget and accessorize it, making it appropriate for many different occasions and situations.


What do you think of the white dress trend? Do you agree that the myth about white dresses is incorrect? Let us know what you think!

It’s time to give our feet a break from the heels of the Winter season. Booties, stilettos, heeled boots, etc. have my feet screaming for a pedi and a much deserved break. Lucky for me, and you, flat sandals are a huge trend this coming Spring. Depending on where you live, your debut of a cute pair of new sandals might still be a few months out. Or, maybe you’re visiting a sunny beach next weekend and need a pair NOW. Either way, it’s a great time to shop as many pairs are discounted–definitely not something we usually see at the start of a season.


Read more for flat sandal types and trends for the season.

Flat Sandal Trends

Natural Brown Leather

In addition to patent, metallic and snakeskin, plain old natural brown leather is a popular sandal material this Spring. This is especially trendy in ankle strap sandals and gladiators (see below) and is great worn as part of the Bohemian style seen on the Spring 2009 runways.
Here are a couple of examples:

Shown: Cocobelle Sandals ($68.00), Pelle Moda Sandals ($54.90)

Embellishments

This Spring, look for sandals decorated with all sorts of fun baubles and beads. Feathers, beads, shells, animal print, pendants, gems and studs are just a few of the adornments you’ll see when shopping for the perfect pair (or pairs) of sandals. Draw attention to your newly pedicured feet (you know you need one!) with fun additions to an otherwise plain sandal. Most of the sandals this season are similar in design and material. The difference is in the embellishment added. Here are some over the top examples:

Shown: Steve Madden Sandals with Beaded Ankle ($128.95), Sam Edelman Sandals with wood and snakeskin ($88.95), Sigerson Morrison Sandals ($649.00)

Metallic

In keeping with the idea of taking a simple sandal and making it glam, metallic sandals are a huge hit this season. Again, these are usually very classic or basic sandal styles, but are made with gold, silver or bronze material. Here are a few examples:

Shown: Matt Bernson Gold Gladiator Sandals ($170.00), Bernardo Gold Woven Sandals ($98.00), Silver Gladiator Sandals ($22.99)

Types of Flat Sandals

Flip Flops

I don’t think there will ever be a Spring or Summer season when flip flops (aka ‘thongs’) will not be in style. This season, go for a pair of flip flops that are metallic, embellished or paired with an ankle strap.

Shown: Patent Sandals ($19.99), Gold Sandals ($115), Turquoise Sandals ($140)

Gladiator Sandals

Made popular last Spring, gladiator sandals are back and are bigger than ever. This season, we’ll see lots of variations on the basic gladiator. Expect to see heeled gladiators, gladiators with wide ankle straps, gladiators with straps that go up the calf and embellished gladiators. This is a must have for Spring 2009!

Shown: Dolce Vita Gladiator Sandal ($149.95), Enzo Angiolini Gladiator ($59.95), Gladiator Sandal ($24.99)

Thong Sandal

Thong sandals have ankle straps that make them more sandal, less flip flop. This seems to be the main style for added embellishments. Thong sandals are very similar to t-strap heels if one strap goes from the toes to the ankle, but can also look more like flip flops if the strap splits before the ankle. The embellishments usually adorn the t-strap.

Shown: Mirrored Sandals ($22.99), Kenneth Cole Thong Sandals ($79.00), Silver Thong Sandals ($120.00)

Ankle Straps

This is definitely my favorite style of flat sandals for this Spring. The ankle strap trend can accompany a gladiator sandal, a thong sandal or even flip flops, but should be listed as a style of its own because of how unique it is. Ankle strap sandals consist of an ankle strap that is often much wider than any of the other straps in the sandal. The strap resembles a wrist cuff in many ways.
Here are some examples:

Shown: Cocobelle Ankle Strap Sandals ($96.00), Sam Edelman Sandals ($89.00), Matt Bernson Sandals ($175.00)

More Reading:
Not ready to turn in your heels? Read How to Choose the Perfect Pair of Heels for a guide to the latest heel trends.
Feeling inspired to get that pedicure? Check out the latest Spring 2009 polish colors.

What do you think of the flat sandal trends and styles for Spring 2009?

So, I know we don’t all work in environments that demand a specific dress code. But, we have all been in situations that require business style attire. The question is always, ‘how formal do I need to dress’? For men, it’s easy. They can play it safe by wearing a suit. If it turns out they’re a little overdressed, they can lose the jacket and even the tie. But, for women, it’s a little more tricky.

Business Dress Codes

For business, there are three distinct dress codes: Power Business, General Business and Business Casual. Read more for definitions of each.

Power Business

Power business is the most formal of the business dress codes. For this, you need to wear a suit. Your suit can consist of pants or a skirt, but don’t think that means separates are acceptable. The bottom and top pieces of your suit should match. Stay away from patterns. Colored suits are okay, but keep in mind that black and navy are your power colors.
To make your outfit trendy and set yourself apart from the rest, choose a rich-colored blouse with an interesting accent such as ruffles. If you wear a skirt, go for a pencil skirt and pair it with subtle hose. You can choose hose with a texture, but stay on the conservative side.
Accessorize to make your look unique. Wear a necklace that speaks to your personality. Statement necklaces are acceptable, but they should not jeopardize the formality of your outfit.
Stay conservative with your shoes. A basic black stiletto is a safe and fashionable bet.


Power Business Outfit

Shown: Jacket ($17.98), Pants ($19.97), Ruched Shirt ($18.47), Nine West Heels ($79.00), Freshwater Pearl Choker ($98.00)

General Business

General Business, as you would expect, is a bit less formal than Power Business. Separates are okay here. So, for example, you could wear a brown pencil skirt paired with a cream jacket. Suit dresses are also acceptable. Jackets are optional here, but are a good idea for layering or to make your outfit more conservative in a hurry.
Depending on where you work, bare legs might be okay. To be safe, wear a pair of subtle, neutral hose. Jeans are not acceptable at this level of formality. Make sure that all of the items you wear are, or appear to be, tailored, ironed and made of dress material.
Accessories can be a bit more daring. Go for chunkier necklaces and cuffs.
Shoes are a good place to add a bit of color or an interesting detail. Choose a pair of red heels to go with a black pencil skirt and white ruffled shirt.


General Business Outfit

Shown: Ruched Top ($95.00), Pencil Skirt ($88.00), Wide Belt ($48.00), Jessica Simpson Heels ($79.00), Pearl Twisted Necklace ($49.30)

Business Casual

Business Casual has been interpreted many different ways. Regardless of what you’ve heard, Business Casual is NOT anything goes. Though there aren’t hard and fast rules, tank tops, flip flops, shorts or halter tops are not acceptable here. You should still look and feel sophisticated and classy.
Jeans are acceptable for Business Casual, but should be dark and tailored. Go for a pair of trouser jeans or a dark wash flare jean. Ripped jeans, skinny jeans and cropped jeans are not formal enough for this dress code.
Sweaters, tailored tops and tunics are also acceptable at this level.
Accessorize with fun, funky jewelry that complements your personality.
Choose shoes that are trendy and eye-catching.
Have fun with Business Casual, but remember to wear work appropriate clothes.


Business Casual Outfit

Shown: Beaded Egyptian Tank ($78.00), Silk Cardigan ($74.00), Harness Buckle Belt ($38.00), Classic Trouser Jeans ($89.00), Patent Leather Pumps ($98.00)

Tips

When dressing for business, there are some important things to keep in mind.
1. Don’t dress too casual. Think about what your boss or the best dressed person at your company wears. Dress at least that nice, if not nicer. Dressing too casually makes it seem like you don’t take your job seriously.
2. Don’t show too much skin. It is work after all! Strapless tops and dresses are a big no-no. Keep your hemlines reasonable and the amount of skin you show to a minimum. Always have a blazer or cardigan on hand if you need to make your outfit more conservative.
3. Be comfortable. No, this doesn’t mean you can wear your sweats into the office. You’ll do your best work when you feel and look great. So, make sure your shoes are comfortable, you like how you look and you have dressed the part.

What do you think of these tips? I hope you’ve found them useful for your everyday work situation or for that rare time when you have to dress up a meeting or interview. What is the dress code like at your office?

Shoes are the ultimate accessory. The right pair of heels can completely change an outfit, making it more elegant, playful or conservative. When choosing heels to wear with your outfit, it’s important to consider a few factors.

1. Comfort

A pair of shoes might look great, but they’re not the right shoe for you if you can’t walk in them. If the heel is too high for you to walk in or the straps leave you wobbly, forget it! Shoes should help you make an entrance–gracefully. Consider long-term comfort as well. If you’ll be wearing the shoes for a long period of time and will be standing or dancing a lot, make sure your shoes will still be bearable by the end of the night. A good way to do this is to break your shoes in first. Wear them around the house a few times before wearing them out. If you can cook and clean in them for long periods of time, you can wear them out for a night on the town.

2. Heel Height

This goes along with comfort… If you are not used to wearing a high heel, start with a mid-heel. You want to be able to walk gracefully. Your shoes should be an extension of yourself, not a hindrance to your health. Heels, if worn correctly, will make your gait more elegant.

3. Style

Your heels should add to your outfit. Depending on the style you’re going for, choose a shoe that adds something to your look. For example, add a playful, yet sophisticated touch to a little black dress by wearing a zebra print shoe. Or, for a more elegant look, wear a satin black heel with rosettes or bows.

Buying Shoes Online

Buying shoes online can be pretty tricky. If you’re going to chance it, buy a pair of quality shoes that you know will last and fit well. Nordstrom, Zappo’s and Piperlime offer huge selections online and often have free shipping or discounts.
It’s sometimes hard to tell the quality just by looking at a shoe online. If you’re shopping in person, however, definitely check out discount stores like Charlotte Russe, Forever 21 or Payless. They often have very cute shoes for a fraction of the price. If the trend you’re looking for seems like it might last only a season or two, definitely opt for the discount variety.

Heel Trends

Floral

Shoes with a floral print have been appearing more and more because of the Winter Floral trend this season. Pair them as an accent to a neutrally colored outfit, an addition to a like colored outfit or, if the florals match, an addition to a floral print outfit.

Shown: Kate Spade Heels ($298), Bettye Muller Heels ($114.90), BCBGirls Heels ($98)

Safari

Animal print continues to be in, but is most fashionable in the form of a pump. Animal print heels are a great addition to a solid colored outfit, neutrals and LBDs.

Shown: Zebra Print Heels ($22.99), Animal Print Pumps ($22.99), Odetta Pumps ($69.99)

T-Strap

T-strap heels are one of the most popular trends of the season. The connection between the toes and the ankle strap is sometimes just a simple strap, or is often embellished with ruffles, studs or beads.

Shown: Chinese Laundry ($70), Rampage ($34.99), Circa Joan & David ($49.99)

Embellished

Heels embellished with bows, ruffles, feathers, studs, etc. are a great way to add an interesting detail to your outfit. Wear with a classic outfit to avoid overdoing the look.

Shown: Martinez Valero ($149), Nina ($89), Bow Tie Heels ($24.99)

Metallics

Metallic shoes are a great way to make your outfit sparkle! Wear silver or gold heels with you LBD for instant glam.

Shown: Corso Como ($175), BCBGMAXAZRIA ($198), Max Studio ($160)

Your Comments?

What do you think of these heel trends? Which are your favorites?