Dressing the Part

Each year when the weather turns warm, I begin to ignore the pants in my closet. Instead, each morning I turn to dresses. They're just so easy -- throw on a cardigan, shoes and jewelry and I'm ready to go! I'd love to add any of these dresses from Boden, with their cool hues and pretty prints, to my spring wardrobe mix. 

Photos from here. 

Bare Necessities

You all probably know how much I love a streamlined look, but I'm crazy about these nude dresses from the Calvin Klein Collection spring show. There's something so bare and effortless about these looks that makes them absolutely beautiful to me.

Photos from here. 

Perfectly Simple

If I had to choose one decade that's most informed my personal style, it has to be the '90s. Minimalism and simplicity have always felt right to me -- easy but also elegant. So I was excited to see Gap's nod to clean lines and streamlined shapes in its "Miss Minimalist" looks. Here are my favorite pieces. All I'd need to do is add a great pair of shoes and maybe a little necklace or bracelet, and I'd be ready for the day!

Photos from here.

In Full Bloom

One of my favorite trends for spring is florals, and I pretty much want to buy every flowered item Anthropologie is selling! Wouldn't a vibrant chair or plate perk up a room? And aren't the clothes so pretty and fun?

Photos from here. 

High Notes

I really enjoyed watching the Grammys last night. I thought LL Cool J was a great host, and it was fun to see Adele, Rhianna and many other artists perform. I liked Bon Iver's acceptance speech, and Jennifer Hudson's tribute to Whitney Houston was beautiful. Of course I also had to watch the red carpet coverage to see what everyone was wearing. Although there were some gorgeous gowns, my favorite looks of the night were black ensembles, particularly Rhianna's sleek dress and gleaming gold accessories.

Photos from here. 

In Vogue

Did you watch the Superbowl on Sunday? While I was interested in the game and the commercials, I was most excited to catch Madonna's halftime performance. I thought she was great and I loved seeing her perform a range of her songs. In honor of her opening number, Vogue put together a slideshow of the Material Girl's appearances in the magazine over the years. Here are a few covers that show her incredible gift for reinterpreting herself.

Photos from here. 

A Change in Plans

So, we're not in the Caribbean this week after all. My little nephew got sick, and at the last minute -- at four in the morning as we were assembled at my parents' house about to head to the airport -- we had to cancel our family trip. We're all really disappointed, but it was the right decision.

Being at home Sunday night gave me the chance to watch the Golden Globes, specifically, the red carpet coverage before the awards show. I can't decide which trend I like better -- pretty blush-hued dresses or vibrant-colored gowns. Here are a few of both!

Soft and Pretty

Bright and Bold

Photos from here. 

Rainbow Brights

If Santa would only bring me a J. Crew party dress in every color of the rainbow, I'd definitely be good all year long! Can you imagine all these beauties wrapped up under the tree?

Photos from here. 

Ballet Style

It was so much fun dressing up as Black Swan for Halloween this weekend. And I realized the ballet aesthetic doesn't just appeal to me as a costume. In one way or another, I've always admired the look of dancers: their strength and grace, as well as their style. I love ballet flats, swishy skirts, off-the-shoulder tops and wrap sweaters. I like pale pinks, soft whites and pretty grays, and anything that shows off the collarbone or back. So gorgeous!

Photos from here and here. 

Simple and Sweet

I appreciate ruffles. I can admire bows and flourishes and frills in clothes. But truth be told, what makes me happiest in fashion are clean lines and simple shapes. So I'm loving these looks by EmersonMade. Black and white, some denim or tweed, a hit of a cute print or bold color -- swoon!

Photos from here. 

So Right On

When it comes to style, I don't think it gets better than a good stripe, a cinched skirt or anything pure white. Throw in a blunt bang and pretty makeup, and I'm sure you can see why I'm swooning over these looks on Esther Adams, a Vogue fashion writer. Gorgeous, no?

Photos from here. 

Now and Later

Lately, I'm finding it difficult to know what to wear in the morning. I want to hang on to summer as long as possible but it's also exciting to think about fall fashion. It's still warm out yet there's a bit of coolness in the air. I've decided my key piece for this time of transition is dresses, especially frocks like these from Need Supply. For now, I'll pair easy dresses with sandals and wedges and later I'll swap in pumps and boots. It's the best of both worlds, no?

Photos from here.