Five Must-Have Things for Spring, Part 1

Filed under: Fashion, Best of the Season

five must haves for spring
You can't shop or surf the Internet these days without being reminded that yes, you should totally be shopping for Spring things, even though it might still feel like the Arctic. Get over it. You could use that excuse when it was February, but we've stepped into March, dolls. Spring officially starts this month and you can't be caught in the sunshine in a pair of cashmere leggings!

Look out for Styledash's Spring Essentials this week, because we may not be the Devil in Prada, but we definitely know what the hell we're talking about! Today, let's talk about the Five Must-Have Clothing Things for Spring.

1. Baby, Doll. Yes, it includes babydoll dresses, but we can go a little beyond that, can't we? We're talking about looking like a baby, Doll. Babydoll dresses have empire waists with full skrts, but you've got to add augar, spice, and everything nice like ruffles, bows, and even utterly sweet and feminine lace that I used to only associate with Laura Ashley, or in this case, Twelfth Street . The 100% Lace Mini-dress will have you looking like you're off to your own Christening. $375 at Neiman Marcus.

2. Mini-Dress to Maxi-Impress. So maybe you're more about being a woman rather than a little girl. No worries because in essence, Spring is all about The Mini-Dress. It doesn't matter where the waistline sits, what color it is, or what it's made of. If it's one piece, top and bottom, and has the potential for being a little drafty, then it's a mini-dress, and you need it -- sweet or sexy or sophisticated -- for Spring. I am partial to shirtdresses, and Joie makes an awesome Poplin Shirtdress for $220, available at ShopBop.

3. En-Trenched. They don't say "April showers" for nothing. Spring brings rain, or at the very least, a drizzle, and you definitely need something to protect the huge investment you've just made in your Spring wardrobe. Trench coats are one way, and lucky for us, trenchcoats also happen to be the style for the season. The godfather of all trenchcoats is, of course, Burberry, and while $895 might seem like a lot of money for a coat, rest assured that you're making a wise investment. Burberry never goes out of style. The Belted Plaid Trench is availble from Nordstrom.

4. Wide-Leg Trousers. Oh, there is a God. Though wide legs doesn't necessarily apply to jeans (they're still out there; I've seen them), I have to thank someone for coming to their senses and making wide-leg trousers a must-have. Ya-Ya's George Flair Pants aren't just wide legged. They've got a flair, which definitely helps give me the illusion of curves. In the right places, of course.

5. Romance by way of Blouse. What are you going to do, wear your stylin' wide-leg trousers with a bra? You need a matching top, and this season, it looks like the feminine, romantic blouse is the way to go. We're talking lace, ruffles, puffed sleeves, light, sheer fabrics. I'm not exactly wild about the color, but D&G's Ruffled Blouse is the perfect example. It's $210 at Neiman Marcus.