Spring Fling.

Every year, Easter Sunday sneaks up on me & I’m left to pull out that over-worn, very tired floral number that makes me look weirdly large in areas that I’d rather not mention. I refuse pictures the entire day & usually go home feeling completely frumpy & annoyed. Thus, this year I’m prepared & hoping to prepare all of you babes to #ditchthefrump & pull together an unforgettable look that will leave you feeling confident, beautiful & focused on the true meaning of this special day & the people you’re sharing it with.

Whether you observe the holiday or not, this Sunday marks the true beginning of Spring. We’re talking cute sandals, fun dresses & all the pretty pastels. Not ready to make the switch from Winter layers, just yet? Start small. Ditch your heavy coat & opt for a denim jacket instead. Replace your all-weather boots with an ankle boot or sneaker. Add transitional colors [such as soft blues, blush pinks & nudes] to your cold-weather looks. These simple switches will ease you into the new season without stress or confusion.

So grab yourself a handful of Cadbury Mini Eggs & get ready for this week’s Master Class: Spring.

Forever Floral: Spring & florals go together like sunshine & tanning oil–there’s simply no denying it or making it go away. However, this Easter, switch it up with a bolder statement. With a larger print you eliminate the predictability of a Spring outfit, while helping hide any Winter imperfections you have yet to work off. The key to owning a floral look this Spring is finding the unusual & unexpected. Here are some of my favorites:

floral romper

Just a Touch: can’t imagine decking your entire body out in pastels & florals? No problem here. Adding just a slight nod to the changing season is really all it takes to perfect a transitional Spring look. Throw suede into the mix. Swap out heavy knits for light ones. Try a silk scarf on for size. These simple, painless changes will help keep you sane in warmer weather months. Here are a few of my favorites that give just enough credit to the times, without overdoing it.

Denim Daze: one of the absolute best parts of Spring is all the denim options that open up–white, black, green, blue, skinny, wide-leg, flared, overalls, distressed…the list goes on & on. Get creative & play up your bottom half this Easter with fun options that you regularly wouldn’t rock. Whether you’re hosting, drinking, running the Easter Egg Hunt or simply chasing after your little ones all day, denim is the perfect candidate for this specific day. Here are my absolute favorite looks for ~~Easter~~ Spring 2016 & beyond:

Fem Footwear: one of the easiest ways to get your mind right about Spring is footwear. Take a favorite pair of denim, a white tee & add a delicious shoe…you’ve got yourself a fashionista dream. It doesn’t have to be complicated; even a sneaker can be feminine if executed properly. The key to owning footwear is confidence & size. More often than not my clients come to me & don’t know their true shoe size. Ladies, you can’t rock great shoes if you’re hobbling around in them. Take a peek at some of my favorite Spring footwear finds. Wild or not, these looks are show-stoppers:

Whether you’re celebrating Easter or simply need styling direction for the coming warmer months, my hope is that today’s master class taught you that taking risks is crucial in helping identify exactly what it is you like about fashion & don’t. A single outfit can be transformative; put you in an entirely different place & time. It’s storytelling. It’s powerful. & it’s a skill that I hope to continue to instill in my clients word by word, post by post, consultation after consultation.

Keep working at it, keep taking risks & have a beautiful Sunday with family, friends & a fierce outfit.

Happy Easter, all.

Xx.

Basic Bunnies

Whether you’re meeting your significant other’s family for the first time, or simply spending time with your ~~least~~ favorite relatives, Easter outfits can be a tricky thing. Department store racks are currently spilling over with floral ensembles, so I’ve decided to not let you go the easy route; just say no to floral this holiday #dontbebasic. Instead, I’ve put together my six favorite Easter 2015 looks, so you too can get inspired & find your inner creative pastel bunny, in hopes to make this Sunday’s outfit one you’ll actually want to look back on.

Let’s go.

Ditch the typical floral maxi, find yourself a beautiful lavender, soft pink, even powder blue one instead. Keeping with the pastel theme, this dress will make you feel like a princess in a room full of frogs [don’t worry, they all have the potential to be princes].

Keep it fresh with an unexpected print like this oversized polka dot tunic; it adds texture & dimension to a once simple design. Find one in a gorgeous pastel? Well, you’ve won the freaking lottery.

The one cliché fabric that I’ll always let slide is lace. This always beautiful, always chic, effortless garment stands alone without fuss. Julia Engel rocked this one above with her amazing [$1,000] Valentino pointed-toe slingbacks, but a playful gladiator sandal or wedge would team just as well.

Not feeling a dress this Easter Sunday? Try a monochromatic look instead. Julie Sarinana [my favorite style blogger on the planet] is the white on white queen. Pair neutral colors together [white, tan, grey, charcoal, black, taupe] & don’t look back. Just be sure you’re ultra stain-conscious throughout the day.

As much as I love a stand-alone maxi, I’m more interested in unique pieces like this tie-dyed beauty. A stylish way to ring in the Spring season without looking like you just stepped out of High Times Magazine. Top it off with a sexy heel & you’ll feel like JLo on the red carpet circa 2000.

& finally, one of my favorites; shorts. This look is perfect for a chilly morning brunch turned afternoon hellish sun. Team a waffle knit sweater with a soft pair of shorts & you’ll be the most prepared fashionista in the room.

Lastly, make me one single promise this Easter Sunday & say it out loud to yourself: “I will not ruin my adorable Easter outfit that Lyric helped me style with an awful pair of old flip flops. I will take the time to pair the appropriate footwear to finalize my outfit & not break Lyric’s heart.”

Nothing makes me more devastated in my clients than when I catch them being lazy with their footwear decisions. Always take the time to top off your entire fit.

& with that, I wish you well in all of your outfit decisions. & remember, regardless of anything, this is a day to spend time together, to love on one another & to feel good about yourself.

Happy Styling.

Xx.