Spring! (possibly for real this time...)

It has officially reached 50 degrees this week!

No more snow shoveling! 
No more frostbite while fumbling with my keys! 
No more driving home in the dark at 4:30 in the afternoon!

Bring on the slush, rain, and mud!
And some things to help aid the transition...

First off, the ubiquitous Hunter Wellies. 

I got these 2 years ago for my birthday and am in LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

They've seen the muddy garden, the sloppy dog trails behind our house, and are STILL amazingly cute enough to wear to brunch!  (Once you hose them off).

And for those chillier days...

Wellie Warmers. 

UH-mazing idea for the still icy/slushy spring and frosty fall, and definitely on my "To-buy" list.

Next, that transitionary jacket.  You want it to be warm and weighty enough to keep out that little bit of moisture in the still-slightly-chilly air; but not exactly parka-quality.

Ann Taylor came out with a padded Anorak this past winter, which is slightly more than spring calls for, but I'm looking forward to using in the fall. 

And a TIP for the shopping savvy:  Don't discount "petites" just because you're taller. 

I'm 5'10" and have a couple of great Petite items---including this jacket. 

It won't work for all pieces (like pants or some full-sleeve tops), but this jacket has 3/4, button-up sleeves and is styled in a way that I don't have to worry about sleeve or hem length... 

Plus, since many non-petites shied away from this sale item, I got it at a great price!!

A more spring-friendly piece is J. Crew's Bonfire Cardigan 

I was surprised by how HEAVY this sweater is.  Great marled wool construction, with a built in shawl for those windier days or cooler nights.

Paired with a simple T, jeans, sneakers, and a bright scarf---this might be my new go-to weekend cardi.







 

That's a wrap!

Well, "in like a lamb" lasted about 3 seconds. 
Or technically, 1 day.

It's March 2nd, and we've officially reverted back to sub-zero temperatures, with a high today in the teens.  Yesterday's 41F is like a sad, teasing memory.

And so it's back to the winter wardrobe.  Which isn't an all bad things I guess. 

This is one of my regular go-tos--a great wrap sweater from Ann Taylor.

It's casual enough to wear to go shopping in or over to the in-law's for dinner--- and could probably be dressed up should that need ever arise.  (As a general rule though, I don't do "dress-ups" during winter.  I just end up being cold.  And as my husband will readily inform you, that only leads to crabbiness).

I don't know if anything about this sweater could make me crabby though.  It's loose enough to be able to layer underneath, but doesn't end up looking big and boxy.  And because of the well-placed buttons, you get the look of a loose, elegant wrap without having to spend all night readjusting yourself (which is never flattering).

And lastly---it's unique.  It seems like otherwise, the sweater department has 3 options:

1.  Bulky, ill-fitting cable knit

2.  The button-up cardigan---fun the first three times---but gets to be boring after the 4th one this week.

and lastly:

3.  The turtleneck.  In my opinion, only to be worn by turtles.  Or librarians from 1982.  Never a good thing.

And lastly---my most coveted winter piece.

The cashmere travel wrap from The Limited.
Seriously, its like being wrapped up in a cup of hot chocolate. 

With whipped cream.

It's absolutely delicious.

And the size is tremendous!  It's a little thin, which is good, or you'd look like you have an entire blanket wrapped around your neck.  I've used mine as both a shawl with a fancy dress, and as a scarf with my winter coat.  Probably one of the best purchases I've ever made---and something that's timeless and classic enough to wear forever!  

When can I take off my jacket?

Spring must be here soon.  Here in Minnesota, winter has far outstayed it's welcome, and if I see one more snowflake, I'm going to freak out.  Seriously.  (That being said, that doesn't particularly bode well for my mental health, at least according to this Thursday's forecast...)

I've had cabin fever for the last 2 months.  My truck looks like we live in somekind of a salt-basin desert, and I can't even wash it for fear that my doors will freeze shut and I'll be left standing in the middle of my parking lot.  And the only reason I won't be letting loose a stream of expletives is because my lips will be frozen shut. 

And don't even get me started on winter fashion.  Or a serious lack thereof. 


In my opinion, winter boots cannot have heels.  That's a one way ticket to ass-meet-pavement city in about 2 seconds.

And hats are not made out of felt with cute little brims and flowers, and they do not fit nicely over whatever coifed hairdo you're sporting.  They have flaps, and fur, and you look like a 5-year old in them.  That's just the way it is.

And skinny jeans?  Seriously, I can't remember the last time I wore a single pair of jeans (as in one pair at a time), much less skinny ones.  Today I'm wearing three pairs.  Indoors.  (I'll admit though, it is nice once you transition into spring weather and single-layers of clothing---no matter what your winter eating habits, you automatically look like you've lost at least 10 pounds...who cares if it's only 10 pounds of long underwear....)

But I think that the arrival of spring fashions has really made my cabin fever set in.  This year's spring styles are particularly great---longer skirt lengths (great for us tall gals), punchy colors like vibrant coral and limey yellow, a continuation of last year's 'dresses-with-pockets' revival, and the re-birth of the anorak jacket!  I can't wait for spring!

Here are some of my favorites....

A great take on the anorak by Ann Taylor Loft.

Punchy color, cute ruffle-y tiers, and a slightly cropped length make this a much girlier version of the classic anorak----and the length even works on my long torso!

Long story short, I anticipate this being my 3-second way of dressing up my go-to jeans and tee...

Next up, the new trend in skirts---longer and fuller, but a little tricky to pull off.
This is a cute denim one from Talbots, part of their Parisan-inspired spring line.

Talbots has long been known as a classic, well-tailored store, catering more to your upscale "mom/grandma" generation---but I think they're making major headway into breaking into a younger market, adding more youthful colors and styles, while still keeping up the quality and classic pieces they've been more widely known for.  Definitely a store to keep your eye one if you're in the 20-30 age range.

This skirt in particular is great for us taller girls---it seems like even the shorter pencil skirts tend to morph into mini's when I put them on.  This is a great, just below the knee length skirt.  Shorter gals might have a harder time pulling this off without looking like they're being engulfed in fabric, though.  And another thing to watch out for regardless of your height:  The calf cut off---a quick way to make anyone's legs look like tree trunks---not overly flattering.

So, long story short:  Try before you buy, and don't jump on the band-wagon unless this is a truly flattering cut for your body type.

My next favorite?  Another find from Ann Taylor Loft.

Loft kept up the bulky, layered chain look that was so popular over the fall and winter, but added some great emerald-colored stones to bring this necklace right into the thick of spring!

 I keep picturing Angelina Jolie's earrings from the 2009 Oscars.  This baby offers the same vibrant jewel-tone glam---but in a way that can be worn everyday, and without the Hollywood price tag.