I can barely believe it, but the weather forecast claims that Chicago will be enjoying a high of 49 degrees on Tuesday! That means that the down coat can come off and I can switch to a lighter outer layer. The trench coat is a classic piece and is always being reinvented so you can be sure to find a style and color that works for you. 

I've been wearing the same trench since 2010 so I think this is the season for me to finally swap it out for a new one. However, I say that every year and still haven't gotten around to it. I always pull it out the first warm day of spring and without fail I get complimented on it, so there is a lot of pressure to find another option that is as flattering as my current one. 

One of the big decisions in choosing a spring coat is whether to choose a style with or without a belt. I am partial to the belt because it allows you to create an hourglass silhouette and you can change out belt to create a new look. I actually misplaced the matching belt to my coat for several weeks and just used a metallic skinny belt instead. 

The other thing to be aware of is whether or not the material is waterproof, water resistant, or neither. I have found that water resistant is enough for me because I switch into a heavy duty Gore-Tex raincoat for heavy downpours, but the weather in your area may push you in a different direction.

I love a trench in a colorful pattern, but so far this season I've noticed that many of the options are skewing more neutral. The
Harbor Cropped Trench Coat from Lands' End is available in five colors, including a bright red. Piping in a contrasting color is one of my favorite details and can make a neutral color palette a little bit more interesting. The Lands' End Heritage Double Breasted Trench Coat is navy with white piping and the Banana Republic Piped Trench is taupe with black piping. For something a bit bolder, you have to cross the pond. The Boden Rainyday Mac is not a true trench, but serves the same purpose in your wardrobe and is available in four bold patterns.

1. Think about pant length. While it is fun to pick up pairs of brightly patterned shorts that you can imagine lounging in on the beach, cropped or ankle pants are much more practical for the transition to warmer temperatures. You'll be able to wear them from late-March to early-November so invest in the basics, like denim and chino. 

2. Take an inventory of your tanks and tees. Chances are that you picked up a stack of basic tops during the end of summer sales last September. Now is the time to remind yourself of those purchases so that you don't spend your entire clothing budget on $8 t-shirts when you already have one in every color imaginable. 

3. Explore the trends. If there is something new and interesting in the window of your favorite store, try it on now! You don't want to wait until the end of the summer to try out a trend because then you will have fewer opportunities to wear it. By browsing the new styles early in the season, you can focus in on what you want your summer look to be.

4. Check your calendar. It may seem early to start worrying about an outfit for a May wedding or beach wear for your June vacation, but by adding those pieces to your shopping list now you will be able to keep your eyes out for great deals and avoid overspending later.

5. Embrace color. We are moving into the part of the year where clothes get bright! Refresh your wardrobe by choosing a bold, new color. Who knows, maybe it will become your favorite this season!

I have a confession: I am sick of winter. This may be surprising to those who know me because I would nearly always choose a sub-zero day with snow and ice over a 90 degree day with high humidity. But I am totally and completely bored with my winter clothing options and it is too late in the season to bother buying new things. With the new spring collections hitting the shelves, I am dreaming of 45 degree days! 

The problem is that most of my fun pieces have to be covered up with heavy sweaters and I have a limited selection of cold weather outerwear. Ankle boots are awesome, snow boots are boring. Guess which one I'm stuck wearing now? I am practically salivating at the idea of having a choice of what footwear to wear once the sidewalks are cleared of slush. One of the reasons that spring and fall are such fun seasons to get dressed during is that your wardrobe has many more options. You get to mix all the seasons of clothes together to hit the sweet spot of outfits that will be perfect for sunny days with a crisp breeze.

Basically I am waiting until the day (hopefully only several weeks away!) where the weather will be appropriate for me to wear lovely, spring outfits like these:

What are you looking forward to most about spring?

It is getting close to Easter and is finally getting warm outside, so yesterday seemed like the perfect day to buy a new dress. LOFT started a 40% off everything sale yesterday as well and since there is a LOFT just a couple blocks from my apartment, it seemed like a great place to start. (I also tried on a ton of pieces that weren't dresses and I highly recommend checking out the sale section. Mine had a nice assortment of side-zip moto-style jackets in stripes and tweeds. I loved this one so much that I couldn't resist bringing it home to my closet!)

And now, onto the dresses:

1. Eyelet Sundress in Cloudy Blue $98
I saw this dress on a mannequin when I first walked into the store and wanted to try it on before they sold out. Overall I liked the style, which is very similar the dress in the third photo, but couldn't imagine myself actually wearing it. I think that if it had been in a darker, brighter color I would have been much more excited about it, but the soft whitish-blue made me think that it would be perfect for a bride-to-be to wear at her bridal shower. 

2. Drop Print Elastic Waist Dress in Deep Salmon $69.50
This is the dress that I went with! I didn't even notice it when I was scouting out the dress options online, but the bright color caught my eye in store. Before I had even gotten back to the dressing room, I had already pinpointed several occasions that I thought this dress would be great for. Plus, this dress won't have to go into storage at the end of the summer- I am looking forward to styling this with black tights, a black blazer, and riding boots for fall!

3. Eyelet Bodice Skirt Dress in Blue Flag $98
I saw this dress online which prompted the initial outing. I was drawn to it, even though rationally I knew it wasn't terribly practical for me. It is hard to see in my photo, but the skirt portion of the dress is a lovely blue and white stripe on a light fabric and the seamed bodice is black with a black eyelet lace overlay. The juxtaposition between light and dark as well as structured and flowing makes it eyecatching, but also not as versatile because it's caught between a casual sundress and a Little Black Dress. I felt that this dress required a very specific dress code/event. I was looking for a dress that would work for Easter and for a bridal shower and couldn't really picture myself wearing this to either. 

4. Poplin Full Skirt in Bright Spirit Mauve $49.50 & Mini Heart Print Tank in Black $54.50
I realize that this is not a dress, but I liked the color of the skirt and the pointelle stitching detail near the hem. The wide waistband also helps to reign in an overly flow-y top (as in the case of this printed tank). When I was trying it on, I couldn't shake an overwhelming urge to find a skinny belt to add an accent to the waistband. However, this is a great casual skirt for summer that has the potential to be dressed up with the right shoes and accessories (and it also comes in black for those not in love with the mauve).

I feel like I need to note that I tried on many more dresses than are pictured here. It can be so easy to get discouraged when trying on clothes, so don't expect the first or even the fourth thing you try to be the piece you love enough to take home! 

Chambray shirts seem to be everywhere these days, but they can be an intimidating piece to style. Although it often looks like denim, chambray is a much lighter fabric and is a great weight for spring and summer. Even when the piece is tailored, a chambray button-up shirt feels more relaxed than a traditional oxford shirt, partly because we associate denim with casual wear. 

Serious fashionistas like to pair their chambray tops with denim bottoms, but I steer clear of that combo for fear of looking like I'm wearing a "Texas tuxedo" (denim jacket with matching denim jeans). However, there are plenty of outfits that look fantastic with a chambray shirt, as well as many style and pattern options so that you can find the perfect chambray to match your personality.

1. Wear a chambray shirt to break up two competing patterns in your outfit. For example, pair a navy skirt with white polka dots with a white sweater with navy stripes. Layer a chambray shirt under the sweater and wear untucked with the chambray cuffs exposed.

2. Substitute your classic white oxford with a chambray shirt to help dress down another piece. This works especially well when you are trying to get extra mileage out of the skirts you normally reserve for the office. If your office dress code is on the more relaxed side, add a blazer in a contrasting color to the skirt and chambray shirt combo for a fresh twist on a skirt suit. 

3. Tuck into a pair of brightly colored cropped pants and accessorize with a skinny belt and a statement necklace. It will look polished, but not overdressed for everyday casual wear. Throw on a pair of sandals or flats for day and then transition the look into evening with a pair of heels.

4. Layer a chambray shirt over a knit dress. Button only the middle two buttons of the shirt and then knot the ends, creating a tie-front shirt. This is a fun way to add coverage to the arms without a cardigan and create the look of a skirt and shirt combo, which increases the versatility of the dress.