All Together Now..With Color!

I am a woman with a current wardrobe best described as “funereal”. In other words – there is a lot of black, some grey and then some more black.

It would appear that I am in mourning for the loss of color.

This is going to change as my only mission for spring is to fill my closet with a bouquet of colorful separates and pieces that will help me wake up from the long Minnesota winter.

Here are a few of my current favorites.

I just ordered the Rachel Pally White Label “Gina” ruched dress in basil on-line from Nordstrom. Since it was on sale, it was probably a winter piece – but it has an air of spring in the color and the flutter sleeves make it wearable into the next season. Nordstrom is one of my favorite stores – the Encore Shop is the best and mine has even been featuring a few Marina Rinaldi pieces over the last few months. Rock on Nordstrom Mall of America! Also, Rachel Pally is a label I’ve been dying to try. She’s a Los Angeles based designer who works in jersey and is dedicated to providing quality, comfort and style to women of all sizes. And since she’s based in Los Angeles, there is a definite celebrity cache attached. Who would have ever thought I might be wearing the same dress as Nicole Ritchie? The line definitely has a bit of that boho-hippie-chick feel. I’d better order a brilliant Vera scarf to wear as a head wrap. Ohhh ladies…the look is coming together as I type! Check out Rachel Pally’s website at http://www.rachelpally.com/.

If you read my first post, you’ll see that I adore adore ADORE Isaac Mizrahi’s new Liz Claiborne line. In fact, I was informed today that 8 pages of the next O Magazine are dedicated to the spring pieces, so line up now. Once Oprah is involved, you KNOW it’s going to be hot. It’s going to be a huge boost for Liz Claiborne. This dress is one piece that I must have and it comes in plus sizes so lucky me. I am swooning over the crisp navy with white interlocking squares – it has a bit of retro style with a very modern shape. Wear it with spectator pumps for work, and slip on some cute ballet flats and a cardigan and you have an easy casual piece as well. Not to quote my mother, but you can never go wrong with a shirtwaist dress!

You may have read that the “it” bag is over. And really, it’s about time – who cares if Sienna Miller gets another bag named for her. That said – I do love my handbags and like the rest of my wardrobe – most of mine are black. That’s changing this spring and shown here is my dream bag that I am going to scrimp and save to take home. It’s Tory Burch’s “Jill” chain strap satchel. The color is perfect and her pieces are incredible; I lived in a pair of her reva ballet flats like they were slippers and got more compliments on them than any other shoes I’ve owned (and I’ve owned a lot of shoes.) This great bag would compliment any summer wardrobe and again, has a great retro style with the chain but a modern shape and color combo.

So ladies – these are a few of my favorite pieces. I’ll be updating regularly as it warms up outside (and even if it doesn’t.) You see – there is no need to be shopping at the House of Large Sizes (does anyone from Minnesota remember this store? I used to go with my grandmother. I seem to recall a lot of polyester tunics with ric rac around the pockets. Shudder.) There is fantastic stuff out there for women of all sizes – you just have to know where to look and how to put it all together! Make it swoon-worthy!