The Cool Cropped Pants of the Season

Cool, Smart, and Polished. Did I just describe your kind of style from head to toe? I have a great style tip for you! Cropped trouser pants epitomize those three words! They are so versatile and this fresh take on the new “pants” for Spring will be a hit at the office and on the street.

Here are options for professional and casual looks. Most look best with heels, especially if you’re on the shorter side, since they can cut the legs short. But if you got those long legs you can totally pull off some flats!

For the Office: These styles look best when worn with pumps. Pair them with a tucked in silky top and you’ve got a chic business look. A pleated style is fun but watch the proportion; it can add too much volume around the hips.

For Play: Slouchy, breezy picks are comfy and cute. Pair them with some wedges or flat strappy sandals and a loose long tank. A no fuss look but oh so trendy!

Spring’s Must Have Handbags

Get rid of your baggage! Springs reigning in the new “it” handbag for the season, and guess what the oversized satchels and hobos are so out! Bags are coming in mini versions galore.

These purses are marvelously convenient one of my favorites is the mini crossbody bags in vibrant bold colors. Interesting and cool little bags were seen on the runways most notably at MARC by Marc Jacobs. He paired his tribal/ethnic prints and looks with these fab little gems. There sure to complete any outfit adding just the right amount of snap, crackle and POP!

Spring Trench Coats

Its time to say bye-bye to your wool jackets and say hello to chic trench coats! Though the sun is shinning, there’s still a slight chill, time for something that’s light weight, stylish and versatile. Springs trench coats are just what the Dr. ordered, perfect with any outfit weather dressed up or casual.

There’s a great selection including long to cropped length styles with full length to ¾ sleeves, double breasted, single breasted, and belted/tie waists.

The best light weight fabric coats come in comfy cotton/polyester blends and lush linens. As far as colors go, my suggestion is to stay with classic colors such as tan, white, and black. There are vibrant colors and prints available this season, but these tend to limit your use of the piece.

Here are my favorite picks for Spring 2010. All of which have great detailing and silhouettes, with picks that range from high end to affordable. Take a look!

1. Diane von Furstenberg Crinkle Spy Trench $465 Bergdorf Goodman

2. Rebecca Taylor Twill Trench $465 Bloomingdales

3. Theory Hummingbird Nania Linen Trench $385 Bloomingdales

4. Elie Tahari Angie Jacket $195 Bloomingdales

5. Michael Kors Short Trench $100 michaelkors.com

6. Nanette Lepore Jolly Roger Cropped Trench $498 Neiman Marcus

7. Betsey Johnson Belted All Weather Trench $118 Nordstrom

8. Calvin Klein Belted trench $128 Nordstrom

Good Brands for Work Suiting Separates Between $50-200

Now on the other hand if you’re looking to buy suiting that is budget friendly, there are many options for you as well. While these brands cost much less then the first three I visited, they are still great choices and offer some pretty great business separates for a variety of ages and body types. I guarantee one or more of these brands will work for you, so here’s details on what each brand has to offer and extra tips on the fits.

Semantics is a Nordstrom private label brand, which means you won’t find it anywhere else. The majority of its pieces are found in the Point of View department. Nordstrom has really developed this line and made a name for it in the suiting world.

It offers suiting that fits really well on most body types. Its jackets offer extra room in the bust area and also have feminine lapels and trimming. Its pants are very flattering with mostly wide waistbands, like the ones above that are styled with a contoured waistband and a full leg with low rise fit. Additional business separates offered by the brand include cardigans and blouses, that pair really well with their pants and skirts.

JCrew offers suiting in a variety of wools from stretch wool to crepe wool and high quality cotton. In their pants they offer a city fit, their lowest rise and sits just above the hip. This fit is best for a straight up and down body type. Also their favorite fit, the most universal fit with a medium rise that sits below the waist. This fit works best for a curvy body type, those with a little more tush and/or hips. Their jackets run big, so try going a size or two down from what you usually wear.

Calvin Klein suiting fits similar to Semantics suiting, so it’s good for most body types. The detailing tends to be simpler and comes in basic colors like black, grays, and blues. Also if you like your suiting to be thicker fabric than usual this is your brand.

CK has some gorgeous business dresses that you can pair with a blazer. Like this dress with a light weight flutter sleeve top and skirt bottom with flattering belt. Pair it with their blazer that has contour seaming and secures with a single button for a smart finish.

Halogen is another Nordstrom private label brand, found in the Point of View department. Its fits tend to be much younger than that of the Semantiks brand. Its pants fit straight up and down for a more narrow hip body “boyish” type.

This brand has a lot of separates options with cute jackets, trousers, skirts, blouses, and cardigans. Though Halogen has some stylish youthful detailing watch out for garments that get to be a little too detailed, make sure its evenly styled. For example if it has a stylized lapel on a jacket and decorative buttons make sure the pockets are not too much as far as size and placement.