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.

Suiting Brand Details

Elie Tahari is a higher price point suiting brand, with jackets starting at $208+ and pants at $148+. But you really get what you pay for. Some of what this brand features is interesting exposed stitching that adds some appeal and texture, stylish jackets with fun fashionable linings which makes them great for rolling up the sleeves and showing off the colors, and wide legged pants.

Its suiting fits best on a basic body type that’s even from shoulders down to the legs. The Tahari brand offers other more affordable lines in T Tahari and Tahari by Arthur S. Levine, which Ill discuss later in affordable brand options.

Classiques is another higher price bracket brand. Its jackets can start at $248+ and pants $158+. Their suiting tends to be made of light wool and has feminine construction details such as lapels on jackets, ruffle trimmed skirts, and accentuated waistlines. Their pants usually have a wider leg and wide waist band.

This brand offers a great fit in the jacket with extra room in the bust, if it’s hard for you to find jackets that button over your chest you probably will find the perfect jacket in this brand. Classiques also offers a range of polished and fun silk tops appropriate for work or play.


Theory has jackets starting at $ 375+ and pants from $225+. This brand has a lot of basic suiting options with classically styled jackets, pants, and skirts in black, blue and gray. It’s a great brand for suiting staples and it’s versatile.

The pants run narrow in the leg and hip so the fit isn’t for everyone. Theory also does polished button downs that make for great layering pieces. These shirts easily transition from day to night. Take off your blazer unbutton a button or two and throw on some sassy jewelry and you’re ready for after work cocktails with friends or a date!

Women’s Suiting Between $400-$800

As powerful business woman go, we must talk, walk and dress the part! You know that saying “Dress for Success”. Today’s tenacious women need an arsenal of power suits, suits that arm us with confidence to tackle any obstacles we face at work while still looking our best!

It’s okay to spend a pretty penny, that’s what you can expect to spend when it comes to purchasing great suiting. After all you’re paying for great quality fabrics, sophisticated details and chic silhouettes. So if it’s in your budget to splurge on a great suit, lucky you, take heed! My picks for fabulous suiting options won’t steer you wrong.
Isn’t this suit first-lady worthy! Michelle Obama should own it! This suiting pair is to die for with its amazing texture and detailing. From fray edging to ribbon trim to an exposed zipper, it’s got it all without being over the top. What’s also great about these pieces is you can wear them together or separate. Stylish and eye catching details is what this suit is all about. This suit is commanding and demanding, the definition of “power suit”. A ruffled collar softens the lines of this belted jacket in an Italian-wool blend, with matching wide legged trouser pants.

This tailored stretch wool jacket and pant is a great suit with simple detailing and silhouette. Something this simplistic is perfect for dressing up with a printed or pop color blouse. Comes in four different colors, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get it in all colors, you’d have your suiting staples taken care of. The jacket can also be paired with a cute pair of skinny jeans and heels for an after work look.


****Tune in for my follow up blog for More Details on These Brands *****

The Best Work Dresses

Sometimes the work week can get a little to monotonous. Don’t get caught up in the everyday routine, mix it up! When you’re all business from 9 to 5 sometimes your wardrobe can suffer. You can stay sophisticated but still look fashion savvy, so spice it up! These dresses will take you to work feeling confident as ever because lets face it, don’t we feel better when we step out the front door looking our best? Take a peek at my picks, each one is great for the office and with a few accessory and shoe change ups can take you to happy hour. Who wants to work all the time and not go out and play a little!

Work appropriate surly means a conservative style but don’t think you can’t wear something with a bold exotic print. This dress has a contrast leopard print on top adding just the right amount of color to a sleek sheath skirt bottom. Its length hits at the knee making it the perfect length and its adorable ruffle collar and adjustable skinny belt adds just the right touches to a flattering silhouette. Break out your gold jewelry for this outfit, some great bangles and dangling earrings. You can find it at Macys in the women’s dress department.
Even for work you need that perfect little black dress. This solid black dress has a timeless silhouette and leaves room to get creative with accessories. Try some colorful heels and jewelry. It’s short-sleeved with a V-neck and self belt at wrap. Find it at your cities Bloomingdales or go online to http://www.bloomingdales.com/.
With more and more women in high level positions these days, we need that great power dress that says, yeah I’m the boss but I’m still a woman, now hear me roar! This effortlessly chic dress is made of stretch wool and is a perfect suiting option. Pair it with a black or colored blazer and minimal accessories. You want the attention on the beautiful wrap detailing on the waist. Go to www.DKNY.com to get your hands on this gorgeous design.
Keep things interesting with a playful and stylish print. It’s a simple silhouette that looks well put together, so when things go wrong on the job you’ll be the one looking smart! It has ruffles along the front and a black belt that defines the waist. Pair it with some black pumps and black beaded jewelry. You can get a steal on this dress; find it at Nordstrom in the Individualist department.

Most comfortable 3 inch and above heels

Why is it that we’ll spend a fortune buying beautiful heels that lets face it we can only wear a few hours at a time. Good heels should provide comfort and support, comfort for your foot and support for your heel and arch. And just because I’m talking comfort doesn’t mean sacrificing sex appeal!

Good heels should also make you feel sexy! A couple of key things to look for next time you’re out shopping for a new pair of heels are; look for shoes with leather uppers and liners, leather naturally breathes and allows moisture to evaporate. Also look for a shoe that offers some padding in the footbed, your feet will thank you later. For heels that can take you from the time you put them on in the morning to the time you take them off at night, Check these out!A great shoe to pair with suiting separates is this peep toe pump. It’s perfect for a long day at the office, with a lightly padded footbed for comfort and support all day. Also has full leather linings and upper. (3 ¼ in heel)

Sexy meets business in this open toed pump with stylish cutouts. Wear them to the office and then out for a dinner date. They have a padded footbed and leather lining and upper. (3 ¼ in heel)

Dress up any casual outfit with these cute peep toe wedges. They have flax seed pillows embedded in the footbed that mold to the shape of your foot to provide cushioned support and deerskin lining and leather upper.(3 ½ in heel)
These boots were made for walking! A winter staple, great leather ankle boots! Wear them with a pair of skinnies or with a sweater dress and tights and you’re ready for a day out and about. Crafted in Italy, these boots feature a side zip closure and leather upper and lining with leather and rubber sole. (3 ½ in heel)

Comfort Shoes for Around Town

Cute & Comfortable for $65-$150

Comfort doesn’t have to come at the cost of looking unfashionable. Have you ever been out and about and noticed that one woman walking like she just learned how to walk in heels? You can just tell her feet are killing her but she’s doing her best to hide the pain and keep stepping. I’m sure we’ve all been there, telling ourselves “dang it I should have worn more comfortable shoes!” or “why’d I pick today to break in these new shoes!”


So if you’ve got some running around to do or maybe your on vacation sight seeing, here are some great shoe ideas to keep your feet from aching and they wont hurt your bank account at check out time either!
Comfortable and stylish! Puma sporty ballet flats with sparkling sequins and a logo-etched buckle that decorate the toe cap. They have a leather and fabric upper and rubber sole. Look for these at Nordstrom.
Casual & sporty! The Ultima Sneakers are sporty weekend or commuter sneaker by AK Anne Klein. Macys carries this shoe as well as a variety of comfortable shoe styles.Fashionable and durable! Zappos.com has a great selection of comfort shoes as well, including the Ruti by Tsubo. It’s a truly contemporary and versatile shoe with a vamp band and hook and
loop closure that creates a custom fit. The insole provides your feet with cushion for every step.
Sleek & Casual! Super cute flats by Lacoste have a leather upper with perforated patent top cap, elastic heel band and cushioned leather insole that provides a breathable wear. Also found at Zappos.com
Athletic & fun! The DKNY Amelia Flats layer on the style along with athletic-inspired comfort and crisscross straps and a shining, mixed finish upper. Find them at Macys.