Last time in “Retail Therapy,” we talked about trends in ready-to-wear and how to wear them. Now let’s layer in shoes and accessories. Since shoes are a vice for most women, let’s start there. I love all the natural fibers that they come in this time of year — raffia, jute, wood and cork. Espadrilles in flats or wedges are a “must have” this spring. In a flat style, bring in a bright color or print, while with a wedge, the options are countless — strappy, mixed with patent leather, peep toe, sling back, ankle strap and great neutral colors like olive, ivory, black and nude/natural. Espadrilles are a classic for this time of year, and they go with everything (they also usually offer a more reasonable price point). It doesn’t matter what style you choose, just make sure you have at least one in your shoe assortment. Playful color is big in the world of shoes, as well. Beautiful shades like greens, tans, reds, blues, silver and my personal favorite: multi-colored python. This combo of print and color is really something to savor. A pair of sassy heels, white denim and any colorful top will give you your spring uniform. My “foundation shoe” is a simple, flat sandal in a tan or nude (Tory Burch’s “Emmy” is my favorite). If you like flats, this shoe can be paired with all: maxi/sundress, jeans, shorts, skirts — you name it, it can be worn with these. Going on vacation and need to pack light? This shoe will cover most of your needs. Hanging here in San Diego, you will slip them on with everything — I promise. Now that we have tackled shoes, let’s move on to accessories. This last layer of dressing is so important and a great way to let your personality shine through. It pulls your look together, so don’t skip it! Chandelier earrings are all the rage right now and they are coming in every size, color and price point (Banana Republic’s start at $49, Kendra Scott’s start at $70, Ippolita’s start at $250). Wear them long and colorful — they look fabulous with a ponytail, short summer ’do or with your hair down. Further along in jewelry, cocktail or statement rings are my obsession — I wear one everyday. I have all kinds, from Shopbop to estate pieces to David Yurman — you can mix and match designer with costume and no one will know. My other accessory “must haves” are bangles and cuffs. Sleeves are short or nonexistent this time of year so give your arms some candy to highlight their tan. With bangles, I usually wear two to three in different colors, sizes, prints, etc. Cuffs are usually on the larger size, so one is enough. Speaking of arm candy, we could not talk about spring accessories without mentioning the oversize clutch. I love a handbag with attitude, and what better than the clutch for some of that? If you don’t already have a clutch in your handbag collection then you need to work on that first! Once you have a solid basic (metallic, tan, nude, black), you can pursue this trend. Do a bold color, print or natural material. Since we are talking about a handbag, don’t be surprised by some of the price tags. I hope this helps you put the finishing touches on your spring wardrobe. Don’t be afraid to experiment with color, prints and scale. Remember, clothes and accessories are about having fun and being creative, so go for it. Until next time, happy shopping! Have a couture quandary or a burning question about your wardrobe? Write to Sabrina at [email protected] for answers to all your fashion dilemmas. — Sabrina Heft has been a fashion consultant in San Diego for several years. Along with consulting, she is the creative director and lead stylist for The Gap at UTC.
