For Seller

By: Alexandra Lampert

Since last fall I have anxiously awaited the arrival of spring. Don’t get me wrong, I adore skiing in the Alps and the Rocky mountains and wrapping up in cashmere by the fire. But this year, I must admit, each time I pull on my ski pants, I am secretly longing for spring. I can hardly wait to wear those adorable "Hepburnesque" dresses and enjoy being a girl, no matter what my age, and I am not telling!

I am thinking about making dresses the main theme of my spring/summer wardrobe this year. I will be jetting here and there as usual and will need simplistic elegance which easily takes me from days of shopping in Paris, to dinner on the Riviera, hot New York days and even hotter Palm Beach nights. I know what a rough life! What could be easier, just throw a dress on and you look polished! Dress it up or down for the occasion with your accessories choice. Low-healed sandals show off perfectly pedicured toenails for day and can be easily substituted with a heal in the evening. If you want to look "ultra-trendy", carry an oversized bag during the day. Beware, however, that trend will surely be short lived and you may end up regretting a large investment, unless, of course, you have money to burn. Just be sure to put it away in its sleeper bag after 6:00 pm.

Evenings become so much more casual in the spring, though that in no way gives permission to neglect style, darling! Think casual elegance. The beautiful white dresses almost rival the little black dress this spring, and I plan to indulge in this trend.

I intend to skip the oversized handbag trend unless I get tired of my carry-on. If those huge oversized handbags overwhelm you as much as they do my small frame, why not have a look at the new lady-like collection from Jennifer Marvin, Paris. I will personally be carrying the red to-die-for bag she named "Chloé" after her little blonde daughter. It is going to look gorgeous and individual with my trendy neutrals and whites. Jennifer’s loyal following of "Jet-Set ladies who lunch" have enjoyed her one-of-a-kind; custom made creations for years and getting on her waiting list has done nothing short of adding to their mystique and desirability. This summer, she has enlisted the aid of some of finest French artisans to expand her line to include exquisite leathers lined in spare-no-expense iridescent silks. Have a look for yourself at www.jennifermarvin.com shhhhhhh"¦it is our secret! Thankfully they are a little pricy, even though they are worth every penny, if they weren’t everyone would have one!

Luckily, Jennifer is still doing her famous wedding gowns, and adorable made to measure dresses in her Paris studio. Word to the wise, make your appointments soon. The waiting list is filling up again as spring time lingers oh so near. She has teamed up with the couturier Lorna Greg who has also worked with the great Carl Lagerfeld among others. It is hardly surprising considering her "only the finest will do" design philosophy. Rumor has it Jen is under contract with an exquisite accessories house in New York and has been jetting off to Italy overseeing the creation of her first line of exotics. Reliable sources tell me it is due be released this fall. I can’t wait!

Growing up means picking and choosing your trends according to your refined sense of elegance. With a little experience I have learned that wearing too many labels and mixing too many current fads only makes the well meaning fashionista seem insecure, and, frankly, makes us look a bit ridiculous. True style is individual and comes only from knowing your true self. This spring, we have plenty of delicious trends to pick and chose from! Indulge from the heart! Happy shopping!

Columnist Alexandra Lampert is a self-proclaimed practical-fashionista who shares her time between the world’s most intriguing cities but claims Paris as her home. alexandra_lampert@yahoo.com
http://alexandralampert.blogspot.com/