Dress the Rainbow: Red

When I was a little girl, my favorite book was an old children's book called "Ann Likes Red." Ann was a little girl whose mother took her shopping, and on each page, the mother asked a question like, "Would you like a blue dress, Ann?" or "Would you like a green hat, Ann?", and Ann would answer, "No, a red dress," or "No, a red hat," and then the book would repeat the refrain, "Red, red, red. Ann likes red." I also happen to like red, very much, so my husband often teases me with this refrain. And when I mentioned to him that I was writing a series on spring fashion divided by colors, he immediately asked, "Will there be one on red?" I don't generally associate the color red with spring clothes, but since he asked so nicely, I couldn't say no. So here are the best spring fashions I could find in shades of red!

Delicate, light-colored floral print on a darker background is great for early spring, as in his A New Day short sleeve maxi sundress ($35 at Target) in red floral. The wrap bodice, raised waistline, and flared short sleeves give a warm weather feel without being as summery as a flowery sundress. Pair with a coordinating light blue or pale yellow cardigan and a straw tote bag for a cheery but cozy spring look. 

A solid red skirt, like this Nine West satin high waisted midi skirt ($35 at Kohl's) in fashion red, doesn't feel overly springy - unless you pair it with a pale colored blouse with a floral print including a touch of red and sandals with a subtle red hue.   

Feminine flutter sleeves and a touch of lace give this T Tahari printed flutter sleeve blouse ($24 at Bloomingdale's) in hibiscus red a real spring vibe. Pair with print crop pants and cute slides, or a tan pencil skirt, a coordinating print blazer, and low heels with a hint of embellishment. 

Trim, narrow leg pants like these Travelers no tummy pants ($24 at Chico's) in red allure look great with lightweight, flowy tops like a peasant blouse, or with a sleeveless striped sweater, or even with a plain white tee, a denim jacket, and a great necklace.  

This floral seamed sleeve tie neck blouse ($42 at The Loft) in Rio red would look great with the above pants, or with a soft grey skirt and ballet flats. 

You really don't need much to accessorize this cute Danny & Nicole sleeveless floral lace dress ($25 at JC Penney) in paprika cream: Cream ankle-strap shoes and a matching bag, maybe even a coordinating kettlebrim hat!   

This sleeveless London Times ruffled chiffon maxi dress ($99 at Kohl's) in red white feels summery until you add on a long cardigan or a lightweight cropped jacket in oatmeal or ivory rather than pure white. 

When you mix red with a neutral, like the tan in this SoSoft lite pointelle cardigan ($28 at Old Navy) in red stripes, it's easy to pair it with a skirt or pants in a matching neutral, and you can even add a camisole or tank underneath for a pop of a softer color like soft yellow or ice blue. 

A pop of bright color in a bag, like this On 34th Dyanne solid saddle bag ($80 at Macy's) in rhubarb can transform your winter wardrobe into spring. Try pairing it with your winter gray suit pants and a crisp cotton dress shirt with a bit of a pattern or texture. 

Red sandals like these East 5th Neville peep toe block heel pumps ($48 at JC Penney) in scarlet red are a great way to add a pop of cheery color into an outfit with a lot of neutrals or darker colors, like navy pants with a light blue button-down shirt. Add a scarf mixing a little red with your neutral or a floral print bag to tie it all together visually. 

Red, red, red, we all like red in the spring!

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Dress the Rainbow: Purple and Lavender

Continuing with this blog series, today's colors are...purple and lavender! Let's see what spring styles are currently being featured by both brick-and-mortar and online retailers in those colors. 

An elegant sleeveless top can be worn alone or under a jacket, sweater, or sheer long-sleeved top. This shimmery pleated shell ($79 at White House Black Market) in purple is a great basic piece that can pair equally well with dressy pants or a casual skirt. 

A solid color dress with a simple silhouette like this Nine West belted rib midi dress ($50 at Kohl's) in Wesley purple can be dressed up with a scarf or fancy necklace, or dressed down with a pair of comfy slip-on sandals and a light-wash denim jacket. 

Floral prints are great for spring, and darker patterns like this Travelers floral maxi skirt ($30 at Chico's) in purple nightshade are great for transitioning from the darker colors of your winter wardrobe. Pair with a bright blue blouse and darker pumps when the weather is dreary and with a cheerful light green jersey and tan slides when the sun bursts through. 

Go for pastels with the mid rise Sophia straight pant in linen twill - curvy fit ($35 at Ann Taylor) in lavender latte. Pair with a solid-color purple blouse or sweater, or a floral print jersey, and pick up the soft color in a pretty bag, as well. 

This watercolor floral Bloom pintuck sleeve blouse ($35 at Chico's) in midnight violet is dressy and feminine enough to pair with an ivory full skirt or with a casual pair of ivory straight-cut ankle jeans. Pick up the darker shades of green or purple in a cute pair of sandals or slingbacks. 

Toss a sweet Spindrift cardigan ($40 at Appleseed's) in lavender over a casual striped tee with a light neutral skort for everyday wear or over a silky shell with a scarf and a dressy skirt for an evening out. 

For a truly casual look, wear this linen cotton cropped patch pocket jacket ($40 at The Loft) in pure lavender over wide-leg jeans or denim shorts and a simple white tee or embellished tank. Don't forget to finish your look with some fun coordinating slip-on shoes. 

Dress up your office look by combining the Crosby blazer in tweed plaid ($66 at Ann Taylor) in sunset lavender with a pastel camisole and a grey pencil skirt or dress pants, plus a pair of dressy sandals or ballet flats. 

Transitioning from a black or dark brown winter bag to a lighter neutral or pastel-colored handbag, like this Simply Vera Vera Wang Signature mini crossbody bag ($40 at Kohl's) in purple water floral, definitely gives you the feeling of moving into spring. Wear this casual bag to work with the Nine West dress shown above, or to pickleball with a cute purple skort and a graphic tee. 

Beautiful shoes complete any outfit, like this elegant Contesa satin peep-toe D'Orsay mid heel dressy pump ($30 from Nina's Shoes) in royal lilac. Maybe not quite right with jeans, but with dressy ankle pants or wide-leg trousers and a silky blouse, or with a swirly print skirt. 

Now go get your purple on!

Dress the Rainbow: Green

Green is my favorite color, but spring greens have a lighter and fresher feel than the emeralds and forest greens I've been wearing all winter. Add some mint green, apple green, and avocado green to freshen up your spring wardrobe!

This demure LC Lauren Conrad tie front ruffled V-neck shell ($35 at Kohl's) in valor green features shirred cap sleeves and a front notch neckline with long ribbon ties, and the subtle polka dot print adds texture and visual interest. The print is so subtle you could pair it with a striped skirt or stick with solid colored crop pants. 

A good dressy basic, this jewel-button satin blouse ($50 at Appleseed's) in jolly green works with pale tones like mint green, ivory, or white, but also with prints involving darker greens and blues. Wear tucked into suit pants or loose over a fitted above-the-knee skirt or longer, fuller skirt. 

These cute and casual satin eyelet hem culottes ($35 at Chico's) in verdant green feature a v-shaped waistband and flared legs ending at mid-calf with cut floral details. Wear with casual sandals, kitten-heel slingbacks, or slip-on sneakers. 

This Alexia Admor Hadley pull-on midi skirt ($75 at Kohl's) in green geometric features a darker, tighter print across the fitted hips and wide pleats falling to a fuller skirt in a lighter print. Pair with a solid top in slightly darker green, an ivory short-sleeve sweater, or a dusty rose blouse. 

Go casual in these Liz Claiborne Sara mid rise capris ($39 at JC Penney) in dark forest. Pair with ballet flats or flat sandals and a striped or floral tee. 

A great basic, this St. John's Bay V-neck 3/4-sleeve t-shirt ($8 at JC Penney) in cascade green works with straight-leg jeans or a short print skirt. The unusual color may be hard to match, so look for a print with darker blues and other greens that coordinates rather than matches. 

I love the mix of horizontal and vertical stripes in this Ciebon Vivienne maxi sundress ($39 at Nordstrom Rack) in green multi. Wear it to work with a fitted pullover sweater, a buttoned-up cardigan (see below), or a suit jacket, or for a more casual outing, add a simple shrug or even a plain darker green or denim blue button-down shirt with the tails tied at the waist. 

This lightweight Sonoma Goods for Life open knit cardigan ($35 at Kohl's) in lime kiss can add a splash of fresh color to any casual look, from a jersey and jeans to a t-shirt and a knee-length jersey skirt. Wear it open or closed, or even tied over your shoulders for a retro preppie look. 

Throw your phone, wallet, keys, sunglasses, and whatever else you can't live without into this AmeriLeather casual leather tote bag ($59 at Kohl's) in lime. You'll be prepared for anything, AND you'll be fashionable and springy!

These T-strap sandals ($40 at Chico's) in green mix the casual look of simple flat sandals with the pizzazz of sparkle beading to add a splash of pep to a simple, casual outfit like a t-shirt and skinny jeans or even a nautical jersey and long shorts. 

Dress the Rainbow: Yellow

I'm continuing a series of posts which feature spring clothing and accessories in a particular color. So far, I've done pink and orange/peach. Today's color is...yellow!

Start with the basics with this relaxed Supima cotton crew neck t-shirt ($28 at Lands' End) in simply yellow micro stripe. Great under a cardigan or jacket; paired with shorts, jeans, capris, or an athletic skort; with pure white or as an accent under an aqua, navy, or orange ensemble. 

These fun, loose-fitting JM Collection Linen Blend Printed Pants ($42 at Macy's) in yellow lily sport a cheerful floral print incorporating deep blue and rose pink that you can coordinate with in a top, jacket, or even colorful shoes. 
 

This season-spanning Petal & Pup Sloane tropical print maxi dress ($75 at Nordstrom Rack) in yellow can go under a jacket, shrug, or cardigan in the spring, then wear as a sundress in the summer (with a cute sunhat, of course). 

Pastel jeans are terrific in the spring, like these high-waisted baggy wide-leg jeans ($55 at Old Navy) in yellow. Wear with sneakers, sandals, or ballet flats, and top with a simple tank, floral blouse, or bright sweater or hoodie. 

Another great wardrobe basic is this V-neck pullover sweater ($52 at Chico's) in golden haze. It's slightly loose-fitting, which pairs best with skinny pants or a slim skirt in a floral print or a deeper shade of green, blue, or burgundy.

For dressing up comfortably, look at this & Other Stories Linen Wrap Midi Dress ($55 at Nordstrom Rack) in print. It's high-low ruffled hem shows off your legs, its ruffled wrap emphasizes your curves, and  its deep V-neck and puffed elbow-length sleeves add soft femininity.  

This super-comfy Lascana floral wrap look blouse ($44 at Target) in cream print can be made casual with shorts or capris, suitable for the office with a pencil skirt or wide-leg trousers, or to go out with a swirling full skirt. Match the brighter yellow-orange in the floral print to your bag or shoes to really make the color pop.  

If your office requires a lot of bending and reaching, this tie waist utility skirt - stretch dobby ($65 at Talbots) in washed pear yellow looks professional but feels comfortable. The straight skirt features patch pockets, an above-the-knee hemline, and a self-belt with belt loops so you can swap out a leather belt or a colorful scarf belt that matches your top.  

If you're looking for outerwear, this Squall packable waterproof raincoat ($91 at Lands' End) in simply yellow will cover windy or rainy days, cooler mornings and evenings, and anytime travel when you don't know what the weather will be. And its soft yellow shade looks good on most people!

Set your piggies free in this Logo plate t-strap sandal ($59 at Michael Kors) in daisy yellow. Its simple styling features a few metallic details like buckles, rivets, and a logo plate. These look great with shorts, ankle pants, casual dresses, and with your favorite beach coverup. 

Say "yellow" to spring, because it'll be here before we know it!