Striped shirts have been making people dizzy all season long and most of us have already added one or two to our summer wardrobes.  So far, I've been pairing my striped shirts with skinny jeans or white shorts and focusing on my 'about-to-board-my-sailboat' look.  I loved this graphic Isaac Mizrahi look from his Spring 2010 runway and thought this pretty striped shirt with epaulette details, dressy shorts and funky bootie sandals were a fresh and edgy new take on stripes, perfect for those days when you want to look relaxed but still maintain a bit of polish.  This gorgeous tote from Banana Republic is a worthy investment and will transition perfectly into the minimalist looks that are so predominant for summer and fall.  Is it just me or are there way too many cute shoes out there this year?!

Romper Room

Twenty8Twelve, Marion Cotillard at Cannes Film Festival 2010, Stella McCartney Spring 2010 Runway

Fashion has a tendency to walk a very fine line, often daring women to attempt trends that, if worn incorrectly, can make them look completely ridiculous.  When faced with the jumpsuit trend, what's a grown woman to do?  Should we run quickly the other way, not wanting to revisit our onesie days of infanthood?  Or, should we follow the lead of our favourite Hollywood A-listers and jump right in?

Rompers make getting dressed a cinch:  simply throw on a belt, some dangly earrings and you're ready to play.  Now, going to the bathroom?  That, my friends, is where fashion starts to seriously get in the way of function.  This trend has been building for several seasons now and is still going strong.  I love the way Marion Cotillard rocked her romper at Cannes last month and she's actually made me consider giving this style a second chance.  If you haven't tried it already, will you go for the jumpsuit this summer?

Real Life Runway Tip:  Short rompers, in my humble opinion, are designed for the young and/or super thin.  Since I'm over 30 and far from rake-like, I would opt for longer styles (ie. below mid-thigh) for the most flattering, age-appropriate effect.  Also, never underestimate the power of the belt if you want to avoid drowning in a sea of shapeless fabric. 

Take a look at some of these pretty little numbers and if you just can't bring yourself to go there, check out the last two adorable rompers from babyGap for any little ones in your life:

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Taking the Plunge

Image courtesy Condé Nast

With summer arriving so early this year, I've already put away all of my winter coats and started to take stock of my summer wardrobe.  Those little Lycra-filled things that sit untouched for 8 months in my closet might be the tiniest, but they certainly make up a massive part of my emotional wardrobe baggage.  Though picking the right bathing suit is no day at the beach, I've compiled a shopping list of do's and don'ts that will help make finding your swimsuit soulmate a breeze.  Whether you're flat as a diving board, muffin-topped or have junk-in-your-trunk, fear not, fellow fashionistas, there is a bather out there just waiting to embrace your lovely lady lumps.

Try some of these tricks, courtesy of InStyle, when you're out swimsuit shopping:

If you're CURVY:

Choose: Choose suits with lots of coverage, underwires and built-in cups to support your bust and high-cut leg openings to elongate your gams

Avoid:  Suits that don't offer support or are too tight

Tips: Try wrap styles or overall patterns and accentuate your waist with belts or diagonals

If you have BROAD SHOULDERS:

Choose:  Scoop necklines that lengthen your torso and vertical, elongating details such as diagonals or chevron patterns

Avoid: Bandeau styles, racerback & halter necklines

Tips:  Straps should be wide and hit mid-shoulder

If you have a FULL BUST:

Choose: Built-in cups/underwires and wide, adjustable straps, fabrics with a high lycra content

Avoid: Suits that lack support or coverage and suits with belts

Tips: Try halter suits or wrap-style bathers with built-in support, use details like shirring and draping on your lower half to draw eyes downward

If you have a SMALL BUST:

Choose: String bikinis and other soft styles, bra-type tops with underwires or light padding

Avoid:  Obvious padding in cups that you can't fill out

Tips:  Use bright colours, interesting necklines and details at the top of your suit to give the illusion of a larger bust

If you have a TUMMY:

Choose:  Vertical details like v-necks, piping, patterns or seams and suits with built-in tummy-control panels

Avoid: Anything that cuts the body horizontally and too-tight bikini bottoms that dig into your stomach

Tips:  Shirring at the waist, tankinis and wrap styles can camouflage your belly.  Draw the eye upwards with v-necks and strap details

If you have a LARGE BOTTOM:

Choose:  Suits that draw the eye up with details, shirring or bright colours

Avoid:  Too much detail at the bottom and near hips, skirted styles

Tips: Use v-necks and vertical stripes, prints or patterns to elongate your torso.  Try strapless styles to create a strong horizontal line, look for dark side panels on the bottom and full-piece maillots for more bottom coverage 

When beach season finally arrives each year, the eternal optimist in me imagines that this is going to be the summer:  the one where I resolve to run boot-camp-style drills up the hill near my house, the one where I can finally say no to chocolate, the one where Cameron Diaz will see my kick-ass, toned body and be so envious that she can't even act her way out of looking jealous.  The heat of summer brings to light the realization that we will have to eventually ditch the cover-up and show ourselves to the world (or at the very least, our friends) and though most of us love the lazy, hazy endless-possibility days that lie ahead, we can't help but be a little bit stressed about it when we reach into our closets each morning.  With our second baby arriving in a few weeks, I have a new summer resolution to embrace that I'm hoping will take some of my body-consciousness to a land far, far away.  This summer, I am going to have fun with fashion.  I will dare to wear brights like I've never done before, I will don fun, happy prints instead of always sticking within the safety of solids, and yes, I will dress like a surf-girl rockstar like the models at Proenza Schouler even though I've never caught a single wave.  The pressure's officially off - now go have some fun with fashion!  Oh, and if you see Cam, tell her that I'll see her on the beach next summer.   Real Life Runway Tip:  The surfer-chic looks seen at Proenza Schouler incorporated tonnes of neon-brights, tie-dye and tribal prints.  Pick a fun, printed skirt (this one from Forever 21 comes pre-belted) and pull out the brights with your accessories.  Laid-back, sporty and far from serious...the perfect M.O for summer. 

Happy Friday to you all, and don't forget the sunscreen!

Bringing Sex and the City Back (Again)

For everyone who's followed the lives and loves of our fave four independent women from SATC, Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha, Sex and the City 2 opens today!  It's guaranteed to be shallow, weak-plotted and predictable.  It's also absolutely guaranteed to be full of fabulous Patricia Field fashion, killer accessories and naturally, a criminal number of Manolo-clad feet.   Wouldn't you love to spend the day with that wardrobe department?  Oh, and second, is anyone looking for a babysitting gig tonight so I can go? 

For those of you who'd rather skip the movie and get right to the goods, here are some of the over-the-top outfits the girls will be wearing:

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