Summertime is all about being as carefree, uninhibited and, of course, stylish as possible.  No longer covered up by heavy parkas and boots, the coming months leave us blissfully free to leave the house to enjoy the beach, park or patio wearing nothing more than a pretty dress and cute shoes.   Wedges, especially those with cork, wood or rope soles are one the best shoe options to indulge in this season.  Sexier than a flat and more practical than a pump, the wedge allows you to be a few inches taller without sacrificing your ability to walk.  And that, as Martha Stewart has always said, is a very good thing.  

Clutch Much?

Fashion East, Carolina Herrera, Anna Sui, Spring 2010 - photos courtesy style.com

There is absolutely nothing practical about a clutch.  It's so tiny that it can barely contain your Blackberry, keys and lipgloss.  It requires, as the name implies, a hand to hold it as no strap can save it from disastrous falls.  There is, nonetheless, something impossibly ladylike about carrying something so useless and pretty.  I equate it to a man's tie:  totally impractical, a bit of a pain, but somehow essential to finishing off a look.  The spring runways were rife with gorgeous clutches in every possible pattern, fabric and closure.  Luckily, you will find no shortage of similarly stunning options in nearly every store this season.  The clutches shown above complemented the models' outfits but you can also go for a pared-down minimalist look (which is incredibly chic right now...see Celine's Spring 2010 show for a crash course) and use a clutch as your showpiece.

These jewels are some of the prettiest, and would perfectly accomodate the little money required to bring them home:

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Look Ma, No Hands!

C-wise from top L: Louis Vuitton, Tory Burch, LV, Marc Jacobs, Spring 2010 - photos courtesy style.com

Everything has gone hands-free these days, leaving us to drive, carry our lattes and/or children relatively unencumbered.  The latest to follow the trend?  Handbags, of course.  For an everyday tote, it is so nice to be able to throw everything over one shoulder and forget about it.  At Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton and Tory Burch, the bags ran the gamut from tiny to massive.  I personally like the idea of a smaller version for summer frolicking.  Does anyone else feel as though there's not nearly enough time devoted to frolicking?  And if you're thinking of long-term appeal, the cross-body was all over the Fall 2010 runways so you can rest assured that it will have staying power for at least another season.  Real Life Runway Tip: This utility chic look contrasts perfectly with spring's ultra-feminine styles so don't be afraid of wearing this bag with a skirt or even a ruffled summer dress.  It is a much less obvious, much more interesting fashion choice than a proper, feminine handbag.  I'll visit the cross-body's polar opposite next week with my favourite cute clutches for all of the summer parties I'm hoping to attend.  Hint, hint.

Here are some chic finds that won't put too much stress on your credit card:

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Update on Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 10:18PM by realliferunway

Check out my facebook site for a 25% off coupon at Roots, valid on everything in-store and online between now and April 26th!