Spring sure is taking it's funky sweet time getting here, especially in Cleveland where it is slightly snowing as I type this! That's ok, because spring is all about light layers and transitioning pieces- most of which you already have in your closet.  I have broken down clothing categories and labeled them as classic, modern or wild card. Classics are basic items that you more than likely already have deep in your drawers or in the back of your closet, modern pieces are updated versions of the classics- still easy to wear and adds an update to your look, and the wildcard pieces are what you would need to take your style game to level 10. Use this guide to build your spring capsule wardrobe and you will have an endless number of outfit ideas to take you through summer and well into fall!

Tops
Classic- A graphic tee is more versatile than you think- try it with a pair of trousers or a cute skirt for a fresh spin.
Wildcard- Try a blouse in a fresh spring pastel color that you normally would not wear.  Pair it with jeans or ankle pants and flats for a casual but polished look.
Modern- A sleeveless blouse with a small print is perfect for layering under light sweaters, dresses, and crop tops. It's also a great starting point for mixing prints.

Dresses:
Modern- A striped day dress is an awesome one piece outfit that you can dress up or down by switching out your accessories. You can also experiment with a circle skirt on top of the dress for more options.
Classic- A little black dress is something you should own for impromptu get-togethers and other VIP events where you need to dress to impress. Add color with shoes and accessories and wear it with gold, silver and bronze shoes and accessories at night.
Wildcard- A bold printed dress throws an extra jolt of color into your wardrobe and brightens up your whole look. Wear it at night with ultra feminine accessories and high heels, or make it a super casual day time look with a jean jacket and a pair of flats.

Jackets:
Modern-  A kimono is perfect for those chill days when you need a lil something extra on your arms and one more voila' piece to complete your basic tee and jeans combo. Don't be afraid to try it over skirts and dresses too!
Wildcard- A black blazer is a must have for sure, but update your look with a blazer in a bold, bright color! You will be surprised at how new your wardrobe looks when you throw a colorful blazer into the mix.
Classic- A denim jacket- light or dark- is a timeless classic for a reason. It's like the LBD of jackets and looks good with everything from dresses to skirts to- well- jeans!

Pants
Classic- Find yourself a pair of white or light denim, straight or skinny leg jeans and give a perfect spring look with a white t- shirt, sandals and silver accessories.
Modern- Cropped black pants will look great with any type of shirt and gives you to the chance to show off a killer pair of shoes and ankle jewelry!
Wildcard- You will see more flared and wide leg pants in stores this fall, so get a head start and find a pair in a dark wash/color and try them with everything you own for a cool '70s rock star vibe.

Skirts:
Classic- If you don't own a dark floral skirt already, then this is the perfect opportunity to thrift shop because they have racks (on racks on racks on racks) of them! Make the moody florals Instagram worthy by pairing the skirt with a crop top and sneakers- add a jean jacket and push the sleeves up. Now get somebody to take a full body pic!
Modern- A denim skirt will take you from coffee to cocktails and back again.  As versatile as your fave pair of jeans and just as easy to wear- try it with your printed blouse, a basic tee shirt and even over a dress to really stretch your options.
Wildcard- A skirt with a bold in your face print is a great stand alone statement piece for when you need to Give A Look without much effort. Get more wear out of it by trying it out with different tops, jackets and shoes.

Shoes
Black flat sandals- They can be any length or style- knee high, gladiator, strappy, but black flat sandals will tone down your most colorful outfits and chic'en up the most basic ones...
Colorful flats- Add a pop of color with a pointy toe flat shoe in a bright color or pattern. Even the most boring jeans and tee combo can benefit from a dose of color.
Mid heel block sandal- Comfortable, stylish and gives you a little height, the block sandal is perfect when you want to do a little, but not too much...
Show stopper heels- Splurge on the most outrageous pair of high heeled sandals that you can walk comfortably in and wear them unexpectedly. Try them with a cute blouse and jean shorts, or a solid colored sheath dress and a handbag...
Metallic sandals- Doesn't matter if they are gold, silver, bronze or a mix of all three, but you need these to act as a neutral for an outfit that is hard to pair shoes with. You know the ones i'm talking about-  black looks too heavy, and colors never tend to match up just right- get them in different styles and never have that problem again!
Colorful tennis shoes- Find a cute pair of tennis shoes that will keep you looking stylish for those days when you can't even... Throw them on with jeans of course, but also try it with your dresses and skirts for a cool street style combination...

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Michelle Obama looked amazing rocking her custum Jason Wu frock at last night's  state dinner for Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau! The floor length midnight blue dress featured the same floral design and jaquard material as the shorter versions seen on Wu's fall 2016 runway, but was specially made into the strapless asymetrical model you see above.

I love how she let her dress and hair shine- no gaudy accessories needed. When it comes to a maxi dress of any type, less is more when dealing with jewelry and other accessories as Mrs. Obama proves! What do you think of Michelle Obama's look? Haute or Not?

Crop tops were all the rage last season, but now it's all about cropped pants, and ankle jeans, so let's discuss three ways you can wear this trend:

1. Wear now with a bulky sweater or tee and blazer; add short booties and show a sliver of skin while we wait on the cold weather to turn. Throw on a shoulder or crossbody style bag and you are ready to hang with the girls for a day of shopping.

2. Wear the pants during the summer with a striped crop top or a sleeveless tunic for a sleek silhouette. Add a floral clutch and sandals, or a metallic heel and a bright lip for a lunch date or #summerdatenightwithbae.

3. Wear them when winter comes back around by pairing them with high heeled boots and a turtleneck. Pile on gold or silver accessories and add a floppy hat and chandelier earrings for a chic winter look.

So yes, go ahead and invest in a good pair of ankle pants or jeans because they can and will carry you through the seasons. What I love about this trend is that it gives you the ability to play with proportion in the most effortless way! Still need help figuring it all out? Then email me for a consultation and let me help you get your wardrobe together!

Urban Rose: Makeup brand Urban Decay has announced Orange is the New Black actress Ruby Rose as their new spokesperson. The 29 year old Australian model, DJ, former MTV VJ, and radio host is another awesome choice for the brand who just recently finished up a collaboration with Gwen Stefani and her signature red lip. Rose seems Ike a good fit for the alternative beauty brand who "spreads the gospel of self expression, color addiction and beauty with an edge." The self described gender fluid androgynous star definitely has an edge, is a huge proponent for LGBT rights and seems like a good fit for the brand with a representative describing the partnership, "Everything Urban Decay does is feminine, dangerous, and fun — and with her badass look, f***-it attitude and playful spirit, Ruby nails what that means to us."

Good Man Style: Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has a clothing line called the "Good Man Brand" and IT is available at Nordstrom and online. Prices range from $78 for a tee to $348 for shoes with three dollars going to the Why Not You Foundation. Wilson is no fashion guy and he knows it- but the collection is made for "the 27 year old guy dating someone out their league who needs to go out on a date," says the guy dating pop singer Ciara. And don't expect him to model any of the looks either "I have a day job", Wilson states. No word on whether the clothes can be worn with Gucci flip flops or not lol. Pieces are for sale at shop.nordstrom.com.

The Cat's Meow: You can now smell exactly how flame haired editor Grace Coddington wants you to smell with the debut of Grace by Grace Coddington, the perfume she has in collaboration with Comme des Garcons.  The fragrance drops on April 19th and the scent is a mixture of Amber crystal- spiked Moroccan rose absolute along with peach blossom and white musk. Coddington says the smell was inspired by her mother's rose garden growing up and the Red Rose perfume she wore in her early modeling days. An avid lover of cats, the head of the bottle is designed to look like on and was sketched by Grace herself. The former creative director of Vogue stepped down in January, but has been busy working on side projects including a film adaption of her memoir and a coffee table book due out soon. So you can basically have a small piece of this icon whose career in fashion has spanned over 6 decades!

Boss Chic: America's first self made millionaire was a Black woman by the name of Madame CJ Walker. There are so many misconceptions about her- like how she invented a "magical hair growing ointment" and the hot comb- when in reality she just perfected them and was more of a marketing and business minded genius. You can read more about Madame Walker's life here... But none of this takes away from her legacy and every single black woman entrepreneur has her to thank for paving the way and now some  100 years later black hair care is big business with everybody is cashing in- including Sephora. The Madame C.J. Walker Beauty Culture will debut four collections to be sold exclusively at Sephora starting March 4th, and will "focus on cleansing, treatment and styling, each item in the line will nourish, condition, detangle and seal in moisture while also addressing scalp issues". The lines will have shampoos, conditioners, co-washes, gels, and creams among other things and will use no silicones, only natural oils to keep hair shiny and healthy. Madame's great granddaughter A'Leila Bundles, weighed in stating, "Madam C.J. Walker Beauty Culture is taking what Madam Walker envisioned more than 100 years ago to a fresh, new level with products and formulas I believe she may have imagined for the 21st century." Well I saw the prices and may have to sit this one out lol...

Not only is bad gal RiRi on the cover of British Vogue's April issue that drops next Thursday, but it was also announced that the star is dropping a limited edition capsule collection with beloved shoe designer Manolo Blahnik! The denim covered sandals, pumps, booties and thigh highs are embellished with sequins and embroidery that are inspired by the singer's hand tattoos and will range in price from $767 to $3500.  The shoes will be available in Manolo Blahnik stores in Hong Kong, New York and  London on May 5th.

Excited about the collection, Rihanna said in a press release: “The day I see a woman in the street wearing my shoes... I am sorry for that woman because I’m going to literally run after her, shouting, ‘Stop! Selfie! Who are you? Where did you get them?’ I’m going to have a moment!”

This limited edition collection with Blahnik is right on the heels of her design partnership with German sneaker brand Puma- the Fenty X Puma collection she showed at NYFW last month, and shortly after it was revealed that Rihanna is the most marketable celebrity. It's not hard to tell from successful collaborations with brands like Dior, Armani, Stance, River Island, MAC and others- music,  fashion, beauty and now footwear, that Rihanna reign just won't let up for real lol.

On Sunday, April 24, 2015 I hopped on board with Design Lab designer, D.Hayes and our resident creative director, Kise Johnson to show Hayes latest collection, Dark Odyssey at Ohio State University. Watch the video below to get into the talented Mr. Hayes...