fit for a princess

I, like many others, was slightly obsessed with the Royal Wedding—I may have had dinner at an English restaurant the night before, and I may have risen bright-eyed at 5 a.m. to soak it all in. And I wasn't disappointed. The whole affair was absolutely magical!

--Nat

I loved Princess Catherine's dress. Sarah Burton, head designer for Alexander McQueen, knocked it out of the park. The dress was classy and elegant with a hint of sexy. It was perfect for showcasing Catherine's natural beauty without overwhelming her. And doesn't William look quite dashing in uniform? 

And let's not forget Pippa, who was also in a Sarah Burton design. While I wasn't crazy about the use of a fabric that wrinkled so easily, I loved how the silhouette flattered her body. 

And we can't talk Royal Wedding without showing a few shots of the fabulous (and some wacky) hats. Who else is in the market for a fascinator? 

maxi dresses for all

Maxi dresses are a great option this season for both day and evening wear. And no matter what your size or proportions are, you can wear them. Promise! Going super long is something every lady can pull off this season.

Petite Women

• Lengthen and elongate your figure with a V neckline
• For some added height, add a heel or wedge
• To avoid looking swallowed by the dress, make sure you have a more structured silhouette. Opt for a dress that either hugs well on your body or one that has a defined waist, such as an empire. You can also wrap a belt around the thinnest part of your torso to cinch in and give shape to a flowy dress. 
• Shy away from horizontal and large prints, as they will dominate your small figure. 

Plus-size Women

• While you can easily pull off medium to large prints, dark solid colors like navy, olive, and black can also slim you down 
• Long dresses work well with this frame as it conceals large legs and waist
• If you have a wide or big bust, look for a maxi dress that has a thick strap or halter top
• Fitted (but not clingy) maxi dresses are your friends. Anything too loose will just make you appear boxy or bigger
• Look for dresses that have a v-neck, as they will help create a vertical line down your body
• Bring out your natural waistline by accessorizing with a colored belt around the thinnest part of your waist

--C

spring jackets for men

It's FINALLY warming up here in NYC but going sans outerwear is still in the not-too-distant future. Guys, we love a great spring jacket to add another layer of fashion to your look. Right now it's all about bomber and moto styles—classic silhouettes with small pops of personality.

Here are some men's jackets that I'm hoping to get my husband in this spring.

--Nat

John Varvatos ($798)

Barbour: $420

Ben Sherman: $129

celeb looks: you weigh in

Celebrities often are the fashion leaders that the rest of us follow. Sometimes they make us swoon. Other times, their fashions leave us confused. Here are some recent celeb looks. What you rock it or toss it?

Eva Longoria in a navy short suit. 

Naomi Watts in flowing Chanel

Carrie Underwood in an embellished Mandalay dress. 

wedge fetish

Wedges are running rampant this season and in just about every style: retro platform, boho espadrille, and the classy and strappy. Wedges work wonders as they lengthen those legs of yours and let you traipse around town without the discomfort of your 5-inch pumps.

These are a few of the wedges on my summer shoe list.

--C

Elizabeth and James, Prim, $250

Calvin Klein, Jennifer, $128

Jessica Simpson, Tamandy, $89

Very Volatile, Majorca, $49

fashion for a cause

As some of you may know, World Water Week begins today!

If you aren't familiar with the initiative, you definitely should check out UNICEF's 2011 Tap Project video. In Short, WWW helps raise money for under-developed countries that don't have access to clean drinking water. It's an initiative that has gotten a lot of support in the last few years—something that I support wholeheartedly, and an initiative that even the top fashion designers are supporting.

Giorgio Armani has said that he would prove 100 liters of drinking water for children every time someone buys one of his two fragrances. I don't think you have any better excuse to treat yourself to a new fragrance than this!

Another way you can participate in World Water Week is by visiting restaurants and donating $1 for a glass of water you would normally drink for free. See here for participating restaurants.

As Mr. Armani says, "Water is such a simple word—but like all simple words it has a profound significance."

go bold!

Spring officially starts in 5 days, and NYC is supposed to reach the 60s this weekend! I plan to show my giddiness and thanks to Mother Nature by embracing one of this sprint's trends: bold prints!

If you want to get crazy and mix your prints, here are a couple of tips for making it work for your everyday style.

1. Make sure the colors are in the same color family or are the same intensity
2. Make one of your patterns dominant. Two bold patterns will compete too much with each other

--Nat

Prada

Moschino

Suno

color blocking

There are many hot trends this summer: 70s-inspired trousers, sky-high wedges, and crochet to name a few. But if you've been following the runway shows, there is one trend taking over: color, color color! And the brighter the better!

The best thing about this trend is that it can be utilized instantly with a simple mix and match of your wardrobe.

A few things to keep in mind when styling:
1. Don't pair colors that look too similar. You want some sort of contrast.
2. Keep the contrasting colors of the same intensity. You won't want to pair pastel green grousers with a hot pink cardigan.

We know this trend won't be for everyone, but if you're having a drab day, incorporate a burst of color through your accessories.

--C

Timo Weiland

Rachel Roy

Martin Grant

Jil Sander

Tory Burch