APPAREL

There is a fine line between retro antique and fully outdated. City women usually aren’t fans of anything that resembles anything found in a rural double-wide, but apparently designers draw inspiration anywhere. Leave it to Chanel, Dolce & Gabanna, Charles David and Marni to make an outdated folksy trend less reminiscent of your grandmother’s doilies and more suited to compliment summer’s boho chic style.

To avoid appearing frumpy or from Kentucky, pair crocheted tops, sweaters and even dresses with mile-high Dolce Vita wedges or perfect fitting James skinny jeans. Let the piece speak for itself rather than accessorizing with a crochet bag, necklace or scarf. Pay close attention to the craftsmanship and color scheme. Designers like Chanel (left) have used bright accents to give grandma-inspired sweaters and dresses a contemporary edge. Feeling weary of the full on grandma-inspiration, try a dress with crochet detailing like the sleeves or neckline on a fun Free People frock (center). For options galore, visit the retail’s queen of folksy-chic, Anthropologie. If apparel is just too much for you to stomach, opt for a crocheted bracelet or necklace (right) or fun summer handbag. You never know, it might be just the amount of old to make you feel wise.
 

Emma Dinzebach

Tribal influences pranced down the runway at Galliano and Lanvin, and not just the Paris runways. Spring’s Manoush dresses and Laurence Helle’s lovely blouses are alsp tribally inspired and making the brink of summer the perfect time to listen to the call of the wild.

From tribal punk to tribal chic, there are several ways to pull off the earthy and exotic look. Anyone can embrace their inner African Queen by accessorizing with Alexander McQueen’s Large Tribal Scarf. Pair it with a printed dress, your favorite bomber jacket or denim shorts.  If you have an extra $1,600, you might wan to consider blowing it on Louboutin’s “it” shoe of the season. The Ulona platforms have geometric shapes with thick gold straps and make you feel like a real African Queen.
For styles that won’t break the bank, American Apparel’s Afrika print dress and Top Shop’s Geo Graphic Maxi dress are affordable options and easily paired with last year’s gladiator sandals. Jonesing for authenticity? Max Osterweis spent a decade collecting fabrics in Kenya before launching his Africa-inspired line Suno. Suno’s separates are wearable art and beautifully handmade in the homeland.

   
Emma Dinzebach

Goodbye color block and hello prints. That which we have been anticipating since October has arrived and is blooming, blazing and meowing like a Saharan cheetah. Forget every rule you thought you knew about prints (no polka on polk, never polka with stripes) because the dizzying world of fabric is going where no micro floral has gone before.

Traditional pattern lovers like Pucci and Etro rejoiced as spring saw micro floral popping up everywhere. Joining with their own multi-colored geometrics were designers like Matthew Williams, Diane von Furstenburg and Max Azria. For day, choose dresses that allow for movement and foster grace. For evening, add some definition to your figure with bandage styles and shorter hemlines (right).

For ideas on how to mix and match prints this spring, look to fashion maven Rachel Zoe who says that it is first important to pick a color scheme and stick with it. Beyond that, pretty much anything goes. Tribal prints and geometrics are natural pairs. Stripes and dots are a go. So mix and match and take a walk on the wild side.

Emma Dinzebach

Sometimes boho lends itself to country. This season’s cowboys are cowgirls, and their apparel isn’t really right for mucking the hay. In addition to our fringed leather boots and favorite fringed satchel, spring’s necessities give way to how the west was really one. And you don’t have to be Miley Cyrus to wear them.

With corsets galore, girly gingham, polkadot prints and many ways to wear denim, denim and more denim. From the top down, casual denim bustiers are all the rage for tops. They hold in your love handles while showing off your yoga-toned back. Styles with ruffles at the bottom make women with less-than-tone tummies feel more comfortable. Top Shop has several versions in denim, lace and lovely ruffles. Roll up the sleeve on your clean button up tops and use them to pair with this season’s denim. DKNY Jeans Jr. has ripped white denim skinnies for just $69 or for a grayer shade, opt for AG’s stilt cigarette jean. In shorts, daisy dukes get a makeover. Don’t throw out your old cut offs, but consider purchasing a pair with cleaner lines, detailed edges or a higher waist.

Eyelet lace and ruffles offset the boyish feel of ankle boots and cowboy hats and frumpy feel of moccasins, so go ahead and mix your girly and lacy pieces with your denim and boots. Simple dresses and that old cardigan can be spiced up with western waist belts and denim vests. Add in some turquoise jewelry to top off your look, and show your neighbor how to walk the line.

Emma Dinzebach