1 Flats
The comfort you love meets the flair that you crave with candy colors and fanciful fabrics. Best with capris, sundresses and peasant skirts.
LONDON SOLE
"Low Cut" yellow leather ballet flat with silver trim, $135 (londonsole.com)
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
Kobali gold mesh slingback flat, $595 (Christian Louboutin, 212-396-1884)
CHANEL
Ligne cambon ballet flat, $495 (Bergdorf Goodman, 888-774-2424)
SIGERSON MORRISON
Turquoise suede studded skimmer, $495 (Sigerson Morrison, L.A., 323-655-6133)
DELMAN
"Work" seafoam liberty floral ballet flat, $225 (Plaza Too, 800-972-4179)
KORS MICHAEL KORS
Pewter leather Haley slingback, $220 (zappos.com)
BANANA REPUBLIC
Blue criss-cross ballet fiat, $98 (bananarepublic.com)
KENNETH COLE NEW YORK
"Two-Timer" seafoam pointy-toe flat, $195 (kennethcole.com)
2 Peasant Skirts
Nothing captures spring's mood like the swirl of a peasant skirt. Pull on a short, casual version or a long, layered one. A white tank and thong sandals complete the look.
UMA THURMAN hit the streets of N.Y.C., filming her upcoming movie Prime.
BCBG MAX AZRIA
Silk patterned skirt in Roseberry $138; 888-636-BCBG
BLUE PLATE
Turquoise cotton tiered skirt, $48; blueplatefashion.com
J.CREW
Washed linen femme skirt in key lime, $68; jcrew.com
ODILLE BY ANTHROPOLOGIE
Long tiered skirt with floral print, $148; Anthropologie, 800-309-2500
GINGER BLU
Cotton tie-dyed prairie skirt, $150; Aura, Coral Gables, Fla., 305-444-6744
EXPRESS
Tiered fuchsia prairie skirt, $69.50; Express stores, 877-415-4551
3 Walking Shorts
These aren't golf-course Bermudas—they're a longer, more sophisticated version of the summer standby. A tip for pulling off the new styles: the longer your legs look, the better. So stick with heels or wedges.
HILARY DUFF paired her shorts with pointy-toed pumps.
GWYNETH PALTROW worked the look with wedge lace-up espadrilles.
KATE BOSWORTH went city chic in her pinstripe shorts and spectator pumps.
VELVET BY GRAHAM AND SPENCER
Jardin shorts, $130; Margaret O'Leary, San Francisco, 510-540-8241
BANANA REPUBLIC
Black front-pocket chino, $38; bananarepublic.com
THEORY
Petal stretch canvas in jade, $175; theory.com
RAMPAGE
Khaki shorts with buttoned belt loops, $48; rampage.com
VINCE
Academy-blue Tomboy, $140; Barneys New York, 212-826-8900
GAP
Striped city short, $39.50; gap.com
JUICY
Low-rise Bermuda, $108; Barneys New York, 212-826-8900
AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS
AE striped Bermuda, $39.50; ae.com
4 Two-Tone Bags
Structured bags can have a formal feel to them. But these, in natural fabrics with bright leather accents, are the most versatile of springtime companions. Available in different shapes and sizes, they're perfect for weekends, with polish enough for the office.
MOSCHINO CHEAP & CHIC
Orange leather and beige canvas bag with front pockets, $590 (select Saks Fifth Avenue stores, 877-551-SAKS)
MICHAEL MICHAEL KORS
Aviator two-tone canvas tote with turquoise printed croc trim, $268 (Macy's, macys.com)
COLE HAAN
Amanda canvas small tote, $175 (Saks Fifth Avenue, 877-551-SAKS)
MAXX NEW YORK
Small canvas pin satchel, $198 (888-670-6299 for store locations)
FRANCO SARTO
Green "Candy Coated" shoulder bag, $69 (Lord & Taylor, 800-222-7440)
5 Bangles
The biggest trend in jewelry? Piles and piles of big, bold bangles. Mix them up, varying width and texture—combining wood, stone, shell and metal. For extra impact, try an earthy necklace, like this one made from kukui nuts.
M. HASKELL
Tortoise-she bangle, $15 (macys.com for store locations)
PONO BY JOAN GOODMAN
Faceted, laser-cut whitewood bangle, $175 (866-336-PONO)
R.J.GRAZIANO
Bone bangle, $50 (212-685-1248)
JLO BY JENNIFER LOPEZ
Wood bangle, $12 (macys.com for store locations)
R.J. GRAZIANO
Wood wide bangle with gold studs, $125 (212-685-1248)
BOTTEGA VENETA
Ebano and rutilated quartz bangle, large: $2,500, small: $1,750 (877-362-1715)
KENNETH JAY LANE
Ellipse wood bangle, $40 (877-953-5264)
P0N0 BY J0AN GOODMAN
Kukui nut necklace, $125 (877-551-SAKS)
6 Safari Jackets
The hunter's jacket comes out of the wild. Wear it to the office with trousers and a crisp white shirt, on a date with a full skirt and flirty top, or, for weekends, toss it over a tank top and jeans.
JULIA STILES wore head-to-toe Roberto Cavalli to a New York City premiere.
ELIE TAHARI
Stretch Panama-weave Lawson jacket in flax, $398; 877-551-SAKS
GAP
Khaki belted jacket with epaulets, $78; gap.com
ESPRIT
Khaki safari jacket, $109; esprit.com
H&M
Four-pocket khaki jacket, $49.90; hm.com
ISAAC MIZRAHI FOR TARGET
Khaki trenchlette, $34.99; target.com
DKNY
Band-collar, snap-front jacket, $89; 800-777-4524
7 Tunics
Beads, jewels and embroidery—the rich details juice up this versatile piece. Wear at the beach as a cover-up or with white jeans and heels to a party for the epitome of effortless chic. Choose a shape and length that will flatter your figure.
MISCHA BARTON belted a simple Zara tunic she picked up in London.
HALLE BERRY'S Bokhee caftan brightened a daytime look.
CINDY CRAWFORD'S nighttime tunic gleamed with gold details.
JOSEPHINE CHAUS
Sequined V-neck, $78; 888-880-8004
GRAHAM KANDIAH
Quintana kurta in lime, $120; grahamkandiah.com
BEBE
Chiffon batik, $79; select Bebe stores, bebe.com
VELVET BY GRAHAM & SPENCER
Print voile, $152; shoppanache.com
ANYA HINDMARCH
Elise tunic in cotton voile, $298; 212-343-8147
TORY BY TRB
Vintage linen with rhinestones, $895; 212-334-3000
DA-NANG
Indian tunic in moss, $128; Scoop, NYC, 212-535-5577
BOKHEE
Silk caftan in canary, Henri Bendel, 800-HBENDEL
8 Oversize Sunglasses
Whether you're trying to duck the paparazzi or keep the sun out of your eyes, these shades say retro—with a kick. Seek out vivid colors with splashy details; don't be afraid to look like a star.
J.LO
Retro Jackie O-inspired sunglasses. $50 (macys.com for store locations)
LIZ CLAIBORNE
Rectangular plastic sunglasses, $30 (macys.com for store locations)
EMPORIO ARMANI
Plastic "owl" sunglasses; $160 (select Solstice stores, solsticestores.com
LOUIS VUITTON
Green Havana sunglasses, $660 (vuitton.com)
9 Espadrille Wedges
Give your feet a summer vacation. These chic rope-soled sandals offer the height of heels without the pain. Try them in colored canvas or even metallic gold, with a closed or open toe, and pair with peasant skirts or sundresses.
PAYLESS
Pink and tan espadrille, $16.99 (payless.com)
NINE WEST
Golan espadrille with ankle tie. $69 (800-999-18770 ninewest.com)
COACH
Striped Maresse espadrille, $140 (866-262-2440 or coach.com)
CHARLES BY CHARLES DAVID
Gold strappy espadrille with ankle ties and flower detail, $115 (charlesdavid.com)
COLIN STUART FOR VICTORIA'S SECRET CATALOG
Macrame ankle-wrap espadrille, $28 (victoriassecret.com)
OLD NAVY
Ribbon wrap espadrille, $16.50 (oldnavy.com)
10 Sundresses
With a dizzying array of patterns, colors, fabrics and styles, there's one to suit every personality and body. A full skirt can define a waist while a shift offers a smoother shape. At night, a cardigan or wrap are pretty additions.
KYLE MINOGUE wore a dress from Moschino Cheap and Chic.
MING-NA stepped out in a strappy abstract print BCBG Max Azria.
SARAH JESSICA PARKER chose a bold hibiscus-patterned frock.
DIANE VON FURSTENBERG
"Nicole," $575; select Neiman Marcus stores, 888-888-4757
GAP
Green floral dress, $58; gap.com
REBECCA TAYL0R
Coral patch-work, $412; neiman marcus.com
TIBI
Fern strappy dress, $198; Octavia, Baltimore, Md., 410-653-9796
MILLY
Indian print, $260; select Nordstrom, 888-282-6060
CITY DKNY
Cocoa lawn dress, $129; select Macy's, 800-777-4524
MEXX
Floral cotton dress, $79; mexx.com
A. CHENG
Summer bow-tie, $198; 212-979-7324
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