Hasta La Ideas

As dichotomous as it may sound, the truth is that it is often the most basic of designs that are the hardest to perfect. Additionally, making sure that one’s basic garments are of a high quality is essential to building a wardrobe that is fully functional and stylish. The debut Spring/Summer ’09 collection of Spindle & Canister, created by Los Angeles based designer, Temitayo Abidoye, seeks to create classically inspired pieces that fit seamlessly and comfortably into the modern man’s wardrobe. Abidoye pays careful attention to getting the basics correct in order to create a line of investment worthy pieces. The use of quality fabrics including jersey, thermal and cashmere provide a luxurious warmth and comfort to the collection. Not only does one note the pre-shrunken fabrics, but the smaller details such as the worn buttons also help to create a more coherent look to the pieces. The slimmer, fitted profile of the garments, which flatter the wearer and also manage to provide a more modern silhouette, means that any Spindle & Canister garment would make a perfect addition to any man’s wardrobe! Learn more about the line and other hot spring trends from our friends at HauteMimi!

An essential piece to your spring and summer wardrobe is the white t-shirt. But not just any ol’ one. White tees are cropping up with all sorts of beautiful embellishments from ruffles to ruched details. I love the fitted stylish look of this J.Crew slub cotton crossover v-neck tee ($38). Paired perfectly with jeans or a flowery spring skirt and you have an instant fresh wardrobe! For other alternatives, try an asymmetrical style with the one shoulder tee from TopShop ($32) or the comfy yet pretty rustled breeze top from Anthropologie ($68). Don’t forget to check out Coquette for more hot spring finds!

The spectacular Junya Watanabe asymmetric argyle cardi that Mrs. O wore over a Jason Wu dress to London’s Royal Opera House has further endeared her to hardcore fashionistas everywhere. To get the look for just under $50(!), all you’ll need is this adorable $33 Hurley “Bailey” cardigan in Mosaic Blue, a yard of 7/8″ (20mm) turquoise-colored stretch sequin trim ($4/yard), and some acrylic paint to cover up the shiny snaps and match them to the darker blue ground of the argyle. We recommend a 2 oz. tube of Liquitex acrylic paint in Phthalo Blue and a synthetic flat bristle brush ($6 & $3 respectively). The grand total? $46. Click here to see how you can make a First Lady worthy cardigan for a fraction of the price from Fashiontribes.

One would think that growing up Catholic would automatically give me a fierce aversion to all Easter occasion clothing, given all my unpleasant childhood memories of being forced into a yearly festive ensemble — complete with an itchy tulle dress, lace gloves, a ridiculous straw hat, and too-tight Mary Janes — and basically fidgeting through church looking like a human doily. However, now that I’m old enough to dress myself (or rather, sensible enough to pick out my own family occasion-appropriate attire), I can’t help but adore all the quintessential Easter prints, palettes, and ruffles that allow you to combine all things girlie and flirty without looking strangely out of character or like you were dressed by your grandma. Whether you need a more conservative option like a boat-neck tie-waisted dress by Anne Klein for a full-on holiday celebration with the church-going fam, or don’t celebrate the occasion at all and are just looking for a fun floral print like a flirty chiffon mini dress from Forever 21, the possibilities are endless when you pair with a cardigan for extra coverage when needed, or change from flats to heels to go from day to night. Check out the slideshow for some of my favorite springy sheaths for this Easter season!

Tired of your wardrobe but don’t have the money (or the time) to spring for a whole new one? The solution is written in the stars, and it’s a simple one too — accessorize yourself up! You’d be surprised at how far a simple belt can go in flattering your shape in an otherwise shapeless old sheath, how much hipper your usual hairstyle will look clipped back with a floral barrette or topped by a cute hat, and how much your eyes will pop by just wearing a pair of bright earrings! Don’t get too excited with the makeover magic of spring’s hottest go-withs, because over-accessorizing can be fatal to your cute new look. So how do you know which add-ons are right for your ensemble? That’s where Stylehive’s Stylescopes come in! Whether you’re a style-savvy Virgo coveting a springtime scarf for that extra pop of color or a fun-loving Leo in need of a chic watch to keep yourself in check, let the fashion fates be your guide in choosing your new wardrobe embellishments! Check out the slideshow to see what your sign has in store this week in the realm of accessories!