Fashion Top Five: City-Appropriate Seersucker

Seersucker has some very preppy connotations – mint juleps and nine irons, to name just two – but with modern cuts and a bit of restraint, it’s easy to make this pattern work in real life. Pair these pieces with solid white and perhaps a chunky bangle bracelet or two to channel classic summertime chic and avoid looking like a displaced, Derby spectator.

The cropped cut and green piping on Free People’s Seersucker Jacket ($128) keep the piece from being too serious.

This Isaac Mizrahi for Target Seersucker Halter Dress ($34.99) in brown and white instead of the classic light blue combines a flattering A-line cut with an adjustable halter top, so you can tie it to size.

We love the way the stripes on this cotton miniskirt ($15.80) alternate from horizontal to vertical; the effect is playful and perfect for weekends.

Chaiken’s Regatta Seersucker Dress ($396) is simple and sleek, and the tucked-and-folded front is reminiscent of some of our favorite laid-back frocks of the season.

These Cynthia Steffe Seersucker Sailor Trousers ($195) incorporate the nautical trend we’ve been seeing all over the place.

For more of this season's fashions, check in with our Spring Trends Guide.  

Fashion Top Five: Swingy Black And White Skirts

These skirts give off the feminine vibe of a dress and offer a bit more versatility; tuck in a fitted tank and wear it with pearls to play up the retro cut, or complement the crispness of the color combo with a cropped white jacket. The A-line cuts are flattering and flowing, so your clothes won’t cling on a sticky day.

A bit shorter than the others, this geometric print skirt ($88) has just enough volume to let you move around without looking pouffy.

Lithe’s Right to Roam Skirt ($118) has cute chevron and check embroidery peeking through the strips of black and white.

The slightly slimmer cut of Lafayette 148’s New York Metal Dot Skirt ($348) allows you to wear a longer layer on top.

This cotton skirt ($19.80) has an extra wide waistband, so you can choose to tuck your top in or wear it pulled over the flat front.

The knit waistband on this color block skirt ($218) can be folded over for a lower waistline or worn high for a more dramatic silhouette.

Fashion Top Five: Glam Gold Clutches You Won’t Want To Put Down

Since you’re usually carrying a clutch for evening only, why not choose a color that dresses up the whole ensemble? These luxe-looking accessories add a touch of sophisticated bling to sleek monochrome outfits, but they also play beautifully off light chiffons and spring-y floral patterns. Bottom line: they’ll look great with what you’re wearing now, and they’ll still look great with what you’re wearing six months from now.

The ruching on this oversized clutch ($228) adds just enough interest without making the dramatic light-gold bag look too busy.

The structured leather trim on this BCBG Max Azria Mesh Clutch ($178) is a nice counterpoint to the slouchy metal mesh – which, by the way, looks great draped effortlessly around your clutch-carrying arm.

Gustto’s Scopio Molino Clutch ($520) has a sculptural quality that makes it look like a piece of art, but open it up and you’ll find two very practical, roomy pockets.

This gold clutch ($38) from Steve Madden is super shiny, and the simple design – just a flap closure and subtle seams on the edges – makes the reflective gold look sleek and modern.



Michael Kors’s Buckled Metallic Leather Clutch ($395) has a streamlined design and geometric gold buckle that lend a put-together vibe – with a low heel, it can pull a sundress into nighttime territory.

Perfumes: The Guide Keeps You From Making A Stink - 5 Of You Will Win The Book

Ever try a perfume on in the store, love it, buy it, and take it home only to discover that after wearing it around it makes you nauseous? Or worse yet, you get perfume from Grandma that smells like air freshener and have to wear it every time you go and visit? Maybe if you and Granny had taken some advice from perfume experts Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez, you could have steered away from those icky scents. These two have devoted their time to sniffing hundreds of fragrances and figuring out the best and worst of the bunch.

And now they've come out with a fabulous book, Perfumes: The Guide to share with you their finds. Perfumes: The Guide, mentioned in Thursday's NY Times Style Section, not only rates fragrances, but gives you info on top questions about perfumes, such as the difference between perfume and eau de toilette and how long you should keep your fragrance before it goes bad.

And now we've got some exclusive expert advice from the fragrance connoisseurs themselves! Below are Luca and Tania's picks for the perfect perfumes for those oh-so-important occasions.  And along with their expert advice, we are giving away copies of Perfumes: The Guide to 5 lucky readers. In order to be considered, you have to write to us in the comments section and share with us your favorite fragrance and why. The winners will receive a copy of the book.

The office: When you go into work, you don't want to overwhelm your colleagues. Chanel's Cristalle is a light, fresh, floral scent that won't walk into the room before you do.

First date: For a first date, you want to be flirty, mysterious, and a little bit sexy. Bois de Voilette by Serge Lutens bottles all three perfectly in a light cedar fragrance.

Exotic Weekend Getaway: Escape the everyday with Osmanthus by the Different Company. Hints of apricots, blossoms, and musk will whisk you away to foreign lands, even if your passport remains unstamped.

Everday: Even if your lounging around on a lazy Sunday afternoon, you still want to smell amazing. That's where Odalisque steps in. Its faint lily of the valley scent is subtle, sweet, and lingering.

Special Occasion: An intense, romantic fragrance, Guerlain L'Heure Bleue Eau de Parfum will make any special occasion a night to remember. 

To learn more about finding your perfect perfume from Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez, buy their book on amazon.com. Or win a copy from SheFinds!

We are giving away copies to 5 lucky readers. In order to be considered, you have to write to us in the comments section and share with us your favorite fragrance.

And check out the Top 5s from our other experts: Nadine Haobsh, author of Beauty Confidential, Kat James, author of The Truth About Beauty, Nada Manley, author of Secrets of the Beauty Insiders, Charla Krupp, author of Hot Not to Look Old, Bridgette Raes, author of Style Rx, Christie Matheson, author of Green Chic, and Dr. Perricone, author of Ageless Face, Ageless Mind.

Be sure to read SheFinds' Fragrance Guide for more great scents. 

Fashion Top Five: Swap Heavy Suit Jackets For Lighter Blazer Alternatives

Wearing a stiff, dark jacket when it’s getting warm out is no fun – office attire that signals the spirit of spring is much more pleasant. With shorter sleeves and lighter fabrics, these five jackets can be paired with trousers during the day and work as a convenient layer you can carry around a bar at night. And when they turn on the air in your office in a couple of weeks, these jackets will work wonders providing a layer of protection from freezing hallways.

Banana Republic’s Cotton Sweater Jacket ($98) is shaped like a jacket, with the weight and movement of a spring sweater. The cheery yellow color will brighten up neutral-colored work attire.

The hint of metallic woven into this BB Dakota Paulette Jacket (was $64, now $45) will add some pop to the solid black and white pieces you already own.

The slightly crinkly fabric and puff sleeves on this Funnel Neck Jacket ($295) make it a good go-to blazer for the slightly more relaxed sunny seasons.

This Kensie Lace Jacket ($98) has a vintage sensibility, with charming details like the lace pattern, pleated cuffs and faux wood buttons.

The big buttons on this Sunny Leigh Three-Quarter-Sleeve (was $129, now $96.75) tone down the black-jacket seriousness.

Fashion Top Five: Substantial Chunky-Heeled Pumps

Lately we've been noticing a whole bunch of beautiful wide-heeled shoes next to the more traditional, pointy-toed pencil-heeled designer fare. The heels are generally pretty high – all of the ones below are 3" or more – so you won't feel like you're clopping around in those frumpy low-heeled chunky loafers that cast a shadow over the early '90s. Below, five choices that would work well with wide-leg pants, bootcut jeans or as the don't-mess-with-me punctuation mark at the bottom of a clean-lined cocktail dress.

These Marc by Marc Jacobs sandals ($440) have a linen-and-leather upper, translating the heavier chunky-heeled look seamlessly into springtime.

While we swore off Juicy Couture's sweatsuits a long, long time ago (nobody knows I'm wearing the sweatpants around my apartment, right?), we love the rich look and snug elastic heel support of their Mariska pump ($275).

This open-toed t-strap pump ($99.95) comes in the most appealing royal blue color; the elegant double t-strap balances out the thick heel.

While the heel is a bit thinner than the others, this Prada pump ($475) still has enough substance – not to mention the hidden platform – to make these shoes an object of desire, even with a 4" heel.

The sculpted metallic heel on these patent leather pumps ($275) adds some interest to a trend that's been re-imagined every which way since the fall.

Top Five Of J.Crew’s Amazing Gems

I rarely read any of the catalogs that somehow manage to find their way to my mailbox - it's funny, I don't remember signing up for most of them. But I must confess that lately I actually look forward to getting my J.Crew catalog (although, J. Crew is among the guiltiest of the bunch when it comes to wasting that paper). 

When it comes to design, my own inner prepster swoons every season over their argyles and A-line dresses, but I am particularly blown away by this jewelry collection, which seems to have come out of nowhere. The pieces are unique and expensive looking without costing a fortune. Just in case you've been living on another planet for the last few months and haven't seen the collection, allow me to introduce you to it:

1. Jeweled Starburst Cuff Bracelet ($150): A dramatic piece in bright summer colors with hand-painted resin and Czech-glass beads arranged on 18k gold plated metal. Simply stunning. 

2. Wood Bead & Fireball Necklace ($98): Wood beads are very much back in style (as seen in our guide to Celeb Jewelry). J.Crew spices this beaded strand up a little with some interspersed rhinestone "fireballs" that give the necklace a more glamorous and less earthy appeal.  

3. Bubble Necklace ($150): Do yourself a favor and get yourself a statement necklace this season. This bubble necklace made of hand-set enamel stones and beads will make you an instant fashionista. I like to wear mine with a $5 Hanes T-shirt—it still makes me look like a million bucks!

4. Cabochon Bouquet Cocktail Ring ($65): Another statement to be made is on your ring finger. How fun is this cocktail ring with candy-colored resin stones? 

Dr. Perricone Helps You Fight Father Time: 5 Of You Will Win His Book

Nobody wants to get old - well, at least nobody wants to look old. We shell out money, time, and energy into anti-aging, wrinkle-fighting, youth re-capturing products that usually don't do a darn thing. But why don't they? According to Dr. Nicholas Perricone and his latest book, Ageless Face, Ageless Mind, there are hidden causes of aging called AGEs (Advanced Glycation End Products) that are both detrimental to our health and our appearance. But it's not all bad news: Dr. Perricone offers tips and products to help fight these nasty buggers and help you get back on track towards a healthier more beneficial lifestyle. And he's helping our SheFinds readers too! Below are Dr. Perricone's top 5 products to keep your skin looking its best. And along with his expert advice, we are giving away copies of Ageless Face, Ageless Mind to 5 lucky readers. In order to be considered, you have to write to us in the comments section and share with us your favorite anti-aging miracle product. The winners will receive a copy of Ageless Face, Ageless Mind.

1. Get plenty of sleep - or look like you did with Ceramic Eye Smoother ($50). This new formula for the eye area is a combination of new and signature sciences such as Fullerenes- a new powerful antioxidant, microspheres to fill in fine lines, and an invisible tint to create the appearance of youth and rest. This topical will provide immediate results so the concealer step may now become optional.

2. Do your eyes need their own intensive care unit? Then take care of them with Advanced Eye Area Therapy ($95). Stress and constant strain to the eyes creates a loss of firmness, elasticity, and radiance which makes itself apparent in the way of sagging, discolorations, and fine lines from squinting. An innovative collection of natural compounds and vitamins creates a circulation in the skin around the eyes to reduce darkness and discoloration., while Alpha Lipoic Acid deduces puffiness. Patented DMAE will continue to provide that youthful instant lift to the eyes.

3. Your personal patch kit for large pores can be found in the Ceramic Skin Smoother ($75). Ceramic microspheres will immediately fill in pores so the powerful antioxidant-Fullerenes can comfort and protect stressed skin while an advanced hydrating system attracts and locks in moisture which adds more density to the skin. We then added DMAE for an immediate lifting effect so the skin appears much more finished and therefore can look great with less foundation.

4. Keep wrinkles away with StimulCell ($155), a new booster treatment that uses youth generating signals filtered from skin stem cells to communicate rejuvenation to all other skin cells, thereby extending their productive efficiency and lifespan. We no longer need to age as our parents did. Prevention from daily damage is now available and effective in maintaining one's youthful appearance.

 
5. Anti-aging must begin from withing. Skin and Total Body supplements ($130) now offer us the intrinsic method of fighting damage from where it begins, from within. What we eat, and how we live dicate how our skin will look. 2 packets of Skin and Total body a day provide your system with all the necessary nutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins to keep energy naturally high, thinking more clear, and the look of skin, hair, and body firm, flexible, and radiant.

To learn more about fighting Father Time from Dr. Perricone, buy his book on amazon.com. Or win a copy from SheFinds!

We are giving away copies to 5 lucky readers. In order to be considered, you have to write to us in the comments section and share with us your favorite anti-aging miracle product.

And check out the Top 5s from our other experts: Nadine Haobsh, author of Beauty Confidential, Kat James, author of The Truth About Beauty, Nada Manley, author of Secrets of the Beauty Insiders, Charla Krupp, author of Hot Not to Look Old, Bridgette Raes, author of Style Rx, and Christie Matheson, author of Green Chic.