April Showers

Rabbit, Rabbit! It's a well known saying that "April showers bring May flowers." Of course, you could bear said showers with a boring, black umbrella. Or, you could celebrate spring downpours with a cheerier version.

(Lane Bryant, $30)

(Old Navy, $8)

 

(Totes, $22)

With umbrellas like these, you might even find yourself wishing for a rainstorm!

Lovely Liberty

Any lover of prints would find themselves in heaven inside Liberty & Co.'s London shop on Regent St. The store has a well known reputation for fashionable homewares and eclectic designs. Liberty of London, an accessories brand associated with the shop, is also recognized for its recent high profile collaboration with Target in early 2010. The shop today is a destination within itself, filled with an array of fashion, cosmetics, accessories, gifts, and furniture.

When it comes to spring accessories, Liberty has created a darling set of knot watches featuring a number of their trademark prints.

(Melly Rose, Melly Silver)

(Edenham Silver, Wiltshire Rose)

(Mirako Gold)

The watches retail at £55 and can be tied in a number of ways to provide the perfect pop of spring for any outfit.

Girls Night Out

Trying on dozens of outfits, pouring over which shoes will maximize style with minimal discomfort, soliciting texts about whether shimmery eyeshadow is too much... and that's just getting ready.

Rachel Roy captures the spirit of the evening adventures of a trio of female friends in her video "Girls Night Out." The animation is both quirky and fun, exactly what a night out with friends should be.

Some girls night out essentials:

• A crossbody bag (or clutch) just big enough for the essentials: phone, credit card/cash, and lip gloss.
• A camera to document the evening's shenanigans.
• An outfit that makes you feel pretty and a little rebellious.
• Shoes that make you smile.
• Over the top accessories.
• Amazing friends.

Leather Gloves

As much as I love my convertible mittens (or glittens as my friends refer to them), I felt a little silly wearing them with a business casual outfit. Of course, as it was thirty something degrees outside, not wearing gloves was far from a reasonable option. Instead, the quest begins for a pair of the glitten's slightly classier relative, the leather glove.

Of course, settling on a color may very well take me through the end of winter, rendering the process rather useless. Here are some of my favorites.

Classic neutrals for my more conservative half:

 

1. Lord & Taylor, $40. 2. Portolano, $50. 3. Preston & York, $27.

Brightly colored and detailed pairs for my youthful side:

 1. ASOS, $19. 2. ASOS, $28. 3. Preston & York, $34.

After compiling my favorites, I realized I inadvertently picked stop light colors. No matter. I'll just use it as a corny pun: perhaps these gloves will stop traffic? ;)

Golden Peacock

How absolutely stunning is this gold peacock inspired clutch with a pearl fastener? It's the perfect accessory to tote around the holiday season, and would look extra festive on New Year's Eve.

The crescent shape reminds me of the dainty fans women used to carry, and the embossed detailing is divine.While gold clutches can seem a bit cliché around the holidays, this Kate Spade version is incredibly elegant and luxurious with just the right touch of playfulness.

Wish List: Bangles

When it comes to jewelry, I usually prefer earrings and necklaces to bracelets and rings. I find the latter get in the way of writing, typing, and other manual tasks. That might change, however, as I've currently become obsessed with bangles. Below are a few of my favorites.

I love the inscription on this bangle. "Roll up your sleeves" is a great daily motto. (Kate Spade, $42)

Perfect for injecting a bit of glitz into everyday outfits. (Forever 21, $6)

The bow and the stripes make for the perfect preppy combination. (Coach, $138)

There's nothing dull about these neon bangles. (Jules Smith, $72 for 4)

The studs toughen up this otherwise classic piece. (Ted Baker, $54)

I love the multitude of personalities displayed in each of these bangles. There really is a style for everyone, even the most non-bracelet inclined among us.

Mittens!

I'm expecting a snow storm or two when I go home for Thanksgiving (only a few weeks away!). Of course, chilly weather is best braved with warm accessories. Today: mittens!

I'm especially a fan of convertible mittens because they really do provide the best of both worlds. Your fingers are still touching, so they can share heat. But should the need arise for more dexterity, you can simply bear the cold for a few seconds. Also, if you have any touch screen device (phone, iPod, etc), trying to work it with gloves or regular mittens is an exercise in futility.

I really love the print on this Aerie pair. The white might be troublesome to keep clean, but you could easily toss these in the wash.

The unexpected mix of warm colors on this pair from Old Navy would cheer up even the bitterest of cold days.

This Fred Flare pair has such a lovely pink color. Definitely perfect for anyone with a girly side.

Finally, the length of these WINK gloves makes them especially elegant, not to mention extra cozy.

Stay warm!