LE CATCH

You may recall that my husband dislocated his shoulder a few weeks ago while surfing and, unfortunately, he will need surgery. And I'll be helping him tie his shoelaces (among other things!) until his arm is healthy again. In the meantime, I'm thinking about putting the spotlight on my own shoulders, thanks to spring's new crop of shoulder-baring dresses and tops. The look is outright sexy, and I love that it can be executed via a festive cocktail dress or an everyday sweater (see last pic) and even in between. Some current off-the-shoulder stunners include this Preen satin-crepe dress (pictured in the third image below), this versatile Blaque Label top, this Tbags blouse, this ruffled Isabel Marant maxi, this dramatic Rosie Assoulin cotton top, this vintage Jean Paul Gaultier dress, and this Mes Demoiselles eyelet blouse.

$68, j.crew

Crochet transforms this tank top into something summer-special.

1. J.Crew crochet tank top, $68, jcrew.com
2. Frieda blazer, $599, matchesfashion.com
3. Isabel Marant cotton pants, $440, netaporter.com
4. Topshop quilted cross-body bag, $80, topshop.com
5. Daniel Wellington Exeter watch, $198, anthropologie.com
6. Steven buckle sandals, $129, shopbop.com

I've spent every night of the last week watching season one of Homeland and I am thoroughly hooked. I know, I know, I am egregiously late to the party, but fortunately I still have no idea what's going to happen to Brody, Carrie, and friends, (so no spoilers, please!). All I know is that I have many more nights of gripping plot twists ahead of me, and my viewing pleasure will be just as good as it was for those who've watched before me. Sometimes, I think, it doesn't hurt to be a little behind and to let other people do the quality control testing for you. For me, this is also the case with the shirtdress: a spring trend that's already all the rage, but one that I am late to sample. However, from what I see, I like! Clearly, a shirtdress is a breeze to wear, and I like the idea of enhancing it with feminine, elegant accessories (see Olivia Palermo in a past season BCBG dress in the last pic, below). Of course, I delved into a little market research and discovered a bevy of stellar options from Equipment, 10 Crosby Derek Lam, Splendid, Vince, Joseph, Theory and Emerson Fry (directly below).

$168, madewell

I love this fresh update on the denim jacket--and its boundless versatility.

1. Jay Ahr dress, $2265, netaporter.com
2. Madewell denim bomber jacket, $168, madewell.com
3. J.Crew floral clutch, $150, jcrew.com
4. Loeffler Randall scalloped sandal, $295, neimanmarcus.com

With many of my friends on spring break in places I wish I were (i.e., St. Barths, Hawaii, bobbing around in the Bahamas, etc.), I'm feeling a little deserted--and jealous! So I spent the morning licking my wounds and fantasizing about what I'd be wearing if I were frolicking in the deep tropics. For starters, I'd want the outrageously pretty Dolce Vita lace top, above, to throw over a sea-salted bikini. Then I'd have these caftans by Christophe Sauvat, Anna Kosturova, Issa de Mar, Mango, Jen's Pirate Booty, and PilyQ, at hand to wear should I be struck by the whim to peel myself off a chaise lounge and get a pina colada or go souvenir shopping. I'd definitely pack at least a few vibrant tunics like this Basta Surf or this Mango to pair with shorts or white jeans. Lastly, I'd love a serious beach bag such as this one from Charlotte Olympia and a striking hat like this Melissa Odabash wide-brimmed topper to shade me from the intense sunlight--and, of course, make a glam I'm-on-holiday statement!

Photo: Pinterest

Why not mix a little rococo bohemian with a little Coco Chanel? Spotted at Australian Fashion Week yesterday, the look is unexpected and fun. However, I am inclined to skip the Chanel and simply tote the clutch--but keep the all-black-outfit counterpart. A casually minimalist outfit will help temper the charmingly exotic bag (so the effect isn't too gypsy-with-wanderlust). Star Mela, an amazing UK-based line, offers up vibrant clutches that strike the ideal balance between boho and chic. And they're nicely priced. My fave: the orange paliette-studded guy, top right.

Photo: W Magazine

$225, steven alan

This breezy dress makes me want to lounge around in the south of France--relaxed, beached, Chardonnay'ed...

1. Laurence Dolige rope-tie dress, $225, stevenalan.com
2. Helen Kaminski Provence hat, $235, nordstrom.com
3. Samudra clutch, $85, shopbop.com
4. Erickson Beamon x Anna Sui crystal arm cuff, $595, netaporter.com
5. Bottega Veneta patent leather sandals, $580, netaporter.com

A relatively mellow weekend afforded me some time to spring clean my closet. This is a love/hate activity for me, which I put off doing all the time, but when I'm actually doing it I thoroughly enjoy. Perhaps because I am making room for more! As per usual, what needs to be tossed into the goodbye pile is crystal clear to me, but there is always one or two pieces that for some reason or another give me pause. Such was the case with an old pair of hot pink kitten heels, which I've had since my early '20s and have not really worn since. For this reason, I debated retiring them, but ultimately decided that they're keepers, still very much possessing the power to add pop to any outfit. This pic, which coincidentally appeared on my Pinterest feed today, reinforces my conclusion. In fact, it's re-kindling my love for my pink shoes, convincing me that they (or any bold-hued shoe for that matter) have achieved classic status. (This image has also inspired a new outfit idea!) More high-impact heels I'd love to own: this pink Burberry, this red J.Crew, this fuchsia Manolo Blahnik, and this rosy Alexander Wang.

Photo: Nili Lotan

$96, monsoon

I clearly can't get enough of these embellished gypset-chic tunics, and I can't wait to wear this one all summer long.

1. Monsoon embroidered top, $96, monsoon.co.uk
2. Ray Ban mirrored sunglasses, $160, shopbop.com
3. J.Crew stripe market tote bag, $55, jcrew.com
4. Steven flat sandals, $99, shopbop.com
5. Iro boucle tweed shorts, $325, netaporter.com

These fantastic bag images make me wish I had a nice new statement bag of my own to perch on my lap. If you're listening, Bag Fairy, my specific wish list ranges from this studded Sara Battaglia clutch to this gold-handled M2Malletier leather bag, along with this versatile 3.1 Phillip Lim mini-satchel (45% off--you don't see that everyday!), this distinctly cool Bottega Veneta, this elegant Saint Laurent and this fringed Valentino. My favorite under $300 bag: this pebbled leather Golden Lane clutch. Love the hardware.

Photos: They All Hate Us