LE CATCH

On my last two warm-weather getaways, I have somehow forgotten to pack a beach bag. This is, of course, a major omission since, apart from a flattering bathing suit or three, a super chic (and durable!) beach bag is a arguably the most critical component of your fashion assault on whatever pool or beach you are visiting. You need one you can throw your magazines, phone, sarong and sunscreen into and that can travel seamlessly from poolside to barside. I've got some serious beach vacations coming down the pike this year (Mykynos! Hawaii! The Hamptons!) and I'd love to stuff all my essentials into one of these hand-painted canvas babies by V73. P.S. How cute are the charms? P.P.S. Why not make one of these an everyday throw-around bag?

$79, mango

This bold (Chanel-y) statement of a cardigan would go just as well with an everyday t-shirt and a pair of boyfriend jeans as it would with something entirely unexpected, like this...

1. River Island flower applique t-shirt, $31, riverisland.com
2. Mango cardigan, $79, mango.com
3. Marni clutch, $320, netaporter.com
4. Jimmy Choo pumps, $575, forwardbyelysewalker.com
5. Faith Connexion sequin cropped pants, $630, netaporter.com

When I was in New York last month, several friends of mine urged me to check out a new line called Figue. Walking into its Soho showroom was like stepping into a glamorous globetrotter's apartment. There were vibrant Moroccan poufs, Moorish lanterns, and rich embroidered textiles draped everywhere. And then there were the racks of clothes, bags and jewelry, all fantastically suitable for the resort-hopping life: marigold-colored kaftans, sequined ikat print tunics, fringed cardigans, tassled Bolivian wool ponchos, etc. The line is especially compelling because though the fabrics look like they came straight from the most dazzling North African bazaar, the cuts are flattering in a way that the market vendor ones seldom are. Designer Stephanie Von Watzdorf, a native New Yorker, who spent her summers in Europe, is creating clothes that reflect her own gypset wardrobe, ones that are "seasonless," and that can, with some savvy styling, be worn all year round. Here are some highlights:

$95, the outnet

Everything about this See By Chloe blouse--the light chambray denim, the cascading ruffles, the sleeveless-ness--embodies Spring 2013.* Even so, I'd make a good argument for wearing it this very minute with...

1. See by Chloe chambray top, $95, theoutnet.com
2. Theyskens' Theory bomber jacket, $565, netaporter.com
3. Asos beaded clutch, $61, asos.com
4. Gucci printed pump, $312, bergdorfgoodman.com
5. Vanessa Bruno leather skirt, $915, matchesfashion.com

*When the weather warms up, I'd wear it with shorts like this, or jeans like this, or a skirt like this!

I had a fun catch-up-with-girlfriends lunch at the Beverly Hills Hotels last week. It was a pretty stereotypical LA scene: Kourtney Kardashian and her crying infant to our left, Kelly Preston to our right, and Shaquille O'Neal front and center, holding court. After the six of us had each ordered the same exact salad customized six different ways (one without dressing, one without bacon, another with feta instead of bleu, etc.), we got down to the serious business of the cashmere J.Crew sweater that not one but two (including me) of us was wearing. I was the opposite of embarrassed since my outfit twin is the glam girl everyone wants at their parties, who has worked with designers like Michael Kors and Ralph Lauren, etc. It turns out that she and I both own multiple colors of the sweater, and by the time we had finished extolling its virtues, it was clear that jcrew.com would be selling at least four more of those babies that night. The sweater is here. I (obviously) recommend it.

$130, shopbop

The debut of this excellent spring-y dress marks the end of a several-month-long wild-goose chase. Ever since I came across this picture, I've been searching high and low for something similar--and here it is! (Update: if it's sold out at Shopbop, try here too as they may restock.)

1. Club Monaco leather-pocket striped dress, $130, shopbop.com
2. C.Wonder pave heart stud earrings, $28, cwonder.com
3. Topshop parka, $120, topshop.com
4. Melie Bianco satchel, $65, piperlime.com
5. Charlotte Olympia leopard print loafers, $825, netaporter.com

This spring's statement sunglasses can help amplify your style message. The newest and coolest options range from circular to oversized to mirrored to embellished. Me? I am partial to subtly edgy sunglasses, like this round and retro Madewell, this oversized cat-eye Asos, and this angled tortoise-framed Karen Walker (pictured above). (P.S. How good is the girl's vibrant pucker, above? Her lipstick may just be this.) (P.P.S. Asos and Topshop boast an impressive stock of inexpensive sunnies to choose from.)

 Photos: Tuula Vintage, Jak & Jil, Pinterest

$95, piperlime

There's no mistaking this clutch's resemblance to the studded Valentino variety, yet it's almost incomparably more affordable and just as wear-with-everything versatile. Think spring-clean-simple, like this...

1. Topshop shift dress, $100, topshop.com
2. Illesteva sunglasses, $260, netaporter.com
3. Michael Kors pave stack ring, $125, shopbop.com
4. Rebecca Minkoff studded clutch, $95, piperlime.com
5. Manolo Blahnik gladiator sandals, $665, bergdorfgoodman.com

Couture show-goers, including Russian blogger Miroslava Duma, above, are not letting Paris' cold snap crimp their style, and it seems a chic fur hat is essential to their heat-trapping strategy. But it's not just these hot shots who are fur-hatting it (see last two images, below). I, too, have a faux fur one, and I wore it skiing on my last few outings, but now I have convincing evidence that this hat doesn't just belong on the slopes, but very much on the streets. Some heady faux fur options for you all to ponder from Nine West, Steve Madden andAsos, along with this knit and faux fur one on sale.

Photos: Harper's Bazaar, Pinterest

$177, joie

I had a fun LA adventure yesterday that led to, among other things, the boots above. It started with a trek for a meeting to Echo Park, which for me, a westside-dwelling Angeleno, is the equivalent of traveling to the other side of the world, gridlock traffic and all. Post-meeting I set out to explore some of the great food joints and vintage stores that I am always hearing about, but never seem to get to. I checked out Cookbook, a gem-sized grocery stocked with organic foods, sustainable meats, locally grown produce, and yummy pastries, a box of which I snapped up for a dinner party I was attending later. Then I mosied on over to Tavin, an amazing vintage store, chock full of fresh-from-Tulum embroidered Mexican lace camisoles and tunics (the lovely kind that look like they may be from Greece or Turkey) as well as vibrant Suno-like dresses. Next stop: the opening of Joie's new Melrose store, where I was greeted with a glass of champagne, and soon thereafter the sight of these boots. They were on sale. I tried them on. Perfection in every way. Good heel height. Super comfortable. Hits right where it should just above my ankle. In the bag. You might just see me this week wearing my new boots with...

1. Etoile Isabel Marant cardigan, $570, netaporter.com
2. Kenzo military trench jacket, $822, matchesfashion.com
3. Topshop beaded bracelet, $30, topshop.com
4. Whistles brass ID bracelet, $39, whistles.co.uk
5. Joie boots, $177, joie.com
6. Goldsign for J.Crew jeans, $288, jcrew.com