Snow White, Spring White...

You already know that graphic black and white is a popular palette for Spring this year, but consider breaking up the duo, and trying clean, crisp whites as well.

Bergdorf Goodman, impressive fashion powerhouse, and household name, recently featured whites in a promo email, and we think it just beautiful!

 

Stark, clean, and flawless, whites are fabulous for Spring. But, don't worry if a totally white outfit is a little too much for you, whites are easy to mix in to your wardrobe as well, as they are considered a neutral.

Try whites with mint green and other pastels, with black (as we've previously mentioned here) or with brights for a real pop!

Another easy way to break up a milky outfit is with accessories. Add a black or red belt to a little white dress, layer on colour bangles, add a cocktail ring, carry an emerald bag (named the pantone colour for 2013, by the way), the options are endless!

And, as always, come down to the shop, and we can help you put it all together! We even have some earrings coming in that are pretty similar to those Oscar de la Renta ones that Bergdorf is advertising...

Ah, so many treasures!

After-winter mint

In addition to the bold black and white, there was an abundance of soft pastels on the Spring runways this year. Specifically, there was a minty-fresh sea of mint green.

I don't know about you, but I think it looks as good on this car as on a dress.

Mint is a versatile pseudo-neutral, in that it can be worn by most skin tones and with most colours. If you're not sure about mixing up colour, a pop of mint under a black jacket is refreshing, and, as the weather gets warmer, pairing a mint top with a pair of white linen pants and gold sandals is the perfect transition from dreary winter into bright spring! If you're no stranger to the colour wheel, try it with coral, brown, pink or blue. It's not hard to find a place for it in any wardrobe.

 

Designers such as Donna Karan and Kate Spade made good use of the tasty hue, and, now it's at SWISH! As always, come down to the shop so we can show you how good mint will look on you!

(PS: It's also cute on your nails!)

What's black and white all over?

The spring runways.

Black and white dominated designers' hearts and their collections for Spring 2013. Some, like Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors chose to showcase the contrasted neutrals in bold stripes and checks, while others, such as the powerhouses of Alexander Wang and Ralph Lauren tied the dramatic palette to last spring's colour-blocking trend and bring blocked beauty to the runway.

And, it's finally coming to stores! While walking down Robson last night, I was window-shopping and this caught my eye at Bebe:

Perfect black and white! And, these showcase a little of the patterns and a little of the colour-blocking.

 

 

When wearing such a strong palette, it's best to either go bold but minimalist with your accessories, either choosing one statement piece, like a great cocktail ring, bracelet or necklace, or let your outfit stand alone and make the statement all on its own.

 

And, of course, at SWISH, we have everything you'll need to make this look your own, and we're more than happy to help you put it all together!

 

Here's to a bold spring!

 

Scarves, scarves, scarves!

To celebrate the opening of our Etsy store (which we're still learning about, bear with us!) and highlight all the fabulous scarves that Lynn has made for the store (and a few fabulous finds from New York, as well, of course!) I'd like to share this video and show you how easy it is to make a scarf a versatile and fantastic accessory, whether you're braving the cold in a beautiful coat, or dressing up a sundress on those balmy summer nights.

This tutorial was posted one youtube user wendylookbook's channel, and highlights 25 ways to wear a scarf in 4 1/2 minutes. There are definitely a few in there that I didn't know about!

Try them all, and send us photos! We'd love to see you wearing your favourites from SWISH in new and gorgeous new ways!

The key to wearing a scarf all year round is weight. You're not going to wear a heavy wool/cashmere scarf in the heat of summer, when it will, not only clash horribly with your outfit, but cause you to sweat it off. Just the same, you wouldn't wear a gauzy chiffon or silk scarf in the dead of winter, because it would probably turn you into an icecube! Look for the right scarf to fit the season. Here are a few from SWISH to get you started!

The lace of this scarf lets your skin breathe, and the fringe makes it look polished! This would be a great spring and summer scarf, but worn with a turtleneck or a sweater, it would still be beautiful for fall and winter! 

There's nothing as cozy as a warm and fuzzy scarf! This one is perfect to balance a solid coat, and it will keep your neck toasty! A fantastic winter scarf, indeed!

Fishtail skirts.

This spring's answer to last year's maxi-hemlines: a skirt that goes by many names; fishtail, high-low, mullet (although, I'm going to pretend the last one is a joke) and is just as diverse as it's many aliases.

We know that this is an absolute must-have for spring, as well as a great transition piece for the last chilly weeks of winter, and SWISH has it in black, to keep it as wearable and versatile.

Because it's a bit of a between length skirt, it's flattering on literally everyone, and allows you to show a little leg without feeling like you're exposed. You can wear it higher on the waist, or lower on the hip, and it works with long sleeves as well as short. 

Take it boho with a gauzy tunic and a long necklace as seen here:

Or, dress it up with a structured jacket and some fabulous sandals like Kristen Cavallari! Who says you can't be chic at the grocery store? 

You can always add a flash of sparkle with a cocktail ring and take this look to evening. 

The best part about this piece is that it looks just as good when you throw on a t-shirt or tank top with it. 

Or, pop a comfy sweater or jacket over top, add some tights to keep your stems warm, and you're ready to brave the February chill:

Killer stilettos not required. The asymmetrical hemlines make your legs look miles long whether you decide to wear some cute sandals, great ballet flats, or some pretty pumps. It looks especially great with boots:

And you can wear it at different angles and it looks like a completely different skirt!

Perfect for those breezy spring days! Add a pretty scarf and a turtleneck and you'll stay warm through the sudden gusts.