All Lined Up for Spring

In the midst of January and all its dreariness, I find myself longing for brighter seasons. Spring is an easy season to love with its warmer days and vibrant colors, and spring 2010's fashion season is bringing yet another reason to smile; a classic favorite is back in full force. In WSJ's On Style, Christina Binkley recently wrote about the return of nautical stripes, which sent me to both reminiscing classic Hollywood fashion of days past and looking ahead to my favorite spring catalogs.

Stripes, worn in moderation, provide a simple way to achieve the ever-popular Audrey Hepburn look. She was, of course, not the only star to rock stripes, but she is, for good reason, the one we quickly reference when seeking a "classic," stylish look.

So other than attempting to look like Audrey, what is the appeal of the nautical stripe? It's certainly a style you must be careful to wear correctly since stripes tend to accentuate. In spite of their potential for fashion hazard, stripes are a worthy addition for spring. Bright and crisp, they set things evenly and in order. And even if you have never been on a yacht, they can make you feel as though you would be quite comfortable there.

Spring's abundance of stripes will allow you to dress them up for work or brunch, like this new arrival from BCBG Max Azria. Or you can go with the casual and more affordable classic tee look to pair with jeans or shorts. If you're self conscious about stripes on your figure, try accenting your look with a striped accessory such as a scarf, or if you're really feeling bold, we love these rain boots from Urban Outfitters.

The Little Black Pancake

St. Thomas Aquinas richly identified Christ's body as a "seamless garment" made by divine hands in a mortal womb. In the Townley passion play called 'The Crucifixion,' Mary, standing by the foot of the cross, watches the body/robe of her son being torn apart:

To deth my dere is dryffen
His robe is all to-ryffen
That of me was him gyffen
And shapen with my sydys

The notion of a seamless garment was once miraculous, but today, in an age of fancy sewing machines, we can go into any department store and find plenty of clothes with tags that say something like, "Touch me! I'm seamless" or "I'm seam-free 'n' carefree!" (Most of them happen to be women's underthings.) But there's another item of clothing, one that predates Christ, that is usually seamless: the beret. Ancient Greeks in military service were the first to wear them, and they've been a part of fashion history, inside and outside the military, ever since. Click here for more about the history of the beret.

I've lately become quite fond of this simple, malleable pancake of hats, and not just because— unlike a pillbox or bowler—you can stuff it into your coat pocket or purse. I bought my first, a little black one, a few months ago for a few bucks, and have been wearing it most days since then because it's my most glamorous and subtle accessory. Every time I don it, I am amazed by how simple it is—a mere poof of fabric!—and still how smart and pleasant. It makes the fedora seem needlessly complicated in comparison.

I'll leave you with two images. Elsa Schiaparelli and Marlene Dietrich in berets. (Be thankful. I could have linked to Ché instead.)

P.S. Image at top is of Greta Garbo.