What to add to your spring wardrobe? Item #3 is...

an anorak!

Yes, it sounds odd, but aren't you always digging through your closet looking for that perfect, light-weight jacket that you can throw on and still look great?  We spend SO much time looking for the perfect outfit, only to throw on any old jacket over it.  This is a perfect piece to throw on everyday - for running errands to picking up kids.  

The anorak I'm talking about is not the traditional, fur-lined, heavy jacket.  This is a spring jacket, usually with a hood and a cinch waist.  The cinch waist is universally flattering, either showing off the curves you have or defining your waist.  

I purchased an anorak 2 years ago and just pulled it out of my 'off season' closet.  This 60-degrees-in-March weather is perfect for it!  Here are some anoraks I've seen this season that I'm kind of crazy about too.

First up, from Nordstrom, a MICHAEL Michael Kors anorak, and I love the way they've styled it over stripes.  At $150, it's a great price too.

Photo from nordstrom.com

Next, a black one (although I recommend purchasing one in a color which you do NOT wear a lot on the bottom - if you wear a lot of jeans, don't do blue, if you wear a lot of black pants, don't do black, etc.), by Laundry, with a gathered waist in the back.  Great price point at $128.

Photo from nordstrom.com.

Not quite the deal-of-the-day, but lovely none-the-less, the Burberry anorak at Bloomingdales an investment item at $650.

Photo from bloomingdales.com

Another investment piece is this one from Worth Collection. The sleeves are easy to roll up as the weather gets warmer, and the length is great for a little more coverage of your 'seat'. It comes in orange too!

Photo from worthnewyork.com.

The deal-of-the-day is a Forever 21 anorak jacket I randomly came across while surfing the 'net.  At $38, we should all own one, if not 2!  

Photos from forever21.com.

I had to show the front and the back to show the detail of the cinch waist ties in the front - this would be SOOO much cuter when gathered in the back.

One last one, for a pop of color.  With hood tucked into the back collar, this MICHAEL Michael Kors one looks pretty useful as well as cool.

Photo from nordstrom.com

If you find any other anoraks that we should know about, please post links in the comments! Have a great day! ~ JH

...you are meeting friends, after work, for dinner in the city.

I just had a call from a friend this morning who asked me this very question.  It's the "after work" part that's tricky, at least for me.  The friends who work are in "work uniform", makeup on, hair done, and, since I stay at home, I'm just trying to get dinner on the table for my girls before the sitter arrives.  I'm left with 5 minutes to pull it together and head out the door.

So, I try to keep 2-3 outfits, per season, that I can "go to", pull out, and feel good about myself and what I'm wearing. Oh, and put on in 5 minutes.  These are my winter thoughts.

Outfit #1 - Silk blouse, black pants, heels, clutch

I know, it sounds boring.  But it can be fun!  DVF (Diane Von Furstenberg) has some great wrap blouses, silk blouses, etc.  Years ago, in a small boutique that has since closed, I purchased a silk blouse by By Malene Birger for an unheard-of-at-the-time-in-my-budget $345.  It was a tough purchase at the time but, I have worn that thing to DEATH, and still love it every time I wear it.  And still get compliments.  That's what you want to invest in!

Here are some pieces I love for this look:

This DVF blouse can be used with black pants, winter white pants, jeans even.  Lots of uses for this investment.  Can be a fall-winter-spring item in your closet.

Photo from nordstrom.com

This silk blouse from Scoop NYC (store now open in Boston on Newbury Street!) has great button detail, and would transition well from black pants to white bottoms in the spring.

Photo from scoopnyc.com

As for black pants, I happen to love 2 pairs I own.  One from Nordstrom, their own Classique Entier brand.  Basic, they have them every season, and their white pair in the summer is a stable in my wardrobe.

Photo from nordstrom.com

The other pair I own I purchased from a Worth show.  The Worth line of clothing, both Worth and W by Worth, are sold out of representatives homes.  10 years ago, I used to help a friend with her W by Worth (then called Worthwear) business, and, disclaimer, a very good friend sells the line now.  I purchased my black "techo-gab" pants from a show last year, and have worn them to DEATH also.  It helped that I picked them up at one of their annual 'sample sales' as I'm not sure I would have made the investment otherwise.  I'm attending the Spring 2012 show next week and will report my findings.

Anyway, a neat pair of pumps, cute clutch (try oversized!), and you'll look fresh as you fight traffic on the Mass Pike.

Outfit #2 - Not-quite-cocktail-dress

When you want a little different, try a dress.  Nothing fancy or expensive, but a cute dress to throw on with opaque tights (Spanx!), a heeled boot, and you are ready go.  For this, I like a knit dress (I know, back to the knit dress, but tis the season!).  This one from J. Crew (under $200)  is reminiscent of one in my closet, that is now paying me to wear it.

Photo from J. Crew

I like how they've styled it with leopard clutch and neutral pumps, but you can also belt it, put a big necklace on, wear tights & boots.  Throw a scarf on.  So many ways to wear this basic.

Outfit #3 - Urban Upgrade

And then maybe you want to feel a little edgy.  Throw a blazer on over skinny pants with a blouse underneath.  Pumps.  Big Cocktail ring.  Something like this Rachel Zoe jacket:

Photo from piperlime.com

(I actually love the blouse too.)  Over a skinnier black pant - like these from W by Worth.

Photo from wbyworth.com

Maybe, if you aren't sporting a cheetah print blouse, a cheetah heel!  Or some animal print heel.  One of these would be fab.  The first is from Nine West, and is a low $69!

Photo from zappos.com

And what about these?  I own a pair of snakeskin pumps, and they have become a go-to-shoe in my closet.  These are by Kate Spade.

Photo from zappos.com

You can see that owning a few key pieces can take you out in 5 minutes to meet your working-girl friends.  You will get many years of use, I can promise that.  

Now, if we could just figure out how to not MAKE dinner for the kids, when we are GOING OUT to dinner ourselves. ~ JH