SPRING ESSENTIALS: THE DOUBLE-BREASTED NAVY BLUE BLAZER.

I love this time of the year, when it's too cold to go without a jacket, but too hot to wear our full winter gear. Perfect for the perfect blazer! Nothing says timeless chic and stylish like a blazer that fits you like a glove, so this is a piece a woman should always invest in to have in her wardrobe. A great blazer is one that's versatile and classic and not just any blazer, such as the famous double-breasted wool twill Balmain one or the Pucci model. Are you among those who have long lusted after these pieces, which are also favourites among celebrities: who can forget Jennifer Aniston or Rosie Huntington Whiteley in their wonderful travel attires with Balmain blazer + white tee + jeans? Or the Duchess of Cambridge in her Pucci navy blazer + Team GB scarf + navy pencil skirt on her first medal ceremony at the Paralympics in 2012? ). Thanks to their formal but at the same time edgy features such as the peaked lapels, two side flap pockets, eighties-style padded shoulders and gold-coloured metal buttons, they're ideal to be worn with denim, leather leggings, slim-fit trousers, or paired with a maxi skirt + graphic tee. The navy tone, is an evergreen, so if you can only buy one, it's best to buy a navy (or at least black) piece, but above all else, it's the fit that matters, to have it perfect for Spring of many years to come. My advice is, of course, if you can afford to splurge for a luxury version, I don't think you'll regret it, but if you can't, for staples like this, you should always buy the nicest one you can afford...

SPRING MUST-HAVE SHOES: THE VALENTINO ROCKSTUD COLLECTION.

Today it's officially Spring and it's finally starting the "slingback season"! Dreaming about wearing Spring outfits is undeniably linked to the longing for rocking my Valentino Rockstud pumps again, with bare  legs, aha! Even if I have bought myself my first pair of these famous, iconic caged pumps two yaers ago, I find that they are still trendy, chic, comfortable, and I literally love them, feeling so at ease when I wear them, even if the heel height is 100 mm/4 in. 
Surely, these shoes are not on the cheap side, but even if they are rather expensive, they became iconic enough to be bought without regrets. Since their debut in 2011, thanks to the new design duo Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli, these pointy toed shoes with pyramid studs caught everyone's attention and quickly became a hit, so famous that the brand started to produce also alternative models over the years such as flats, slingbacks, sandals and mules. It is always hard to choose one from the gorgeous collection, since Rockstuds are sold in many colours and in different kinds of leather, but in my selection of a first pair, I went for the bicolour black patent leather and powder-colour nappa leather straps and trims + platinum-finish-studs, with light gold studs, probably the most classic pair, then the following year, I bought another classic version in powder-colour nappa leather and nude piping and ankle straps + platinum-finish studs. 
The Rockstuds have a staying power that few shoes enjoy and they're just as in-demand as the day they landed, since they're versatile and can elevate any outfit - elegant with formal dresses and edgy with a pair of jeans - and I definitely feel they won't be my last pair, since I'd like to buy also either powder-colour mules or tan caged sandals for next Summer, or perhaps a very up-to-date pair of slingbacks...

12 TRENDS THAT WILL GET YOU SHOPPING FOR SPRING 2019.

A new season deserves a closet refresh to go into Spring well-informed with the top looks from the runways of New York, London , Milan and Paris.  Wondering where to begin? I've been decoding the Spring/summer 2019 catwalks, and have unearthed a selection of the key-trends that have been snapped up by buyers and are about to start flooding our Insta-feeds. 

1) PISTACHIO & LILAC: From pale lilac to pistachio hues, these Spring-inspired shades were all over the S/S 2019 runways. Whether you prefer lilac or mintier hues, these subtle shades are two to buy into stat.

2) ALL DOLLED UP: If your innermost desire has always been to be as extra as possible, now is your moment, since it's all about a dress with layers, frills, fringes and a fanciful disposition with colour to spare.

3) BIRDS OF A FEATHER: Is it your time for an attempt to soar like a modern Icarus? Runways are giving you wings - or at least feathers...

4) DOWN TO EARTH: more neutrally minded? Earth tones, are back in a big way - from sand to tan, cream and khaki. It's time to lighten up.

5) CRAFTWORK: While seashell jewelry has been making its way into the fashion lexicon for the last year or so, designers are going full by-the-seashore with netting and crochet, applique and tassels that are nothing less than mermaid-worthy. Get ready to make a splash come Spring.

6) GOLDEN CHILD: Hello, yellow! The colour of lemons, marigolds and butter is the shade of choice for next Spring. Let's hope we all find the mood to match this sunny disposition and the shade that better matches our hair and complexion.

7) SURF-STYLE: Don't you wish we could all be California girls? Find your inner surfer girl with Baja-worthy pieces. 

8) FEELING DOTTY: The chic polka dot is here to stay. Because sometimes "it is all black and white"...

9) SCARF PRINTS: The scarf print has been considered a tired repertoire as a go-to for ladies who lack originality. Skip the old associations and take a fresh look at patterns done up on a 70's inspired outfit sand at new takes on boho style.

10) THE NEW SHORT: The biker short has hit the runway, and all the big houses are on board. Hop on, won't you? And for those that think it's the worst thing ever, fear not, for this Summer all sort of shorts are coming to the fore.

11) ACID WASH+TIE DYE: The moment of staunch minimalism seems to have passed - for now. In its place we have a return to bold print. Are you ready for a Summer spent in tie-dye sweaters, tees and skirts, Sometimes worn all at once? With acid-wash jeans? We thought so.

12) UTILITY-WORKER STYLE: The Spring runways brought jumpsuits and belted trousers and jackets done up in any array of shades of khaki. The trend falls somewhere between chic safari and modern military, with the predominance of all-in-one wardrobe solutions of boilersuits. So the overall message is clear: never has springtime dressing been simpler.

PARIS FW STREET-STYLE: A LESSON OF CHIC IN TRANSITIONAL WEATHER OUTFITS.

The final stage of Fashion Month, a four-week marathon of shows, presentations and general sartorial merriment that spans two continents is over. And while some of the season's most anticipated shows were set in the City of lights - think: Dior, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Chloé and Céline, just to name a few - everyone knows that the best outfits inspiration comes from outside the shows, whether theyre held in the heart of Marais or on the outskirts of the city. And because Paris is well known for its refined, pared down style, you can expect the best street style from Paris Fashion Week to be equally sophisticated. That usually translates to more neutral tones, timeless silhouettes, and overall more wearable looks + chic accessories and only a few touches of bold neon colours, which is the reason why the French-girl trope lives on as a synonym for effortless style! Still, it's not just the French girls whose outfits are the most captivating: editors, buyers, models and influencers from across the world all come together to show off just their own enviable personal styles, but also to give a preview of Spring's most anticipated trends. The weather may have been all over the place in Paris this week, so ahead, find a selection of the best transition weather outfit inspirations to last a lifetime - or at least until next season...