Bright, Black or White: Dress Cool for Warmer Weather

(c) 2013, The Washington Post.

Neons. Warm-weather leather. Enough black and white to outfit a million Coco Chanel clones. So many trends are buzzing around this spring, a stylista could suffer whiplash. To avoid visits to the fashion emergency room, we suggest a prudent treatment. Dose your closet with a single new item at a time: tropical-print shoes, a lace top, maybe jeans in "it" color mint.

"Yes, a few of these ideas can be mixed, say lace shorts with a bright print," says Julie Egermayer, owner of the Violet Boutique in Washington. "But the easiest trend? Black and white. It's something we come around to again and again." Sort of like spring itself.

LACE

Formerly prim, lace gets racy when sewn onto short shorts. Black Sheep shorts ($68, South Moon Under stores and www.southmoonunder.com); Timing striped top ($29, Willow boutique in Washington and Arkansas City, Kan.); and Melissa "Prism" wedges ($145) and Alexis Bittar bangles ($155 each), both available at The Shoe Hive in Alexandria, Va., and TheShoeHive.com.

NEON

Tame the shades of traffic signs and 1980s Madonna videos by pairing them with crisp white. Tibi peplum top ($350, Bloomingdale's); Hudson jeans ($165, Bloomingdale's); vegan "leather" clutch ($49) and faux gem necklace ($24), both from Violet Boutique; CC Skye bracelet ($315, Bishop Boutique in Alexandria, Va., and www.bishopboutique.com); and Kate Spade sunglasses ($138, couture.zappos.com).

BLACK AND WHITE

The classic noncolor on noncolor combo looks fresh in new shapes and styles. Tracy Reese convertible silk pleat shorts ($248, www.tracyreese.com); Maeve black tank ($68, Anthropologie); Waverly blazer ($264, Zoe Boutique in Alexandria, Va.); Alexis Bittar black and white rings ($35 each, The Shoe Hive); chandelier earrings ($12, Violet Boutique); Charming Charlie belt ($8, Charming Charlie stores and www.charmingcharlie.com); and L.K. Bennett "Sandy" strappy heels ($365, Shopbop.com).

TROPICAL PRINTS

Are-we-in-Jamaica? patterns scream spring break — in a non-trashy-movie way. BB Dakota pants and tank ($78 and $78, South Moon Under); Remi & Reed belt ($42, South Moon Under); CC Skye cuff ($175, Bishop Boutique); long necklace ($16, Violet Boutique); and MICHAEL Michael Kors wooden "Josephine" wedges ($185, Zappos.com).

MINT

Skin is now also in for hotter months. It's especially nice paired with ice-cream-dreamy mint. Vince gray leather motorcycle jacket and gray T-shirt ($995 and $78, Bloomingdale's); Modern Supply Clothiers mint-green chinos ($88, Bloomingdale's); earrings and necklace ($10 and $20, Violet Boutique); and Target bracelet ($20, Target stores).

ACCESSORIES

Nanette Lepore coral blouse ($228, Bloomingdale's); Elaine Turner black and white clutch ($75, www.elaineturner.com); Jon Josef pastel blue raffia shoes ($140, The Shoe Hive); and J. Crew mint and teal bag ($295, J. Crew stores).

bc-fashion-spring (TPN)