While my guy friends are glued to college hoops this month, I’ll be getting fanatical with my favorite sport: shopping What’s New. Who’s going to advance into my closet? Marc Jacobs is winning my heart for sure.

(1) Spring is a print lover’s paradise, and this Marc by Marc Jacobs dress provides an eye-popping day-to-night option. Marc by Marc Jacobs – Muriel Stripe Dress

(2) When mixing prints, big hair accessories, and colorful jewelry, sometimes it’s best to keep the shoes relatively simple. Marc by Marc Jacobs – Twisted Ankle Wrap Espadrilles

(3) On the other hand, audacious footwear looks effortless in our Runway to Shopbop feature. Check out the Marc by Marc Jacobs spring runway to see these sneakers styled with a bustier and striped soft pants for one-of-a-kind coolness. Marc by Marc Jacobs – High Top Sneakers

–Suzanne

I read a quote from Oscar nominee Vera Farmiga on WWD Monday, referencing the fuchsia frock she wore to the awards ceremony: “But I’m sick of winter already. I just wanted something that screamed spring.” Amen, sister. I’m not really one for wearing color, but when I put on a black dress, black cardigan, grey tights, and black boots yesterday, my wardrobe suddenly felt very heavy. I’m ready to kick the winter doldrums aside and step into a colorful spring. Nothing really says warm weather quite like bright dresses and wedge sandals, and over the weekend, when the weather was rather delightful after months of the frightful, I saw plenty of them out and about in the city (well, the dresses, not the sandals—yet). For my part, I’ve got my eye on a couple Tucker print dresses and an Oonagh by Nanette Lepore hot pink ruffled frock (a very toned-down version of Ms. Farmiga’s Marchesa gown).

What about you? Have you started to embrace brighter shades in anticipation of spring’s warming temperatures?

–Amie

Deutsch dream Diane Kruger is gorgeous as ever at a pre-Oscar soiree at Madeo in LA on March 6. Di arrived at the Chanel and Charles Finch sponsored dinner dedicated to celebrating fashion and film with her beau Joshua Jackson at her side dazzling in – what else? – a Chanel Fall 2009 Couture mini dress. Diane paired the flirty sequined circle print mini (check out Lotta Stensson’s Circle Drum Tank Dress in Drum Print or get your sparkle on in Jenny Han’s Sequin Mini Dress in Black) with nude Jimmy Choo sandals (check out Samanta’s textured Viv Peep in Brown). A side ponytail and contrast blue bag (just like Inge Christopher’s Theda Oversized Clutch in Blue) complete Di’s flawless ‘fit. What do you think of her night out attire? It’s pretty obvious I think she looks absolutely stunning here, but the black and white Chanel gown she wore to the 2010 Oscars was a completely different story. Like Miley Cyrus, Di’s intriguing gown landed her on both best and worst dressed rundowns – although I think she leans closer to best than complete trainwreck! Diane’s iconic Chanel gown featured layers of ivory pleats, ruffles and chiffon petals divided by black rosette bands, topped with a short train and black satin clutch: essentially, a look that in Tim Gunn’s words needed “an editing eye,” but I think if anyone can pull it off it’s Di. What do you think?

Source: wireimage.com

Diane Kruger seen in Los Angeles, CA

orange silk scarf, American Apparel nylon leggings, and a pair of Lamb strappy sandals. 

The ’70s jumpsuit, the backless romper, the Hervé Léger bandage dress that elegantly kisses every curve—sometimes the chicest things come in one piece. While picking out sizzling swimwear for this summer, I found myself gravitating toward our one-piece category. Sure there are a bevy of bikinis that’ll raise the mercury along with the eyebrows of my fellow beachgoers, but the directional designs of this season’s one-piece swimsuits are a singular paradise all their own.

It wasn’t long ago that a one-piece was about as cool as a pair of mom jeans, but designers have taken the basic maillot and cut it out, ripped it up, played with its proportions, and added edgy embellishments like grommets and studs. Tigerlily swimwear shows how to sun like a Brazilian bombshell with the sultry crisscrossing of the Consuelo one-piece, while L*Space makes quite a splash with the boho-sexy Stardust one-piece. Zimmermann swimwear, Melissa Odabash, and Red Carter each translate top trends into water-friendly wear: the first with an evening-inspired lattice neckline, the second with a high-gloss snake-print number, and the third with a slashed tee effect that’s 100% rock-n-roll.

–Suzanne

Showcasing her indie spirit, Olivia Wilde dazzles at the 25th Film Independent Spirit Awards on March 5 in Los Angeles. We haven’t seen O on the red carpet much lately, and I have to say it was worth the wait! For the Spirit Awards Olivia selected a sweeping Ralph Lauren Fall 2009 maxi that was worn casually on the runway with a brown leather belt which I’m oh-so-happy she decided to forgo. The look is so much more elegant, and the bohemian print is perfect for the event (check out CoutureCandy’s selection of printed maxis like Love True Love’s Tanzania Gold in Multi, Karen Zambos’ Maxi Dress in Ivory or the Swanky Long Dress in Brick). Olivia carried a petite gold clutch (similar to Whiting & Davis’ Shirred Frame Clutch in Gold) and accessorized with a dainty gold necklace (I’m loving Kuo Ting’s Sapphire and Garnets Necklace in Gold). Natural waves and illuminating make-up complete O’s gold infused ensemble. What do you readers think? Looks like there’s a new golden girl in town!

Source: Getty Images

—Violet Moon Gaynor   

Photo: Imaxtree

I love Napoleon Perdis’ NP Set palettes because they’re affordable, compact, and chockfull of beautiful, universally flattering shades. At the moment, the new Pretty Presto set ($17, Target stores) is getting the most face time—I’m a sucker for a faux glow, and the rosy blush and bronze eye shadows are to die for! The best part is that the brown shimmers aren’t just easy on the eyes; they’re perfect for the cheeks too. So when I want sun-kissed skin in a hurry, I take the biggest powder brush I have, swirl it over the blush and shadows, and apply the resulting rosy-bronze combo along my cheeks, forehead, and nose. For an extra dose of glamour, I pop out the palette’s mini-mascara and lip gloss and, voila! I’m ready to go.

—Emily Hebert

Harem pants. Rompers. Shorts for evening. There are some styles I’ve come to love that, I must admit, I raised an eyebrow to at first glance. Since clogs took center stage at Chanel’s infamous spring 2010 barnyard show and mules marched down Alexander Wang’s spring runway, my (and much of the fashion blogosphere’s) initial resistance to these trends is starting to fade after seeing how wearable they can be.

Though styled on the Chanel runway with ruffles and ribbons, a hay-strewn floor, and a rugged Baptiste Giabiconi, with the right styling it’s easy to wear clogs without looking like you’re fresh off the farm. Take your cues from Chanel’s silhouettes and pair them with a mini dress or a blouse and skirt, or reference the show’s color palette with lots of white, nudes, and petal pinks. But perhaps the most effortless way to wear this trend is to try clogs with a bohemian dress, like a print Anna Sui dress or a floaty confection by Beyond Vintage.

As for mules, they’ve gotten a bit wild this season despite their prudish reputation. If you’re hesitant about the closed toe, try something with a peep toe and unique details. Camilla Skovgaard accents mules with her signature zigzag lug sole, and Alexander Wang updates his with pointed vamps, leopard prints, and mirrored heels. Far from dowdy, these styles have enough sex appeal for a night-out ensemble.

–Tonya

Sometimes the designer becomes part of the alluring mystique of his or her brand. I must admit that DVF’s glamorous Studio 54 days, the paradox of Karl Lagerfeld’s delicate paper fans and larger-than-life persona, and Tom Binns’s tenure with punk fashion icon Vivienne Westwood draw me toward these designers’ creations all the more. The same is true of the current curator of uptown-chic, Rachel Roy. Roy’s exotic beauty proves you don’t have to be a WASP-y Lauren Santo Domingo clone to pull off an exquisitely polished look. As a busy mother of two, her clothes reflect the need to seamlessly transition from a full day to a fun evening out, always infusing the classic with the directional. And to ensure every woman can own a little piece of Rachel Roy, new diffusion line Rachel Roy Signature offers the timeless sophistication of her eponymous label at an affordable price. Strong, feminine, and chic, Rachel Roy and her designs are something to aspire to.

–Suzanne