How To: Incorporate Spring Style Into Your After 5 Wardrobe Now

Wear Now Coordinating Item. While the weather is still cold, this open front Drew blazer will work really well with this blouse. The neckline accentuates the lace, and the silhouette of the body looks great with the shirt’s sheer shirttail showing below the hem.

Wear Now Coordinating Item. We spoke of the merits of Alice + Olivia’s pants yesterday, and we’re happy to do it again today. The wide waistband is smoothing and oh-so-flattering – it’s Alice + Olivia’s magic bullet that makes all of their pants that have it fit beautifully. The stretchy fabric is so comfortable, and the narrow fit of the leg is just as flattering as the waistband. These pants truly make us look - and feel – slimmer, and more elegant. They pair with the shirt’s soft drape, and the tailored blazer, for a perfectly balanced look for cocktails or dinner. If you want to keep it a bit easier, you can replace these pants with NYDJ’s skinny ponte pants. They have a bit more casual feel, and are still perfectly appropriate for a dinner out.

Wear Later Coordinating Item. Come springtime, play up the lace – and your legs – with this coordinating lace skirt in a perfectly demure midi length that’s a bit longer in the back. If you are more petite, tuck the sheer portion of the blouse in (or just the front of the blouse) to balance the loose fit of the top with the flounce of the skirt. Now, you’ve got a beautiful outfit for a shower, a lovely dinner, or even a cocktail party.

Wear Later Coordinating Item. Just add these strappy sandals to complete the look. While strappy black heels will look beautiful with this top and skirt, Tory Burch’s suede blushy-nude sandals will really elevate the look. They will also elongate the look of your legs by blending, instead of contrasting with your skin. The lady-like color will go with all your pale neutral, pastels, and pops of color all spring and summer long.

KEY Transitional Item #2. Denim is an ideal transitional fabric – it’s something we wear year round, right? We are pretty obsessed with these Kate Spade New York pumps to be perfectly honest. The printed denim suede of these classic pumps is such a lady-like way to bring denim in to your outfit and, just like your favorite jeans, can really go with almost anything. They provide edge to a feminine outfit. And add just the right amount of dressed-up femininity to any menswear-inspired looks - that’s where we’re going to focus now.

Wear Now Coordinating Item. While the black/white stripe on a perfect medium blue ground is as classic as can be, the easy contemporary fit of Equipment’s timeless cotton shirt is downright sexy with a pair of heels, a great pair of pants, and a statement necklace. And that’s what’s so great about this shirt. We’re styling it here for a night out, but you can effortlessly pair it with a simple pencil skirt for the office, too. The chambray blue of this shirt is just the right nod to the pumps without trying to match.

Wear Now Coordinating Item. A slouchy pair of coated trousers continue to play up the menswear contrast to the super feminine denim pumps. 3x1 specializes in denim and these coated denim cropped trousers are just awesome for a night out. They do run big, especially for a contemporary fit, as you can see on the model (through the ‘shop it’ button). She does not do them justice – probably why they are now at such a great sale price. Size down and you’ll get the perfect slightly slouchy fit that is stylish, not sloppy, and just right for the end of winter.

Wear Now Coordinating Item. The perfect edge for a button down shirt, this Jules Smith necklace is substantial, yet still delicate, filling up the neckline and giving a feminine finish to a menswear inspired look.

Wear Later Coordinating Item. With denim continuing to be a favorite this upcoming season, we’re seeing “denim-on-deinim” more and more. We like to do this trend with a sophisticated, more timeless slant, making sure there is a lot of contrast to our denim combinations. This sky blue chambray shirt is just the right color to pair with the darker blue of these pumps, making it clear that we’re not trying to “match”, just coordinate in the coolest of ways. The shirt is made of a tencel/cotton, which gives it a beautiful drape, playing up the loose ease of the fit. It’s from AYR, one of our favorite newer lines that is all about timeless “All Year Round” style. On that note, they offer a long sleeve version, too.

Wear Later Coordinating Item. AG’s picture of these slouchy skinny jeans doesn't really show off the slouch, but trust us when we tell you...they are the perfect fit. Contemporary, but not tight, they are just how you want this style to fit – the waist (which sits much closer to the belly button and slouches down) has just the right ease, while the leg is slim and tapers beautifully. You can roll them up with these heels, too. (See this lighter wash to get a better sense of the true fit.) The darker wash has just enough distressing to make them relaxed and cool, and the deep color really ties the pale blue chambray shirt and dark denim-looking suede pumps together effortlessly – no denim-on-denim cowboy feeling here.