TREND CHALLENGE: BLACK AND WHITE

Less-is-more this spring.  We can all agree on that. And the unpretentious black & white trend definitely belongs in this category. Easy to wear and appropiate for most occasions, it can save you a lot of trouble if you don't know what to wear. It actually looks best when you keep it as a minimal as possible, and no one will blame you if you don't wear any accessories with it. Just make sure you go for a sharp structured silhouette, in order to avoid a boring look. Match a well-cut jacket with a fitted pencil skirt or get a structured top and wear it with skinny jeans. Make sure it's made of a good quality fabric, an essential rule when it comes to style a minimal outfit and that it looks good on you. I paired a black bodycon dress from French Connection with a voluminous white trench from Zara. If you want to go bold, finish the look with a neon bag.

If you like classic timeless pieces, the b&w trend should be on the top of your list this season. Get a pair of white jeans or trousers, that you can easily adapt to new trends. For example : Last year I bought the white pallazo pants and wore them with a mint green top. This time, I put on a striped shirt, which gave the entire look a fresh new perspective. You can also try matching them with a black V-neck blouse or with a black crop top and a jacket. 

There are infinite possibilities for styling the b&w trend and if you pick carefully, you can build a modern and glamorous wardrobe. You don't have to invest much in it, and rest assured the pieces you buy will not get out of fashion any time soon. 

Third look: top and jacket from H&M, leather skirt from ASOS.

ESPADRILLES

When was the last time you wore espadrilles? Most probably in the 90s. 

Neon pink and zebra print espadrilles from Stella McCartney, Washed out espadrilles from ASOS, multicolored from Zara, denim and stripes from ASOS, the ones on the left corner from Louboutin, and of course, the famous Chanel espadrilles. 

Yes, you guessed...espadrilles are cool again!

CANADIAN TUXEDO

My fascination for matching denim shirts with jeans started somewhere in 2010 when I bought my first denim shirt. I clearly remember why I got for: it was meant to match, at the time, my brand new beige harem pants.   It took a while to find the perfect blue wash and shape, but in the end I got an oversized light blue shirt. As for the denim-on-denim mania, it started by accident, during one of those "I-don't-know-what-to-wear" moments when you just grab the first thing you see from the closet. Even though the fashion rules were stricly against the "canadian tuxedo", the combination felt cool and comfortable. It had the je ne sais quoi feel, so I thought - "It can't be wrong".  

After three years, now I have a closet full of denim, and as I promised, I'm challenging Miss Britney for a "Who wore it better" duel:

As for the rules for wearing denim on denim without looking too retro, it's easy: you need to find a shirt and jeans that have a similar wash. If you're afraid you're gonna get it  wrong you can just wear a blue denim shirt with black or white jeans. 

This is post is submitted as part of the IFB Project. 

TOP 10 MUST HAVES FOR SPRING SUMMER 2013

Winter is almost over and with that you know it's time for the new collections to hit stores! The temptation is high because tou want them all (obviously, who doesn't?), but you wouldn't want to damage your wallet. Therefore I thought of doing a selection of the must-have pieces, in order to help you decide what to buy. Here are my top 10 must-haves for Spring-Summer 2013.  

1. A PAIR OF WHITE SHOES: One thing you should know about trends this season, is that everything that used to be a fashion faux-pas is now in style. The white shoes, a longtime forgotten item, are now a must-have. You can get them in any style: brogues, stilettos, or sandals. The ones in the pictures are from ASOS.

2. A STATEMENT BOMBER JACKET: This jacket will be a good investment, because you can match it with a lot of different clothes. It will look cool with jeans and a T-shirt or with a little black dress for a more edgy style. The bomber jacket is from  DKNY and you can find a similar one here.

3. A JUMPSUIT: Get a jumpsuit in denim or a fabric that looks like it. If you want to go for a bold look you can buy a classic dungaree and match it with sky-high heels. This one is from PAUL&JOE. 

4. A TWO-TONE BAG: If you plan on buying a two-tone bag, I suggest you pick one in black and white, since it will be easier to match with all other colors and patterns you already have in your wardrobe.  

5. A SUIT: A suit can be such a sexy alternative for a cocktail dress. It doesn't matter which color or shape you choose, but a suit is a must-have for Spring. The suit from the photo is from Isabel Marant. 

6. A CROP TOP: The crop top trend made a huge come back this season. You have two options: you can either go for a grunge look or a chis look by wearing it with a jacket on top. Find one here.

7. A STATEMENT DRESS: Look for a silk organza dress that is a little bit transparent. This one is from  TOPSHOP UNIQUE.  

8. A CAMISOLE: Satin will be the fabrice this summer. I like the fact that you can wear a camisole as a top with a suit or with jeans. Definitely a must-have! 

9. A PAIR OF SWEATPANTS: Another trend inspired from the 90s, the sweatpants are again fashionable. Perfect for going to the beach or if you are a crazy fashionista you can wear them with stiletto shoes and a fancy top.  

10. A BACKPACK: A fun and practical accessory for a summer vacation. You can find this one on ASOS. 

BLACK AND WHITE STRIPES

The black and white stripes trend seen this season at: Marc Jacobs, Balmain, Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta. 

It's funny to talk about it as the new trend in fashion, when in fact there's nothing new about it. "Invented" by Coco Chanel almost 100 years ago, the striped top is now a classic. I would say it's one of the must-haves for this spring. It will also be a good investment piece, since it will not go out of fashion. 

I got mine from Zara and the leather skirt is from ASOS.