the hunt: must-have maxis

A painterly floral print and delicate details make this maxi dress a summer wardrobe must-have.
Greylin Blooming Silk Maxi Dress, $198 at Anthropologie

Now that the weather has finally, gloriously decided it's spring, all I want to wear is dresses. I'll be honest, I don't discriminate when it comes to dress hem length, but I have a soft spot in my sartorial heart for maxi dresses. They're so effortlessly chic - you can easily dress them up or down with the right accessories - and is there anything more comfortable on a warm spring day? Here are a few of my favorites, culled from two of the season's best trends:

Stripes

Stripes were all over the recent runways, from Marc Jacobs' mod tour de force to Kelly Lynne's killer high-waisted pants and striped skirt. Both collections - and these fab maxis - prove that stripes look best in bold black and white.

1. I'm nuts for the subtle nautical details - that's an anchor on the chest!!! - and ombre stripes on this Emma Cook dress. Seriously, I want this in my wardrobe NOW.
Emma Cook maxi dress, $352 at Net-A-Porter

2. Bold and flowing, BCBG's high-low striped dress is perfect for showing off a sexy summer sandal. If the voluminous silhouette isn't for you, try belting it at the waist.
BCBGMAXAZRIA Gia Silk High-Low Striped Dress, $548 at BCBG

3. Want something on-trend that won't break the bank? Mossimo's graphic maxi is as chic as it is easy on the wallet.
Mossimo knit maxi dress, $30 at Target

The Blues

From Tiffany to navy, sky to ocean, shades of blue are one of the key colors of the season (lucky for me - blue is one of my all-time favorite colors).

1. A watercolor print, floaty layers and barely-there straps make this dress perfect for indulging in a little summer romance.
Theyskens' Theory Dressa Marble Print Maxi Dress, $907.50 at My Wardrobe

2. She's the queen of Maxi Dressing, so it's no wonder Rachel Zoe's minty snake print wrap dress is a must-have.
Rachel Zoe Celine Print High-Low Silk Gown, $495 at Nordstrom

3. This gorgeous crochet maxi just makes you long to be on a yacht touring the Greek Isles, doesn't it? So dreamy.
Missoni Crochet Knit Ombre Dress, $3,630 at Mytheresa

ciao, bella!

On the cover: 3.1 Phillip Lim top, $450, Alexis Bittar bracelet, $325, and ring, $275, and Stephen Dweck earrings, $295, Neiman Marcus, 248.643.3300. Stella McCartney pants, $525, Saks Fifth Avenue, 248.643.9000. Madewell belt, sylist’s own.

My return flight from Sweden touched down late last week, and I was greeted by a beautiful site: the latest issue of StyleLine! I had the privilege of styling the cover and accompanying fashion spread alongside an incredible team, and I'm so proud of the results. StyleLine's editor, Karen Buscemi, gave photographer Lians and I a "color burst" theme. My interpretation was inspired by film noir - what would classic black-and-white noir look like if was shot in color? Thanks to the incredible creative team, beautiful model and a limited edition Gucci Fiat 500, pretty glamorous, if you ask me! Check out the full shoot below:

what's in the bag: rachel zoe nico messenger bag

Rachel Zoe Nico Messenger Bag, $525 at Neiman Marcus - Somerset Collection.

On Monday I'm styling a fashion editorial for one of our local magazines, which means I'm spending this week sending out sample requests and pulling product from local stores and designers. It's like fantasy shopping - I get to take whatever I want, without spending a dime. But just like Cinderella when the clock strikes midnight, the dream ends after the shoot, when everything has to be returned - le sigh.

Yesterday while I was pulling at Neiman Marcus, I fell in love. A bright red, structured bag caught my eye - I literally gasped. As I ooh-ed and ah-ed in the middle of the store, I learned the beauty in my hands was the Rachel Zoe Nico Messenger Bag. I added it to the pile of goodies I was borrowing for the shoot, and when I got everything back to the home office, I decided to take Nico for a little test drive. Just how much of my stuff could this baby handle?