Ruffle into Spring

The other day, I couldn't help but notice Cygne's gray ruffle sweater. I loved the lightweight cashmere look, the soft gray, the pretty ruffle yolk and I really loved the "belled" sleeve-cuff. She admitted she stole it out of her Mom's closet; it goes to show how a simple item like this sweater can really span ages. The sweater happens to be from Ann Taylor, a place known more for its work looks for a more mature customer. Let's just say when I was an editor, it was pretty rare for any of us to wear clothing from Ann Taylor, Talbots and the like. But as I believe I have mentioned before, Ann Taylor has really put out some really good looking items as of late and I'm definitely going to have to check out what's new for Spring.

Speaking of Spring...where did it go? The warmer weather came and disappeared in Omaha this past week. April is always a bit fickle but I can't really complain as I know we're heading into summer, slowly...but surely. And that means it's finally time to start thinking about Spring Wardrobe Updaters. All month long, we'll be offering our ideas of what to incorporate into your spring and summer wardrobe from head-to-toe. The first tip comes courtesy of intern Jamie. With the transition from colder

temps to warmer ones, it's the perfect time to step out in the peep-toe bootie. We really love this one at the Troc from LAMB...and it's on sale! This bootie also incorporates another one of Jamie's Spring Trends: Cutouts. Seen all over the runways from Balmain to Marc Jacobs, cutouts didn't leave much to the imagination. So if you're a little shy about baring your soul (and shoulders and stomach), try the cut out peep toe bootie. You'll be knocking off two trends in one item...

Trocadero Holiday Q&A: Cygne

With the holidays right around the corner - literally - we thought it would be fun to share with our loyal readers a bit about the Trocadero staff and what we love in the store right now.

One of the best parts of the holidays, aside from spending time with friends and family, is gift-giving. It's always exciting to find the perfect gift for someone special on your list.

With that in mind, today marks the beginning of a special series of posts that will feature one member of the staff each Sunday through the holiday season. Each of us will talk about what item we would love to get for an important person in our lives and why we'd gift this particular item. We're kicking off the series today with Cygne. See the gift she would buy and for whom she'd buy it below.

"If I could buy anything from Trocadero, I would buy my mother the beige Kara Ross 'Nola' bag," Cygne writes. "The reason for this is simple - my mother almost never indulges herself in anything she wants. She usually buys my sister and me gifts over buying small ones for herself. I would want her to have the bag as a thank you for everything she's given me. On a less important level, she carries around bags for years and rarely gets a new one. This purse would be the absolute best gift to give her."

The Kara Ross "Nola" comes in beige or black buttery-soft leather with a touch of python trim, $895.

To learn more about Team Trocadero, to subscribe to our weekly e-mail newsletter or to find the perfect holiday gift, visit our Web site at ShopTrocadero.com.

The Troc Look of the Week

When Cygne came to work the other day she had an extremely "je ne sais quois" French look. It seemed quite effortlessly chic and something that seemed reminiscent of what I would see on young French women in Paris, the city with the most fashionable looks.

What works here? The lightweight, spaghetti strap cotton summer dress in white paired with a same length charcoal cotton cardigan makes it work appropriate. The short-sleeves on this cardigan is a modern take on the traditional, "grandpa" style item. Cygne's choice of accessories really worked too. The nude sandals don't distract from the neutral ensemble. And the piece that really ties the whole look together is the skinny tan belt that she "borrowed" from her mom's closet. I'm not a big fan of belts (Trocadero, in fact, does not carry them at all) as I find them awkward to wear most of the time. But her use of this "vintage" piece from her mom's closet made me think that I need to start wearing some of my own collection of belts, both skinny and wide ones.

Let us know what you think of Cygne's look. And check back here for future posts on our Trocadero Look of the Week.