spring trends I like - and some I don't

The coats have been banished to the closet in Tuvalu. People are walking around in their shirtsleeves and I'm seeing lots of stuff I love, out there on the street, and some fashion trends I don't like very much.

Here's my report:

I see dozens of beautiful cardigans out there. I think JCrew must have popularized the cardi with a new crowd. Just a few years ago they were considered sort of stuffy but now they are available everywhere and are terrific on cool mornings or in AC.

I love footless tights/leggings with shorts. (I know! Who'd have expected THAT?) I'm not talking about me wearing them but I've seen leggy girls looking adorable in tights and shorts.

Boots, bare legs and skirts. Yep. Another look I'd never have thought of but it's kind of cute - and just right as it's warm enough for bare legs and not too hot for boots. It's a delicate balance between proportion of boot (think mid-calf) and skirt length (think not-so-Stevie-Nicks) but I've seen a bunch of ladies pull it off quite well.

On men, I'm noticing plaid shirts with rolled sleeves! And fabulous old-school sneakers like Sperrys or Vans.

Meanwhile, I will continue my rant against wearing those lovely jersey-fabric dresses without the proper undergarments. Slips, I want to shout! I saw some very nice slips at the Gap last week (signifying the ease of purchase) and yet there is nary a slip to be seen in my city. The other day I was walking behind a shapely woman in a beautiful clingy skirt and I could clearly see every movement of her butt muscles AND the outline of her thong. I was praying she wasn't walking into my office building as I would find it difficult to restrain myself from entreating her to BUY A DAMN SLIP. Yes, I know, she probably looked "sexy" but I don't want to see her thong.

Also, I am having a hard time going with the whole I'm wearing a plaid bra under my sheer white blouse thing. While it's true that the saleslady at Nordstrom tried to convince me that this is a very hip look (the wearing of the patterned bra under the sheer top) I am not buying it! I didn't buy it!

Finally, I'd like to have a quick word about gladiator sandals. I'm guessing gladiator sandals were shown on runways around the world a few years ago and that they have now become affordable and available to the masses. But gladiator sandals, my friends, are a very stilted look and not easy to wear in everyday go-to-the-office settings. There's just something amiss with a JCrew skirt, tee shirt, cardi and glad sandals look and I believe the world needs to know about it.
For me, sandals of this type must really stand alone, as the centerpiece of an ensemble else they appear out of place or worse: like a costume.

There.
I feel better already.

BTW, it took me all day to be able to finish this post. FYI.