As the Obama family begins another four years at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, one of the things I look forward to is their style.  The first day begins in a nonpartisan color, a purple majesty.

Mrs. O in Thom Browne, Malia in Kate Spade and Sasha in J. Crew.  See more violet styles here.

I have either used all of these books or enjoyed these authors recipes online with great success.  So they are kitchen tested and approved.

I have posted about Studiopatro before (for Fall 2011) but I had to share the new items for winter 2012.

These make a lovely and generous gift for a friend, a holiday hostess or for yourself.

In the meantime, as I am posting on my 28th birthday, I thought I’d share some lessons from the past year.

1. My advice as I look back on 27 is to expect the unexpected.  Life, or the life we plan, is just that, a plan.  Plans change.  The timeline we think we’ll meet isn’t always so and if you allow that to be okay, it will be. **If you stop reading now, you’ll be fine.  If you keep going, you’ll be better.  Here’s more advice, don’t skip around too much when you’re reading you’ll miss things.
2. Ask questions.  When someone uses words you don’t understand, terms you’ve never heard or a tone you’re unsure about, ask them what they mean.  Be sure.  Being wrong because of your assumptions is worse that being embarrassed because you don’t understand.  Asking questions means you’re still learning.  Learning means you’re alive.
3. Eat lunch, not at your desk.  Meet with friends, old colleagues, old friends, new mentors, eat lunch and break bread.  Share stories and laugh and really try to do it more often.  Give yourself extra bonus points for walking to lunch.  (This is something I am still working on.)
4. Set goals and work really hard at them.  Determine what you want to have – a new job, a new title, a new skill, a new triumph.  And do it.  Take notes a long the way, follow up, put your head down and cross off every small accomplishment and relish them.  When you still aren’t at your goal (and the timeline doesn’t line up, reread #1) go back to it and work harder.  P.S.  When you hit that goal and you get that title/job/skill/life change, celebrate like the rockstar you are.
5. Don’t feel badly about crying or not crying.  Sometimes the best medicine you can give yourself is a moment to cry.  Other times the best thing you can do for yourself is to not cry.  There are no rules.  If you think you’re crying too much, find something to laugh at.
6. Celebrate, everything.  Celebrate good weather, celebrate small wins (see #4), celebrate friends, celebrate birthdays, engagements, weddings, graduations, babies and all the good moments that bring us together.  The human condition brings us together, if you bring cake the human condition becomes a party.
7. Don’t be afraid to change things up.  The way “it” has always been done isn’t because it is the best way to do it, but rather because change takes thought, time and a little muscle.  Change is good and so is building up some muscle.
8. Know in your head, your heart and to the ends of your finger tips, that you’re not done.  What you know at 12, 17, 24, or what I think I know at 28 should only be a shadow of what I know and will accomplish the next time I blow out the candles.

Here’s hoping all of my wishes come true… and yours too!

Cream of the Crop: And 1, and 2, and 3, and 4.  Repeat.  Do you hear that sound?  It is legions of ladies flocking to the gym to crunch and curl.  The crop top/bralette trend was big on the runway and it was fun to see how it was played with so diversely.  Most important detail for cropping your top?  Time and place, no matter how many runways show it, your navel is never business casual.

Dressed to the Nineties: It’s been two decades since Marc Jacobs became the grunge god of designers and for spring 2013, designers gave us a throwback.  Hyper-colored overalls, Blossom-esque details, muscle tees, and an edge that says “I’m mildly interested in partying like it’s 1999.”

Retro in White:  The opposite of season’s past leisure suit, the belted, better in white retro suits made a statement going down the runway.  In 60′s kicky minis, or 70′s vested and dramatic pairings, its a cool look, for a cool girl whose all about business.

A Whisper: Spring’s sweetest dresses, like the season, seem to come in like a lion.  This trend features delicate fabrics hanging perilously from delicate straps in a delicate neutral palette.  One strong breeze and this whisp of a dress is whisked away.

Cool Mint: Last year’s runways also showed this transitional pastel and its Easter-egg cousins.  I am excited about the hue this year because of the way it varies from light to deeply saturated and the silks and chiffon to serious leather.

Modern Neon: Neon has been a fashion girl favorite for a little while now, but I love the mix of the hyper-bright colors with the simplicity of clean and modern shapes.  A sleek column, the perfect cap sleeve and brilliant color.

Gilded Lady: The golden girl is the one to watch for spring’s most formal moments.  These styles, worth their weight, are just right for every girl.  An evening gown that is sweetly romantic, boho luxe or deco glam is that much of a statement maker when dripping in gold.

Peacocking: Did you know that the beautiful feathers that peacocks are famous for are only on the male birds?  Not true for the spring runways.  In gorgeous gowns, in whispy fabrics, models sashayed in the deep turquoise hue that would make the proudest flock green with envy.

Washed Away: Beach inspired, but not at all beach ready, a stand out pattern trend was fabric splashed with movement and crashing with wave inspired prints.  Paired with sleek hair and clean makeup, these mer-models were the best fruits of the sea.

Looks from the Emerson Fry Fall 2012 collection