SPRING FOR BLACK & WHITE

Right now, I am just loving the classic Black & White combination for spring.  We even saw it continued for the Fall 2011 collections, propelling the trend towards minimal and graphic color blocking.

See the detail from Celine's Fall collection:

Celine Fall 2011

Hmm, I am especially fond of that doctor bag shape she's carrying.  

For those, myself included, who have been overusing our black turtlenecks, BCBG Max Azria now allows us to layer our white turtlenecks under black outfits.  No longer do nuns and priests have sole claim to this sartorial look.

BCBG Max Azria Fall 2011

BCBG Max Azria Fall 2011

But remember to add some heels or slick boots.  You're aiming for sexy, not saintly.

The great thing about black & white is that it can be easily achieved through layers.  The outfit doesn't have to come all "done" like a pair of spectator pumps.  Of course, it is nice to have the black-white accent put together already, like this clutch:

Rebecca Minkoff
chain-strapped clutch

Pulling off black and white is angst-free.  Coco Chanel taught us how to do it --timelessly -- with ease.  If all you have is black, it's can be as simple as adding strands of pearls.

Coco Chanel, archive photo

* Runway photos from style.com