Sometimes, the simplest things are the hardest to get right. That’s the brilliance of these sandals by Marni—they are so simple, yet the most elegant of any I’ve seen this season.  

All of those embellished, grommeted and spiked sandals are fun, but these are timeless.

$725 at Barneys, 15 E. Oak St.

In my eyes, Phoebe Philo can do no wrong. Pretty much everything she does at Celine is perfection. Her intellectual, no-nonsense, minimalist clothes and accessories are timeless and effortless, which make them great for busy multi-tasking women (not surprising, given that she is a working mom herself).  

Recently, I decided that I should do away with my all purpose leather shoulder tote bag and find something that was still slouchy, but a little more structured with a closure that would hide my lack of organization from the eyes of the world. The first place I turned to was Celine and this beautiful leather bag came to my rescue.

If only Ms. Philo had an advice column too, as she always seems to have the answers.

$2,300 at Ikram, 15 E. Huron St.

Every woman has the right to play out different sides of her persona through her wardrobe. Most days I tend toward the sleek and straightforward, but every once in a while there are super feminine collections that make me want to dress up ladylike and twirl around like a little girl. 

The Spring 2013 collection from Chloé was one of those heavenly collections that looked like it floated down from a cloud, with the kind of sheer fabrics, frills, and flounces that many young ladies dream about. 

This taffeta top is plenty girly, but the navy brings it in line with most of my wardrobe. I love it with the matching navy shorts, but I also imagine it with a flippy A-line skirt and, if I were to really dream, a matching silk parasol.

$1,995 at Neiman Marcus or neimanmarcus.com

Maybe it’s my love for architecture—buildings by Buckminster Fuller, in particular. Or perhaps its an affinity for chiseled minerals and gems. Either way, I’m always drawn to accessories and bags that emphasize geometric structure. 

Chanel played with this theme a few seasons ago, with geode-inspired clutches and shoes. Roger Vivier has a line of bags with pieced-together hexagons and triangles. Now, Bottega Veneta has come out with a line of enameled antique silver jewelry, comprised of geometric shapes that look like chiseled crystals. 

I especially love this ring from the collection. It looks tough and beautiful at the same time—when I get dressed, that's how I always want to look.

$620 at Bottega Veneta or bottegaveneta.com

Flat sandals are a summer necessity, but they can be so boring. Sure, I won’t survive the season without my basic thong sandal, but once in a while (particularly when I’m wearing a longer dress or skirt) I’d like to rock a pair of flat sandals that are as powerful a statement as killer stilettos.

That's a good time to turn to Marios Schwab’s collaboration with Ancient Greek Sandals. These leather-laced and raffia-strewn head-turners are sure to put an exclamation point on any outfit. I wouldn’t expect anything less from Schwab, a designer who is an expert at amplifying female sexuality.

$390 at modaoperandi.com

I have always been a huge fan of Rag & Bone, even when they were only dressing the boys in handsome selvedge jeans. This collection, inspired by Saharan motocross racing, does not disappoint with its mix of androgynous utility chic and white on white layering (a big theme this season).

One of my favorite pieces from the runway is this sexy summer dress. It has a nice silhouette, a fitted top and flared skirt, and I think it looks great on a lot of different body types. I also love the netting detail on the back of the dress. That will keep you feeling as cool as you look when the temps start to rise.

$595 at Neiman Marcus, www.neimanmarcus.com

Even though I listened to Nirvana and Red Hot Chili Peppers back in the day, I was never a big devotee of grunge style. It was too messy and not girly enough for me.

But when I saw Dries Van Noten’s Spring 2013 collection, I fell in love.  He managed to take the themes of dishabille (contrasting plaids and an oversized fit) and combine them with his own penchant for using luxurious fabrics, beautiful color, and prints with a bit of shiny embellishment. 

I want to own the whole lineup in this collection. But, for now, I’ll start with this plaid-on-plaid ensemble. 

Shirt, $685, and skirt, $865, at Blake, 212 W. Chicago Ave., 312-202-0047

Spring is here… or at least it says so on the calendar. Despite the lingering frigid cold, it does seem like the sun is shining a little brighter outside, thus bringing my attention to my urgent need for new sunglasses. OK, maybe not urgent, as I do have a half dozen pairs lying about. But shopping for shades is one of my favorite things to do come spring. 

I’ve been looking for a pair with contrasting color at the top of the frame—a kind of faux eyebrow—for a while now, so it’s no surprise this pair from Fendi caught my eye. Plus I love the brown and black striping on the sides, which is so on trend this season.

$396 at Nordstrom, 520 N. Michigan Ave.; or nordstrom.com

I have to admit I was a bit disappointed after seeing the first hotly anticipated collection by Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent. It all seemed to veer too close to the original without a zing of modernity that you would expect from someone who overhauled menswear dramatically in the early aughts.  

But after looking at the offerings on the racks in some of my favorite stores, I’ve come around to see the brilliance in Slimane’s retail offerings. This little mini dress is just one example of the many gems that I’m lusting after. It’s a little rock-and-roll, yet it alludes to the classic proportions and French sensibilities of Saint Laurent. I believe the hype.

$2,690 at Barneys, 15 E. Oak St. or barneys.com