"You Will Make Heads Turn"/Contest Winners

The "Springing Into Joy" winners:

1. Suzette W.

2. Candace C.

3. Stacey L.

Suzette, Candace, and Stacey, please contact gwen@perfumniche.com to provide a mailing address.

Thanks to everyone who entered "Springing Into Joy"! If you would like to buy this bouquet of  5 heady decants ($CDN 21 plus shipping) , please visit perfumeniche.com or email Gwen@perfumeniche.com.

Three winners... but all of us can be head-turners. A fortune cookie predicts it!

Spring means rotating the closet, but how about one fresh, head-turning perk-up?

Pink winks

Anthurium lace earrings, $CDN 68 from This Ilk, a Montréal accessories company who make charming earrings from vintage lace and trims. (Also offered in a larger size.) And, This Ilk re-dyes or refurbishes your pieces should they need it; the fee quoted is $10. Now that's service!

Racy rain boots from Cougar, ready to prance in both wet and dry weather. Top: "Iggy" rubber rain boot in oyster, $CDN 130. Bottom: the wedge-soled "Firenze" ($CDN 90) shown in rose. 

 

Spring for it!

A luxe item you'll never regret: a cashmere collared cardigan, warmer than a sweater, lighter than a jacket. This style—a collar and pockets— is hard to find. From Poetry; colour shown is Pebble; also made in Aqua and Hedgerow. Price, £259 and a bouquet of tulips to Poetry for offering sizes in UK 6-22. 

I'll repeat my advice to lighten woven darks with openwork, so that navy and black look seasonal, not winter-heavy. While we're in luxeland, this Eric Bompard openwork sleeveless v-neck does it all: detail, quality, versatility. At $CDN $445, it better. But, oooh!

Sprigged 

Our friend Beth came to dinner recently wearing flowered tights, small blooms on black, her charming accessory for a sweater and skirt. I found a similar pair on Simons' site, and was intrigued by the "knee-high effect", because those 'stay-ups' never do. As of my writing this, they are on sale, too!  

By coincidence, last Saturday I walked behind this woman wearing two of my picks, Cougar "Firenze" rain boots in Brick, and flowered tights:

I have another cookie! (Isn't there always another cookie?) 

I interpret "make your move" as permission for a moderate spree.  April means hopping puddles on every corner; I equipped myself for my daily walks.

We'll see how the pale colours of my Cougar "Rave" waterproof slip-on sneakers hold up; they deliver my longed-for spring lift. (If you shop on Cougar's site, set up an account, and then put a pair in your basket to think over, you might get a 10% off code within a day; I did!)  At second-markdown these are non-returnable but luckily, they fit!

A small cotton bandanna provides just enough warmth and isn't damaged by showers. I bought a block-print bandanna on Etsy, from the seller bloomingprint, in Toronto; price, $CDN 38.

Last week, my head was turned by a gaggle of five-year-olds in charming handmade headbands (what look like pompoms are paper flowers), led by a teacher at far left, who holds a large frame drum. (Day care staff forbid strangers to photograph children, so I shot them from behind.)

I thought, There is a point in life where a flowered headband is fun! What happens to us? 

I ordered this  slouchy beanie as my grown-woman version. It's made in Sudbury, Ontario by Christine Robson, UpHereDesigns, in sizes from infant to adult large; many other patterns available. Price for adult small (there's a size chart on each style's page), $CDN 25.

All set until summer! Before you skip out the door, tell us about your own spring accessories, whether new or long-loved.