anthropologie

While I wouldn't mind finding a secret entrance to another place at the back of my wardrobe, the scenario seems fairly unlikely. The closest that I can probably hope to come by purchasing furniture that was designed with a much less magical secret, like the Secret Cabinet being sold by Anthropologie. The grey cabinet is made of poplar and appears to be a five-door dresser from the outside, but once the hinged door is opened, a sunny yellow interior with adjustable shelves is revealed. It measures 76"H x 43.5"W x 20.5"D. Price: $1,998.

When the days are short and the nights are long, it's hard not to want to bundle yourself into the warmest coat you can find and, even if you don't necessarily approve of wearing fur, you have to admit that the fur-wearers always look toasty. Anthropologie's Carriage Coat has the look of fur, but is synthetic. 'Tis the season to save some animals and still look stylish, right? Fortunately, the only thing that is noticeably unrealistic about this coat is that it lacks the faint animal smell of real fur. It feels wonderfully warm when draped around your shoulders and has a very flattering cut to it. Price: $218.

The Sea Change Ring from Anthropologie is a "wow" piece of jewelry and will grab more attention than rings that are far more expensive. It is made of sterling silver and coated with mother of pearl, giving the effect of a pearl that is slowly being revealed from inside a shell. It is 1.5-in. in diameter and handmade in the US. Price: $498.

This purse is a two-in-one deal. Made in Brazil of soft washed leather, the Dasher & Dancer Purse actually consists of a large shoulder bag and a much smaller one that are held together by large snaps. When attached, it gives the impression that the smaller bag really just makes up several front pockets on one main bag. When separated, you can simply select the bag that best suits your needs: small for going out in the evening and large for shopping/errands during the day. The purse would be a wonderful accessory on a vacation, where you are limited in number of bags you are allowed to carry, but might like to have more than one option when you arrive at your destination. Price: $578.

Crochet tables seem to be enjoying some degree of popularity this year, though more often than not they can look rough and more appropriate as outdoor furniture unless you're going for a "shabby chic" look. The Mandeville Lamp manages to capture the use of negative space in the same way as those hole-filled tables, but with a much cleaner look. It is smooth, elegant and does not over-do the design. The ceramic lamp is made in Italy, with a 22" base and a total height of 30". Price: $398.

Maybe it's because I'm a foodie, but one of the things I love about this bag is the name. The Creme Brulee Tote is a new bag available at anthropologie from Italian designer frassineti. It is exceptionally appealing, made of buttery and supple caramel-colored leather. The hardware is gold-tone and sparkles - to extend the food analogies even further - like unmelted sugar crystals on top of a real creme brulee. The only downside is that now that I've been introduced to this designer, I want to see more. Unfortunately, his/her website is still under construction, so I'll have to content myself with this one piece for now. Price: $468.

The first two words that spring to mind when looking at this bag are, in no particular order, "yacht" and "beach." The Southerly Winds Tote from Anthropologie is made of a medium linen, festively colored with nautical-looking red and white stripes. The patches on the sides of the bag are made of cotton canvas, but the trim at the opening is made of supple leather, which holds the woven rope which serves as a handle. Inside pockets keep your cell phone and iPod from falling to the bottom of the tote(14"x 19.5"x 8") and getting lost beneath a bathing suit, sandals and a book of light summer reading. Price: $278.

This bag from Anthropologie really caught my eye the last time I was in the store. It's the Sail-Away Satchel, made of natural canvas with blue, calfskin accents and leather handles. The bag is soft and lightweight, despite its solid appearance, with plenty of interior room. The buckle on the front is purely decorative; there is a zip closure on the top of the bag, as well as a zip pocket on either end of the bag. It's a great choice for traveling, but you can't go wrong toting it around town, either. Price: $448.

[Photo by Nicole Weston]

Sundresses are on the casual end of elegance. Largely sleeveless, they are perfect for garden parties, a lazy Sunday brunch or a picnic at the park. They should be comfortable and easy to wear, but classy at the same time; sundresses are not too casual and should look good with strappy sandals or thong flats. This spring, there are a couple of trends that are showing up in the sun. The biggest one is white. White is the must-have shade for spring dresses. It is flattering and cooling, simple enough to be paired with any other shade and bright enough to be eye catching. Large print patterns and stripes are popular, too, but are definitely coming in second to the simple white dress. Other trends to look out for are dresses with empire waists and fuller skirts, as well as easy-to-wear shirt dresses, all of which can be very figure flattering.

This white Vintage Lace Shirtdress from ABS by Allen Schwartz has a lace overlay over an empire chiffon slip. It is flowy and flirty without being too revealing. Price $230.