LE CATCH

$34, old navy*

For Fall 2013, Jil Sander, Christian Dior and Stella McCartney all showed strapless dresses that were designed to be worn during the day rather than after dusk. Jump on this new trend now and wear this adorable bird-print number with...

1. Old Navy bird print dress, $34, oldnavy.com*
2. Wendy Mink gold earrings, $245, charmandchain.com
3. Jimmy Choo acrylic clutch, $1250, netaporter.com
4. Isa Tapia sandals, $425, shopbop.com

*Get 20% off through 5/6 by typing in ONSAVE20 at checkout.

I'm hankering for one of those blistering hot summer days, when the only sane and comfortable thing to wear is a short lightweight dress. When the next heat wave rolls in (forecasted to hit LA later this week!), I'll opt for a frock featuring a pretty print, just like the ones featured in these pics. I think these skin-baring dresses--along with these darlings from Parker, Asos, Mink Pink, Carven, Diane Von Furstenberg, Alice + Olivia and Zimmermann--totally epitomize easy breezy summer chic.

Photos: The Styleograph, The Sartorialist

$115, reiss

This anything-but-basic sweatshirt is all about the detailing: cool quilted fabric (the big thing for Fall 2013), patched front pockets and paneling on the sleeves. Plus, it's incredibly wearable--almost too wearable!--exactly the thing I'd wear to pieces...

1. Reiss quilted sweatshirt, $115, reiss.com
2. Etoile Isabel Marant coat, $660, matchesfashion.com
3. Henri Bendel wrap band ring, $78, henribendel.com
4. Topshop leather tote bag, $150, topshop.com
5. River Island buckle-trimmed heels, $160, riverisland.com
5. R13 jeans, $425, netaporter.com

While my Saturday night took me from a cocktail party to a gallery opening to a Hollywood birthday bash, Sunday night was spent with family at my aunt's house. It was a classic Rentmeester family evening featuring everything from World War II stories from both Europe (via my Dutch aunts) and Asia (via my Indonesian mom) to vivid descriptions of the craziness that was LA in the 60's (Watt's riots, hippie living, Topanga Beach etc.). In between taking in the tales and tending to my kids, who managed to consume an entire bowl of potato chips and then fall stricken on the sofa, I did take note of at least one fashion storyline. Although it's usually some variation of how my twin sister and I have shown up wearing almost identical outfits, this time it was my mother and my older sister who sported similar accessories: two new red bags. (My mother had a Prada, my sister, Clare Vivier.) While they have very different styles, they both illustrated how much a red bag is a forever bag. No other shade is as powerful, statement-y and versatile. Which explains why I always pack my red leather clutch when I travel. As these pictures show, there are so many fantastic iterations of the red bag. But I've whittled down the options to this Coach cross-body, a studded, chain link-handled Valentino, this Celine-inspired shoulder bag from Steven Alan and this Balenciaga classic.

Photos: Caroline's Mode, Street Style Seconds, Pinterest, Ryan Chua

$68, monsoon

This vivid print vintage-looking dress takes me back to my Deadhead days. But it also transports me to the future, as in this summer's trip to Mykonos, where I'd throw it over a still-damp bikini and feel gypset glamorous...

1. Monsoon halter print dress, $68, monsoon.co.uk
2. Marc by Marc Jacobs aviator sunglasses, $98, shopbop.com
3. Anthropologie crystal-studded hoop earrings, $32, anthropologie.com
4. Shashi beaded bracelet, $22, shopbop.com
5. Tory Burch metallic straw tote bag, $235, shopbop.com*
6. Ancient Greek sandals, $270, bergdorfgoodman.com

*Get the bag (and everything else) for 25% off at toryburch.com today 4/29 only. Use code TBSPRING at checkout.

I can so see myself stumbling across these striking metallic sandals during a random visit to The Gap, immediately acknowledging their forever-good continuum, and then being crestfallen because my size is nowhere to be found. All the reason to get them now!

$76, topshop

I never knew I needed a fisherman sweater until I finally bought one. I can pair it with anything and it's cool and timeless. This one, featuring gold shoulder buttons, is so exactly right...

1. Topshop cable knit sweater, $76, topshop.com
2. Stella McCartney cat-eye sunglasses, $225, shopbop.com
3. Anthropologie earrings, $28, anthropologie.com
4. A.P.C. clutch, $123, forwardbyelysewalker.com
5. Tibi ankle strap heels, $365, shopbop.com
6. Alexander McQueen print skirt, $855, netaporter.com

I went to dinner last night at the Sunset Tower Hotel with a gaggle of women from both New York and LA who work in fashion. In between bites of grilled artichoke and celeb spotting (Gerard Butler! Mario Testino!), we discussed everything from switching religions for a spouse to our respective style hallmarks--i.e. wearing different iterations of the same style repeatedly, such as a striped t-shirt (guilty!), a structured black blazer or a full skirt. New York-based fashion editor Marina Larroude, above and below, clearly has a penchant for the latter, and she works it well. One might even call it her secret sauce for warm weather style. It makes sense after all, as this is the kind of piece that does all the work for an outfit, and it's a cinch to dress around. Should you be loyal to the full skirt, or want to adopt it as a new trademark, consider this leather-trimmed white DKNY, this elegant black Marni, and this fun, floral print Asos.

Photos: Gastrochic, Garance Dore, Marie Claire

$84, swell

The colors! The print(s)! The crochet! This bikini is a serious head-turner...

1. J.Crew linen shirt, $88, jcrew.com*
2. Madewell sunglasses, $55, madewell.com
3. Billabong bikini top, $46, swell.com; Billabong bikini bottom, $38, swell.com
4. Anthropologie ombre straw tote bag, $38, anthropologie.com
5. K. Jacques sandals, $320, bergdorfgoodman.com
6. Madewell denim shorts, $59, madewell.com

*Get this shirt for $66 by using code SPRINGBEST at checkout. (J.Crew is offering 25% off any order through May 3.)

Since I first spotted it at J.Crew's Spring 2013 presentation in New York back in September, my obsession with this simple striped (but gorgeously bohemian) tunic has only intensified. I've seen it styled in various fashion magazines with unlikely counterparts, such as floral print shorts or under a structured blazer, which had the effect of making me want it even more. Knowing it was due out any day, I've been harassing the sales associates at J.Crew in Santa Monica as to its whereabouts. Lo and behold, it's finally online today, emanating all of its rustic-French-chic, breezy-linen perfection. And paired with these cute faded print jeans, it just doesn't get better. Except that it does! J.Crew is offering 25% off any order through May 3, with free shipping today, only (use code SPRINGBEST at checkout). I guess it does pay to wait! So, while I'm at it, I love these print shorts and this super adorable work-to-weekend scalloped jacket.