by Zoe Shapiro
The snow might still be swirling outside my window as I jot this down but I am smelling distinct signs of spring on its way; Sonia Rykiel, the queen of fun meets understated Parisian chic, is blowing into select H&M locations on Feb. 20th.

This capsule spring collection comes to Canada off of the strength of her winter lingerie line and it’s certainly kicking my winter blues. Rykiel references all the up and coming S/S 10 trends with a wink and girly spin: the season’s espadrilles and wedges are given the black and fuchsia treatment and the horizontal nautical themes of the season (see the SDTC trend alert!) are also referenced in cheerful spring colours. The cornerstone of this collection however is knitwear knitwear knitwear, perfect for transitional Canadian weather.

What I’m queing up for on Saturday is the yellow frilled knit with oh-so slight bedazzlement that I have big plans for in conjunction with a pair of tights, boots and my high-waisted denim skirt. Warm toes and a shot of sunshine all in an outfit. Other standouts will be the relaxed but figure defining black jumpsuit and the headgear: sparkley berets and cute headbands.

I am a huge fan of H&M’s designer collaborations (Madonna don’t count…). Here at SDTC, and in front of all your laptop screens too I’m sure, fashion is a big love. It’s this generation’s most lucrative and often sensational artform. But our bank balances do not resemble the depth of our desire, oh no. It’s fab that world-renowed designers are giving every price-point the chance to own their designs and interact with Fashion (with a capital F) beyond our subscription to Vogue et al.

I can almost hear the clicking of my heels on the cobbles of Boulevard Saint-Germain… sigh…