Fashion, accessories for season found in shops

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Ah, sweet springtime! The daffodils are blooming and the skies are robin's egg-blue. Greenvillians are donning their t-shirts and shorts as they take to the streets of the Camellia City for a brisk walk, or a round of golf at the local courses.

The tantalizingly balmy weather is also a reason to visit area shops and stores to stock up on the latest looks for the new season. Springtime is a great excuse for a cute new handbag, a great pair of earrings or a flirty new outfit, for you, for a daughter, wife, sister, granddaughter or a &#8220best bud.”

Here are a few ideas from two downtown stores to help you &#8220spring forward” into a fashionable look.

Classic black and white

Think Audrey Hepburn. The timeless mix of black and white is a huge look for spring, with the classic combo featured in menswear-inspired tailored shirts, feminine prints, flirty full skirts with appliqu\u00E9s and eyelet styling, and comfortable knit tops. All these can be found at The Pineapple downtown.

&#8220Yes, black and white is definitely a big, big look for the season and we have some great looks, including both missy and plus sizes,” says store manager Katrina Scofield.

Styles from Bentley A, Susan Bristol, Bellepointe, Nomadic Travelers and Fresco are all to be found in the new spring arrivals at The Pineapple.

Springtime blues and more

Blues - in shades of turquoise, azure and ocean - are also to be found in sweaters, blouses and lightweight seersucker slacks at the downtown boutique.

Other vivid shades, like terra cotta and sunshine yellow, bring the warmth of the outdoors to your wardrobe courtesy of FOJ French Dressing.

Textured tops in solids and paisley prints from NTCO and Necessitees would make a great match with cool capris, jeans and casual skirts.

Stripes and polka dots in the same bright and happy colors adorn fun and feminine handbags for the &#8220girlie-girls” out there.

&#8220Handbags and purses continue to be a strong fashion accessory and we have a great variety of fabrics, materials and sizes for every taste,” Scofield says.

What goes in your purse can also be jazzed up this spring. The Pineapple offers credit card cases and cosmetic bags, along with canvas laptop cases, in bold stripes rivaling Joseph's Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Spending a night out on the town and need a light wrap? The Pineapple also has an array of gauzy crinkle wraps in a rainbow of colors to ward off that chill.

Headbands with built-in scarves to tie around your tresses can also be found at the shop, in a variety of punchy polka-dot prints, perfect for keeping a neat and fashionable look.

Jewelry, from colorful, chunky beaded bracelets to neutral necklaces in shell, bone and metallic shades will further enhance that new spring outfit.

Lovely and cool

Southern ladies love their linen, and the shop offers a variety of outfits from Cottage Clothing, Donna, and Two Wishes in scrumptious shades of peach, lime, pink, and every-popular neutrals such as white and tan.

Not only can you stay cool, fresh and fashionable by day, The Pineapple also allows you to enjoy a fresh, cool look in sleepwear from lines such as Uppse Daises.

&#8220Nite Sweatz is another great line we offer. As the tag says, it's ‘cool, dry, hip sleepwear.' It is specially designed to wick any moisture away from your body so you can sleep in real comfort,” Scofield says.

&#8220We have a lot of wonderful spring fashions and accessories with new and unusual items coming in each week. We welcome everyone to stop in and see what we have to offer.”

It's in the bag

Across the street at Special Finds by Janice, new spring handbags are on display, with styles perfect for tots, teens and grown-up ladies, too.

&#8220These poodle purses are adorable. I think we will sell a lot of those for the little girls,” owner Janice Cole says with a smile.

Flirty ruffled purses and handbags trimmed with oversized buttons and loads of grosgrain ribbon will charm slightly older shoppers.

Intricately beaded and sequined Indian style shoulder bags and purses featuring butterflies - a perfect springtime motif - are also available at Cole's shop.

A variety of fashion jewelry, including matching necklace, bracelet and earring sets, and fashion watches can also be found here.

&#8220Of course, we have lots of sterling silver, always our top item and always in fashion, and engraving is available here in our store,” Cole says.

Special Finds also offers a large array of home d\u00E9cor items. &#8220Give your home a fresh look for spring while you are at it. We have spring floral arrangements, springtime and Easter flags for your yard or porch- come in and see us to discover everything we do have to offer,” Cole says.

Also look for nautical styles, fresh florals and Asian-inspired items to be hot this spring. Check out what these and other stores in historic downtown Greenville offer in spring fashions and accessories.

And have a fabulous spring!