Vogue Says: Wear White!

By Esther Adams, Vogue magazine

Anyone who watched the President's State of the Union Address last Tuesday evening would have been hard-pressed not to notice the First Lady's gleaming silvery-white sheath. With three-quarter-length sleeves and a body-skimming silhouette, Michelle Obama's Rachel Roy ensemble boldly stated that-blizzard or not-spring's lightening, bright whites can, and should, be embraced right now.

We may not be ready to slip on Dolce & Gabbana's short lace dresses just yet, but there are already weather-appropriate options on offer. Before heading into the sartorial snowstorm, consider these tips from designers: "Stick to ivory or winter white in cooler temperatures," advises Calvin Klein Collection's Francisco Costa, who showed a largely white, monochromatic collection for spring. "It's a neutral color, so it's hard to overdo it, even with layering," he says. And the Row's Mary-Kate Olsen agrees: "It's so versatile," she enthuses, "you can wear it with almost any other color." (We'd suggest throwing it on with warmer nudes and violet tones to break it up during the day.)

Admittedly, it feels counterintuitive to pull on Isabel Marant's bleached-out skinny jeans or Calvin Klein Collection's icy suit without a tan in the middle of winter, but try it. Derek Lam, who showed a peplum-backed trench in the purified shade, promises that you'll look and feel "fresher, lighter, and happier."

But if the idea of donning whitewashed clothing now is just too much, take heed of subtler beauty options. "A stark-white gel nail topped with white glitter gives a snowfall effect," muses Nina Werman, co-owner with sister Julia of nail salon Valley. "It's modern, risky and non-conformist." Meanwhile, hair impresario Guido Palau, the man responsible for the white-hot punk crops walking Balenciaga's spring runway, recommends hitting the bottle all-year-round: "The platinum look helps soften any style," he says. "Just play with your bangs for an even more feminine feel-try longer, side-swept lengths in winter and shorter, blunter looks in summer." And for those still unconvinced, there's always Apple's new white iPhone, rumored to be hitting shelves this spring.