I had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with Catherine Adair (center with blue scarf), the in house stylist for Desperate Housewives. I had the interview digitally taped. But since it was my first time using a recorder, I didn't take into account the background noise rendering the footage unusable. I will however summarize what Cate said regarding Spring trends and the Desperate Housewives themselves.Also invited were several women running or writing their own online sites. Starting from the left we have the following websites represented:

• The celebrity style section of About.com
• She Finds
• Second City Style
• Cate Adair
• Design Mom
• Me

The post is LONG. So I am putting it all under the cut. Click on the continue reading link below to find out the right way to wear florals, how to incorporate Hi and Low pieces into your wardrobe and the accessories you must have for next season.I WISH that darn tape sounded good because it had it all! UGH! But let's roll with the punches and do a quick synopsis on what went down. First of all, Cate was lovely. As she spoke about the thing I take for granted while watching my favorite programs - wardrobe - you can literally see the passion oozing out of her pores. She loves clothes. And not only just clothes... Cate loves everything to do with fashion. EVERYTHING. She even admitted her crew only allows her so much time to pick out accessories because paying attention to detail is Cate's favorite craft and worst flaw. The season would have to come to a halt if Cate was allotted as much time as she really wants to pick out which earrings Marcia Cross will wear in her next scene. But perhaps that's why she does such a great job at being a stylist.And friend. Cate didn't say a thing about the real life housewives. The entire ride in I was practicing how I would ask whether Teri Hatcher really didn't get along with the rest of the crew. But she made it very clear those questions were off limits right from the beginning. BOO - admirable - but BOO! In that moment, I almost got up and left. But Cate was infectious and I barely moved out of my seat.Let's jump through quickly otherwise I could spend the entire morning writing about her.Oscars:

• She predicts bright colors and less accessories. The dresses themselves will do all the talking. Since the strike, this is our first opportunity to see some glam and Cate hopes that stylists will really play that up.
• And while we were talking award shows, she did admit that one of her housewives hates to wear heels and carries flats with her to put on as soon as she steps off the red carpet. The bag photographed above is actually from Cate's line of handbags that are specifically constructed to allow for a pair of flats. LOVE THAT! The handbag is elegant enough for the red carpet - but wide enough for a pair of shoes. Truth be told, I almost stuffed Cate into that bag and stole her for a day of shopping that's how much I was enjoying myself. You can see her full line here.

Spring:

• Accessories - stacked bracelets, organic earrings, hoops, light scarves, little hats, cute flats. Add your color using these if you aren't bold enough to wear it in a shirt or pant.
• Disposables - buy a few one season use items that are trendy from reasonable costing shops like H&M and The Gap. Don't expect these to last more than a season.
• Jeans - when purchasing new jeans don't stick to your favorite brands. Cuts change and so do our bodies. Don't be afraid to explore other options. BUT when you do find the jean of your dreams, buy it in every color and at least two pairs.
• 50s style is making a comeback with Prada.
• Also look out for safari.
• Shop vintage - mix and match pieces. Use Febreze to help with any funky smells. The day was sponsored by Febreze - so we heard quite a bit about spritzing. I think I timed it and it came out to every 4 minutes. :)
• Choose what you like from trends and leave the rest for other people. Don't force anything on yourself. Stay away from traps.
• Staple Wardrobe Item: 1 pair of pants you feel good in that is well cut, has some stretch (Amen sister) and not too expensive.
• Check your bra size every couple of weeks. We take for granted that we will always be size X and that just isn't the case. I am so guilty of this. I still wear my maternity bras and they are a full size larger than what I am now.
• Don't be afraid to purchase short term investments. It's OK to buy a tank knowing you are going to throw it away when the season is over.
• BEST ADVICE EVER - sometimes the sale rack is there for a reason. Don't feel obligated to buy something just because it's 80% off.

Other tips:

• When getting fitted for a gown / dress / wedding dress etc., make sure you are wearing the exact undergarments you were planning to wear on the big night. If that means no underwear and bra, then go commando during the fitting. AND show up with NO makeup and without your hair done because if the dress looks amazing this way, it will really be a stunner once you have everything together.
• SPANX - God's gift to women is expanding its line to include camisole lace tops that suck it in as well as their lower line. YEAH!
• How to wear floral: Carefully! Know your boundaries. If you can't carry a full floral dress but still want to incorporate it into your look, bring it in a bag or a brooch.
• And this is from me regarding the above picture showing that beautiful bracelet that is handmade and very delicate - I saw similar items like that being sold by street vendors in NYC about a month ago. I can't believe they are up on trends like that! Anyway, that light woven look is in and I just wanted to tell you if you live near a metropolis, check out the guys on the street for a steal.

Brands represented:

• Jeanne Jarvaise
• RICH & SKINNY Jeans
• Parajumpers - I sweat this company. I almost passed out when I saw one of their jackets.
• iHome
• John Hardy
• Rare Vintage - couldn't find website