Cruise is over, fall is on the runways, and spring is in the air. Girlie girls are bursting to bust out in all those cute little dresses-habiliments of last year's "season o' the flirty dress" and expounding this year with more wrap-arounds, A-lines with pockets and fitted, tailored dresses. (Guys presumably have spring on their minds, be it wearing a certain slinky, stripped shirt sans jacket or whatever guys think about.)

But no, no, no, not just yet. If you decide to do so, make sure the coat is right or you'll shiver all day. Besides fending off local weather conditions the right coat adds a certain amount of intrigue. Think how Inspector Clouseau's poplin trench neatly protected him from the elements; or what about the importance of a fitted three-quarter-length Burberry vinyl trench in a memorable hue to complement one's wardrobe? There is just the right coat for each person; get out and find yours.

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The upcoming season is already blossoming, literally.

This spring, look for big, bright, sunny flowers-from bold and Dutch to computerized and abstract-everywhere from tulip skirts with tulip fabric, to exaggerated flower-and-stem print tops, dresses and arm warmers (new emphasis on the stems); boyfriend borrowing-incorporating boyish pieces for a sort of Puck-ish look and a wee bit of tailoring, to balance out the ultra-fem; big dresses-full-length Grecian goddess gowns toned down by "hippie-chic" for day wear and a new onslaught of easy, breezy, must-have dresses; neon nation-more bigger, bolder, brighter colors everywhere from trench coats to accents, touches of florescent-pink resurfacing in interesting places; mismatched, sort of abstract Asian-styling continues, exaggerated by juxtaposed bold prints-held together with nothing more than a flash belt and an extraordinary pair of boots. Some chaos, some pure-dead-brilliant-such is "style."

One note though: Do be wary of the resurfacing of the "Safari-look," some sad semblance of 1980s Banana Republic mixed with gauze and JNR*.

Look for big pockets sewn on the outside of garments from punky trousers to frilly dresses. Note here that these noticeable pockets aren't necessarily to be used; according to the catwalk these are for putting one's hands in and walking purposefully.

Look for tidbits of tuxedo, in jackets and yes (dare we say it) vests. When in double go metallic, a nice gold lame maybe.

Arm-warmers are everywhere these superfluous essentials vary greatly. They began as a sort of filler for the gap between the shirt/jacket, now they're anywhere from three or four to 20 inches long, come in all fabrics and are great conversation pieces. They aren't just the arms of old sweaters cut off and dyed. They're now available in anything from fishnet and vinyl to knit and cotton. Some start at the fingers, others begin at the wrist. If you still don't know what they are, head over to Hot Topic for a lesson, some of their arm warmers don buckles.

Fabrics and textures continue their rein of importance, think lush and lavish...and layered-gauzy, see-through layers and peek-a-boo inserts and figments of added fringe.

I swear I've already seen several females sporting just tank tops, during the day, in our fair city, already, this early in the '08, but spring doesn't officially begin here in the Northern hemisphere until March 20. See vernal equinox. Until the sun shows itself, we're subject to shadows and occasional rain showers (hence the coats). When it does, be ready.

Guys won't surf quite the same fantastic floral wave; but floral colors are a must.

We know when it comes to accentuating an outfit, men have very few options. As a rule, too much jewelry is a faux pas, and hair accessories are simply unacceptable. But what about one or more of the following on a hot spring night out: cufflinks, a silk pocket square, an elegant tie clip and/or a pair of spats.

For the more '"regular," opt for eye-candy shirt colors like daring emerald green and outlandish orange. Like birds, girls tend to be attracted to color (except of course for Raven Neversmiles, but that's another story). Get wild, but note blokes too need due warning of the Safari, well unless you're Simon LeBon.

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Now the promised quiz; those really in the know should know. Hint: The majority of the answers come from last month's "History a la Mode," the rest should come from your head.

1. What is a "Fashion Baby"? How did they begin the notion of style awareness?
2. Who is the figure crediting with making wigs popular among women? Who was she and what happened to her? Why was she influential?
3. What is a jerkin?
4. Who "led men's fashion" from 1796 to 1816?
5. What are "stove tops"?
6. What is considered the first fashion magazine?
7. What was the most popular pelt in Europe in the 1300s?
8. In fashion acronyms, what are a.) LBD, b.) ETAM, and c.) LFF?
9. Why do experts think France emerged as the fashion leader in the later eighteen century? 10. What is "a Poplin"?

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Answers: (ANSWERING AT LEAST PART CORECTLY EQUALS CREDIT)

1. Fashion babies were dolls made to mirror outfits of queens, circa 1400s. Queens of various lands would have miniatures made to trade with foreign queens detailing their fashion, for other queens to behold, an example to sample.

2. Elizabeth I, of England. She began wearing wigs because she began going bald. (There are many speculations of why this was, inbreeding, stress, exposure, etc.) Being such a social point of interest, she and France's Catherine de Medici were some of the first superstars to greatly impact the then forming fashion world. In 1603 when she died, she owned more than 3,000 dresses, many in her signature bell silhouette.

3. A jerkin was the basic ensemble of a 1400/1500s fashionable male. It is a short skirted, sleeveless garment with deeply rounded armholes and a dagged hem, worn over a man-corset. 4. George "Beau" Brummel is considered to be the leader of Dandyism, aka the well-dressed man of the nineteenth century. Characterized by fine tailoring and a polished look, many dandies took more time than women to dress.

5. Stove top trousers are those skinny-leg trousers first made popular by British punk bands like the Clash, and continue in Emo eternity.

6. The first fashion magazine, Godey's Lady's Book, was introduced in 1840, in Philadelphia.

7. Beaver.

8. a.) LBD is Little Black Dress. b.) ETAM is a retail chain derived from the company ETAblissements Mayer, which in 1916 opened its first hosiery boutique in Germany. (Some mistakenly think it stands for "everything to attract men.") c.) LFF is London Fashion Forum.

9. France emerged as the dominate western fashion force circa 1790s because England was having so many social problems, i.e. plagues, industrialization, fires, etc.

10. Silly monkey, that was just in the preceding article; it is a style of trench coat. Poplin is the fabric of Inspector Clouseau's infamous trench coat. This rigid fabric is synonymous with 100 percent cotton shirts, as well as everything from dress clothes to medical uniforms, and the construction of those printable wallets.