FASHION 101: SPRING 2012 FASHION TRENDS

" FASHION 101: SPRING 2012 FASHION TRENDS"

"By Zoe"

Hi, everyone! It’s time once again for a little fashion insight from yours truly. Spring has sprung, and with it a whole bunch of new trendy looks. Some I like, some I don’t…but that’s fashion for you! So let’s get started.

This spring the trends are focusing around color, which thrills me. I’m a big fan of color and think that a nicely done solid color item can look amazing. I’m not too big on prints and patterns though, because often they can look over-done. If your outfit has more detail than your face, it has too much detail. I’ve said this before but it bears repeating – your clothing should accentuate YOU. You should not accentuate your clothing. Less is more!

So, this spring the hot colors appear to be orange and mint green. Don’t wear them together – they’ll clash. I’ve been seeing orange mostly in sundresses, like this one:

This dress actually has a vintage vibe to it, with the wider shoulder straps, wrap detail, and more modest skirt length. I know we dolls all have perfect bodies and can wear the super short, tight fitting clothes well, but sometimes there’s something to be said for modesty. This dress is very classy, and who doesn’t enjoy looking classy every now and then?

Here’s another orange dress I’m in love with (unfortunately it’s out of my price range, so I can only admire from afar). I saw this on my favorite TV show – “Fashion Star”. It’s by my favorite designer, Orly Shani (http://www.nbc.com/fashion-star/about/bios/designers/orly-shani/bio/). If you haven’t watched this show, I highly recommend it. It’s a competition to discover the next big fashion designer and each week the contestants design new clothing that Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, and H&M can purchase to sell in their stores the day after the episode airs. It’s a fun show and a really great way to see all the latest fashion trends.

This dress was purchased by Saks Fifth Avenue, so you can purchase it in their store or online (it’s $295).
The other hot color is mint green:

Spring is often characterized by pastel colors, so this particular choice is not surprising. As you can see, you can get everything from dresses to nail polish in this color. However, remember to keep everything in moderation. Don’t dress head to toe in mint green; it will be overwhelming. If you choose a mint green dress, wear white or nude shoes and accessorize with pink or coral jewelry (not too much though!)

Another trend I’ve noticed is the appearance of metallic skirts and pants.

These pieces are the focal point of the outfit – you can see in the skirt picture that the model is wearing a gray top and metal accessories, which creates a sleek look and allows the skirt to really stand out. Since the skirt has a pattern incorporated into it, do not wear a patterned top with it as the patterns will compete with each other and create a confused and cluttered looks. You could wear a patterned top with the pants though, since they are a solid. I’d go with a small leopard print since the colors would go well with gold. My favorite place to buy clothes (Forplay, remember?) happens to sell a bunch of metallic skirts and pants for reasonable prices, so definitely check them out: http://www.forplaycatalog.com/Clubwear-Bottoms/Search

Lastly, there are some new trends coming up for accessories too. Neon colorblocking is the thing right now. Colorblocking simply means that instead of having a solid color, you have a mostly solid color accented by a block or two of another solid color. Orly Shani’s dress is actually an example – note the pink sash at the waist.

These are some great examples of colorblocking. Each piece has more than one solid color. As with all things, moderation is key. This is especially true for neon colors because they are so attention-getting. Pick one neon accessory for your outfit. More than that and your accessories will steal all the attention from the rest of your outfit. Remember, an accessory is a supplementary part – it assists the overall look, but should never overpower the look.

So there you have it – this spring try out some orange or mint green dresses and play around with neon accessories and you will be at the head of the fashion class!pr

--Zoë