Color Kaleidoscope: Top Spring Trends

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I know I’m not the only one leaping for joy that spring has finally arrived! I feel like the younger Black/Latin version of Martha Stewart by initiating a full-force, spring cleaning haul, gardening on my rooftop patio with flower printed gloves on and jumping up and down when I see the calla lilly bulbs I planted months ago starting to sprout in my terracotta pots. Someone get me a book deal and a TV show stat!

Recently, I submitted a fashion merchandising scholarship project and had to select 10-20 items that are going to be hot items for spring 2013. For the apparel portion, I created the looks above consisting of stripes, floral, lace, and raffia. (Click here to see the handbags, accessories and shoe trendsheet.) I titled the trendsheet Color Kaleidoscope because looking at these pieces at one time reminds me of looking through a kaleidoscope and twisting it around to see the different colors, prints, shapes, textures, materials, and patterns.

Ahhh spring… I love you.

All About Studs

Studs, studs, studs and more studs! If you haven’t seen one stud on any shoe, handbag, denim, accessory, or jacket…where the hell have you been?!

Sometimes, there have been days where an outfit may seem…well, blah. An alternative to jazz up any look and add a little to a lot of edge, is with anything studded. Restrain yourself to only 1-2 pieces– don’t go overboard!

Get some inspiration from the accessories and styles below:

MOTO

Valentino

Balmain

Joe Fresh

Tory Burch

Vince Camuto

Steve Madden

Christian Louboutin

Topshop

Rebecca Minkoff

Loving studs too? Which one is your fave? Let me know in the comments!

Photo credit: christianlouboutin.com, shopstyle.com, polyvore.com, stevemadden.com, rebeccaminkoff.com, balmain.com

Fall Trend: Oversize Me

Yes, it’s that time of year again and one of my favorite fashion seasons: Fall. Fond memories of back-to-school shopping, leaves changing color, and cozy weather flood my mind. And just like that, out the boots, scarves, sweaters, layering, and coats come out from hiding.

Oversize outerwear is one of this season’s top trends. An easy way to add drama to your fall and winter look, is with an oversize coat. Get lost and play around with the size, structure or lack of it. Get crazy with textures, colors, prints, and details. An oversize coat works with both day and night looks and pants and dresses– it just depends on how ya work it honey so, get crackin’!

Take a peek at this season’s oversize looks below:

Balenciaga

Altuzarra

Band of Outsiders

Diane von Furstenberg

Jill Sander

Chloe

Loving the looks? Let me know in the comments!

photo credit: www.style.com

Bright Pants

We’ve seen a lot of playful and fun colored denim over the past couple years. More recently bright trousers have entered the game making the pant a hot item on the ‘must-have’ list this season. They’re easy to pair with a world of prints, super transitional from work to happy hour and come in an array of fits: wide leg, high waisted, harem, straight, relaxed, you get it!

Take a peek at some looks below:

Yigal Azrouel

Karen Walker

Blumarine

Makeup Tattoos

There are so many new beauty inventions and doodads I can’t contain myself! I stumbled upon makeup tattoos while reading InStyle magazine (saved me from dying of boredom) on a super long flight from Atlanta to San Francisco. Violent Lips came out with temporary lip tattoos that last up to 8 hours ranging in different prints and colors. Simply cut to fit your lip shape, place, blot with water and then remove.

It takes a whole ‘lotta guts and a specific style for anyone to pull of this look, but I would definitely try them on a night out.

Take a look below and let me know what you think:

For an application tutorial, click here.

Thoughts? Let me know!

Images via violentlips.com

Seeing Spots

One of the key trends for the upcoming Fall season are playful polka dots. In a range of colors and sizes, the print is easy to match whichever look you’re going for. Chic and sophisticated: small dots and neutral colors. Playful and loud: large dots and bright, bold colors. Incorporate the print anywhere! But that doesn’t mean everything. Polka dots follow the same rule as leopard print for me: one to two pieces max! When incorporating two pieces, one should be dominant (dress, top or bottom) and one teeny, weeny accessory. Too much of the same print can go wrong in so many ways so, make sure that second piece counts.

Take a peek at a few of my Fall polka dot picks below:

Gucci

L.A.M.B.

Lanvin

Marc Jacobs

Paul Smith

There you have it? What do you think? Let me know!

Frocking in Lace

Lace isn’t only for the boudoir ladies. Flooding the runways in Spring, this trend is super easy to transition in Fall.  Lace exudes femininity, sophistication and of course, sex appeal. For a daytime look, opt for nude, or white lace dress, top or skirt. Experiment with pairings such as a high waist pant, flair leg denim or a maxi skirt. In the evening, bare it all in black lace with a nude underpinning. Don’t worry you won’t really be baring it all. It’s just the illusion. Want to take it up a notch? Bright colored lace pieces are amazingly sexy and bold! Play around with different hem lines and structures: babydoll, long-sleeve mini, shift…you get my drift.

What do you think of my picks below?

Brioni

Collette Dinnigan

D&G

Dolce & Gabbana

Erdem

Oscar de la Renta

Alberta Ferretti

Bangin’ Bangles

I feel naked when I’m not wearing any accessories on my wrists (the same rule applies to my ears). I have way too much fun mixing up the different texture, sizes, metals and prints of bangles. It’s easy to keep a simple, elegant look with one or two clean pieces and even easier to glam it up by adding multiple colors, shiny metals and gemstones.

Here are several pieces I NEED:

People Tree

Amrita Singh

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Calypso

RJ Graziano

Like my picks? Which one’s your fave? Let me know!

Go for the Gold! Rose Gold!

Last Christmas, my beautiful mom bought me my first ‘big girl’ watch. It’s a fabulous rose gold Michael Kors watch. To me, it’s absolutely stunning! Take a peek below:

Ever since I received this gift, I’ve been obsessed with rose gold and apparently so has everyone else. Every store I stepped into this past weekend was dripping in rose gold rings, bracelets, necklaces, hair accessories– you name it! Take a break from the usual gold and silver and dip into something different. Rose gold is soft, feminine and extremely flattering on most skin tones. It’ll be a great addition to your jewelry collection! I promise!

Here are several pieces I almost died over:

Alexis Bittar

Avanessi

Betsey Johnson

Luv AJ

Nadri

Like my picks? What are your favorite rose gold tone pieces? Let me know!

Leaping for Leopard

Anyone that knows me, knows that I have a strange obsession with animal print– especially leopard! Even writing this post is making me drool. While shopping this weekend with my mom, aka my number one personal styling client, I could not contain myself at Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale. I think I was the MOST excited human being in the whole damn department store! From wedge, open toe booties to large, calf hair handbags to silk, sheer tops– I was in leopard heaven. Just one piece of the sexy print turns your outfit from snooze to HELLO! Like a bright color, leopard print adds that pop to any outfit. And all you need it one piece only! Not one piece more. You may get away with a handbag and shoe, but I better not catch any of you wearing leopard print from head to toe. And I’m so serious. 

Here are some pieces I drooled over:

Alexis Bittar

Autumn Cashmere

Dolce & Gabbana

Rachel Zoe

Sperrys

Steven Madden

Steve Madden

Vince Camuto

Are you crazy for leopard print too? Which pieces are your favorite? Let me know in the comment box!