Sixties, seventies and even eighties styles are still in full effect for the upcoming spring season. Many of the styles are continuations and reworkings of trends we've seen over the past couple of seasons, but with a few new modern twists thrown in. Stacy London, co-host of TLC's “What Not To Wear,” highlights some of the big trends coming up for spring and ways in which to incorporate them into your own wardrobe.
Mini dresses
We just can't seem to get away from the ease and beauty of the dress. We've seen many incarnations the past couple of seasons, but the mini remains the strongest player in the pack. They range in style from flirty and girly, sexy to innocent, in shapes like the baby doll or more fitted, with attention paid to the waist.
The Shin Choi dress is one of my favorites. It fits close to the body, yet isn't skintight. It's office appropriate with kitten heels and a great blazer, but also makes for a cute weekend look with flats and a tote. Pair it with heels and a clutch for a hot summer night. There is a ton of white again this spring like last year. It's a great basic, but also look for beiges and nudes to be popular colors as well. If you are over 35 or in a conservative office, make sure your mini is the appropriate length! Nothing super short, just to above the knee. Dress: Shin Choi, jewelry: Alexis Bittar and Lenore Solmo, shoes: Via Spiga
PrintsAfter a very dark fall season, prints are making a comeback in a big way. Three you'll see this upcoming season are: 70s style, animal and floral. Rebecca Taylor is known for her “cool girl” designs and this season was no exception. I love her printed top and 70s style jean. And there is nothing sexier than an animal print done right.
Florals range this season from 60s mod to sophisticated and refined like the Reem Acra skirt. All of these prints are appropriate for any age group. What's important is that the print should match the stature of the woman. Very petite woman will look dwarfed by an oversized print and woman with a bigger frame can dwarf a print if it's too small or cutesy. Look for styles that play up the shape of your body to use prints to their best advantage.
Also, if prints scare you, start small. Do a printed accessory like a scarf or a shoe or bag and slowly work in separate pieces first, like a blouse or skirt and then take the plunge into dresses or printed coats. Animal prints: skirt and top: David and Phillipe Blond, jewelry: Gerard Yosca and Rachel Reinhardt, shoes: Stuart Weitzman; floral prints: skirt and top: Reem Acra, jewelry: Gerard Yosca, handbag: Franchi, shoes: Via Spiga
Soft tailoring
The concept is to pair more structured, tailored pieces with pieces that are much softer and flowy. What's nice is this combination. Instead of adhering to one strict style, this hybrid creates a new one: a kind of modern femininity. It's hard and soft at the same time. I love the short suit from Reyes for just that reason.
Yes, shorts are still big for spring as they were last season. You might want to look for a slightly longer pair of shorts if you are planning on wearing them to work, but I just love the way this particular suit fits! Also, think about getting some great flowy blouses to pair with last year's suits. It's a nice trend because the options are limitless. Just pay attention to fit and proportion. Anything too overwhelming and flowy will drown out anything that is too tightly tailored. Shorts, top and jacket: Reyes, jewelry: Alexis Bittar, handbag: Lauren Mirkin, shoes: Stuart Weitzman
Space odysseyYou are going to see lots of metallics this season. Many designers were inspired by the idea of translating the look and feel of harder materials, like metals and resin, into clothes. These clothes have a harder edge, a more futuristic look about them. Some even have an 80s touch, with a punk feel. You do not have to wear this look head to toe to get the effect. Pairing a metallic tunic with leggings like the outfit from Cynthia Rowley is going to be great for evening. But pairing a metallic blouse with a tailored trouser is absolutely acceptable for day. You'll see lots of color combinations, but the silver with white or black looks the hardest and most futuristic, while the golds tend to look a bit more feminine and romantic. Dress: Cynthia Rowley, jewelry: Volition, handbag: Cynthia Rowley, shoes: Jimmy Choo
NeonYup, it's not just color — it's technicolor! There were shots of bright colors throughout the collections and, hallelujah, I think we've all seen enough black this winter. Bring on the color! The Chaiken outfit just screams for a great tan and a summer vacation. I love the mixture of orange and pink. Now I realize not a lot of people can wear this to work as is, but the blouse would look fantastic paired with a khaki suit.
For day, khakis, browns and navys are a great counterpoint to these intense colors. Save mixing neon with black for evening for a real 80s effect. Be on the look out for neutral-colored clothing with a “touch” of neon here and there. This is the kind of trend that packs a punch, even in small doses. So feel free to use it sparingly and avoid looking radioactive. Not sure which colors look best on your skin tone? Blue undertones flatter pinker skin, while yellow undertones flatter more olive skin. Shorts and top: Chaiken, jewelry: Silver Sage, sandals: Allegra Hicks
AccessoriesWhile you may find trends like space odyssey and neon scary, you never even have to try the clothes on to participate in the trend. They are two of the biggest trends in accessories as well. Accessories are the easiest, and most often the least painful, way to participate in a trend that may seem kind of “out there” for us regular folk. Look for super shiny metallic shoes and bags you can see your reflection in, lucite jewelry and lots of patent leather for futuristic-looking accessories. You'll see everything from jewelry to shoes to bags in every bright color of the rainbow.
So mix and match them with the easier trends in clothing, like the whites and nudes, prints and soft tailoring to stay trendy and super chic for spring! Neon: shoes: Bettye Muller, Sergio Rossi, Stuart Weitzman, Sigerson Morrison, Hollywould, jewelry: Gerard Yosca, Kenneth Jay Lane, Lucky LooLoo, Tova; clear/lucite/metallic: shoes: Christian Louboutin, Stuart Weitzman, Hollywould, Jimmy Choo, jewelry: Lenore Solmo, Ben Amun, Alexis Bittar, Volition, Kenneth Jay Lane