Trends


Top six mandarin fragrances for the summer 2012 season

Now that we are well into the beautiful month of May, summer is around the corner and the weather is starting to feel like summer is actually here. As the sun shines brightly and air conditioners are turned on, Fashionistas everywhere are starting to think about shelving their heavier, cool weather fragrances and heavy florals from spring in order to find that perfect warm weather scent.

When the weather gets HOT, our noses tend to gravitate towards refreshing fragrances which generally are citrus or green leaf based. For summer 2012 citrus based fragrances are du rigueur and the refreshing scent of oranges, mandarins, lime and lemon are appearing in new fragrances launches from designers and perfumers alike.

Since Tru Fragrance announced that “Mandarin” is the ultimate “Hip Note” for summer 2012, we decided to test out a few mandarin based scents to share with you. We scoured beauty stores and department stores in order to come up with five mandarin fragrances to share with you; unfortunately we could not narrow it down to five, so we are sharing six!

In no particular order, here are six fabulous, mandarin based fragrances for the summer 2012 season:

Trish McEnvoy No. 6 Mandarin Ginger Lily

DKNY Sweet Delicious Tart Key Lime

Coach Signature Summer Edition 2012

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Capri

Nina Ricci Nina Fantasy

We love mandarin based fragrances for the summer 2012 season, what do you think of this seasons “Hip Note?” Happy fragrance shopping, and stay fabulous 

c600x510


Colorful box clutches for the summer 2012 season

The bright color trend is huge for spring and summer this year, as well as the metallic trend and sustainable fabrications such as cork. Since the daytime clutch trend also happens to be huge, and there is a brisk move towards carrying smaller handbags, it is only natural that the once evening-only handbag style known as the “box clutch” would find a way to move into more versatile territory; enter the brightly colored box clutch.

Brightly covered box clutches have popped up on store shelves and have been finding their way to the street. Box clutches in bright colors, pastels, cork and casual metallic fabrics have been spotted being used for both daytime and nighttime activities; marking a new trend towards finding accessories which can work both day and night.

Box clutches are being shown in every fabrication imaginable from smooth leather to exotics, faux leather, lace, satin, cotton, cork, metal, shimmering silk and stamped leather. The crystal encrusted and sequin box clutches are remaining an evening staple; not be carried to lunch 

We found a few examples of box clutches around the web which can easily be carried during the day, or to a hip dinner. Enjoy!

y (52)


Floral shoes for the summer 2012 season

One of the biggest spring/summer 2012 trends in shoes is floral prints. Florals are being found in every color imaginable and on every style of footwear including pumps, platforms, sandals, flats and wedges. Floral printed shoes are also being found in every price point including Christian Louboutin, Stuart Weitzman and Forever 21.

Since florals were a huge trend in apparel on the runways in Paris, Milan, London and New York, it is only natural that the trend appears on shoes for the warm weather season. While floral shoes were not spotted on very many runways, designers and brands designed floral print shoes for spring and summer which have been appearing on store shelves, and consequently on the street.

Fashionistas in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as around the country have been spotted strutting down the street in floral print shoes. Floral pumps have been spotted in the office and are being worn as a way to spice up one’s everyday office attire. For more casual looks, floral wedges and flats are being paired with jeans and casual dresses as a subtle way of wearing the floral trend. In fact, it seems as if fashion-savvy women are opting more for the floral shoe rather than floral apparel. Perhaps shoes feel more understated? Or maybe Fashionistas just prefer buying shoes over apparel! 

When wearing a pair of floral shoes, it is important to keep your ensemble understated. Floral shoes look best when paired with solid colored attire and neutral ensembles. This draws the eye to the shoe and makes it the focal point of the look. Floral flats and flat sandals are also an easy way to add a trendy look to a casual outfit when running errands or relaxing in the park.

We found several floral print shoes around the web, in various price points and assembled them into the Polyvore set below. Hope you love it! 

y (51)