The Colors of Spring 2011

The color palettes from the spring 2011 runways were varied and offered many choices for Fashionistas who may be picky about the colors they wear. Designers in New York, Pairs, Milan, London and now China have shown, or are showing, collections in crisp white, warm beige neutrals, bold mixed colors, whimsical soft pastels and rocker chic black. With trends for spring ranging from ladylike (feminine) to hippie chic to rocker chic to vintage, it is no wonder that the color palettes are varied and provide such a large range.

Although is has been argued that white is not actually a color, for literary purposes, we are going to consider it a color here at Bay Area Fashionista. 

Dolce & Gabbana created an almost all-white color palette for spring with feminine and carefree, yet structured frocks that signaled a turn towards a more carefree form of dressing for 2011. Other designer such as Badgley Mischka showed whimsical, soft colors that mimicked a dream or took onlookers back to a calm, floral meadow lined with willow trees. Bright and bold colors were mixed together at runway shows such as Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs who placed bold color choices together in color blocking or by mixing solid colored pieces and adding colored accessories which introduced an additional color. Although, since Marc Jacobs heads up Louis Vuitton, this could be why there was a similar color story in the runways shows.

Since many resort collections such as Dior, featured candy colors and neutrals, this is a great time to find brighter colors that interest you before the spring collections hit store shelves. While shopping for colors, look for bright solids that can be mixed together unexpectedly such as purple with green or burnt orange. Neutrals, black and white play an important part for spring, so these are always good colors to find inside your closet before pulling out the charge card  Happy shopping and stay fabulous.

Spring 2011 Fashion Trends: Florals

Florals are hot for spring 2011! As the ladylike trend from fall 2010 turns into the feminine trend for spring 2011, designers have moved into floral territory. Designers in New York, Paris and Milan created flowing frocks in soft fabrics which were feminine and reminiscent of a slight breeze whisking past you in an open meadow filled with flowers and tall grass; weeping willows in background. It is only natural that in addition to the soft pastels associated with the feminine trend for spring, that designers would also add the floral prints or screen to the trend as well.
Florals appeared all over the runways in two distinct forms for spring 2011. There were small floral prints mainly on flowing skirts and dresses as well as silkscreen, painterly florals which were often artistically asymmetrical. Designers such as Chanel, John Galliano, Nina Ricci, Christian Dior, Rodarte, Vera Wangand Carolina Herrera to name a few, showed either small floral prints or breezy, artistic florals on skirts and dresses for spring 2011.

Florals prints appeared on silk, chiffon and sheer fabrics. Designers paired florals with solid colors which either part of the bold color trend or the pastel trend. Florals were shown on soft fabrics mixed with fabrics such as taffeta, lace, thicker silks and soft cotton. Even when a designer, such as Carolina Herrera who created a structured sheath dress with lace and a large floral designs, put the fabrics together in a non-flowy look, the florals still gave the frock a certain feminine allure, taking Fashionistas right back to the meadow with willow trees and flowers.
Florals have not been a huge trend in recent fashion history, making the trend fresh and interesting. The large floral designs which were off-center and artistic may turn into a new, season defining trend if the look makes it from the runways into reality. Hopefully store buyers will see the floral trend as fresh and understand that consumers are tired of minimalism and looking for more playful looks in fashion. It should be interesting to see which parts of the floral trend hit store shelves in the next three months as spring begins to trickle into the shops. When florals do arrive in stores, this is one trend you will want to jump on right away. Since the artistic florals are fresh and new, they may just fly off the racks faster than a Cabbage Patch Kid in 1983. Happy shopping and stay fabulous 

Spring 2011 jewelry trends: Bling Watches Make a Comeback

The Bling Watch is making a comeback after drifting back into jewelry boxes the last few seasons. As the economy rebounds, fashion is making a move away from basics and into embellished territory. During the dot-boom, Fashionistas here in the Bay Area and beyond flocked to the Bling Watch as celebrities and fashion trend setters everywhere donned the biggest, most sparkly watch they could find. Diamonds, precious and semi-precious stones adorned bezels and watch faces as well as clasps and buckles on watch bands. Faux stones as well as fiery crystals also adorned watches and let the world know when a person was approaching; as the watch could be seen before the actual person wearing the watch.

As the recession hit and bling became, well, let’s just say poor taste, watches became unadorned and basic. Fashionistas pulled classic Cartier Tank watches from the back of their jewelry box or went shopping for an understated and classic stainless steel watch. While watches still went through trends such as brightly colored rubber wrist-bands or ceramic details, the overall look of the watch was a lot less shiny than earlier in the century.

Watch makers are returning the Bling Watch as the recession rebounds and consumers are more willing to show a little sparkle and flash. Fendi just introduced  a new watch with interchangeable bezels and semi-precious gemstones which is sure to spark the Bling Watch trend into high gear. Ebel also offers understated versions of the Bling Watch which include diamond bezels that are less flashy and more on the dressy side.

Last time the Bling Watch was hot, everything about the watches was bigger than life. Straps were thick as were watch faces. Jewelers and watch makers tried to fit as many diamonds and gemstones onto the watch as humanly possible, making them large, bulky and anything but understated. As we cautiously move out of the recession, consumers may take a more conservative approach to fashion, seeking flash without too much of a bigger-than-life show. This might be one trends to watch before leaping into a major watch purchase. Will watches add bling yet stay slim? Or will designers, a year from now go big and bold and blinged out? .And yes, the word bling is tired, but it could make a comeback along with the gem encrusted watches  Happy trend watching, and stay fabulous.