spring 2013

Spring 2013 color trends: pastels

 in Color Trends / Trends  tagged pastels / spring 2013 / summer 2013 by

One of the big trends for spring 2013 is the pastel color palette. While bright hues and shades of neon remain important as we move into 2013 from 2012, pastel colors, which were first introduced in Paris last year, have moved to the forefront of fashion.

Pastel hues are vibrant this year. These are not baby pinks and baby blues; they are pastel candy colors which are sweet, playful and slightly edgy. Green is not soft, it is a bright mint and blue is the color of the sky on a clear day; not a baby boy’s blanket. Some brands and designers are even creating neon pastels for spring 2013. Sound like an oxymoron? It is; yet it works!

Vibrant pastel hues are easier for most people to wear, while baby soft hues can be tough for pale and dark skin-tones, vibrant pastels work with almost every skin-tone and hair color. Since spring 2013’s pastel color palette is easy to wear, it makes the perfect color palette to invest in for the upcoming warm weather season! Love that!

Many of spring 2013’s vibrant pastel hues can also be mixed and matched with certain neon hues and bright colors. One of the style trends for spring is to clash; mixing patterns and colors which are unexpected is du rigueur for the season. Spring 2013 is all about F-U-N! Love this!

The hottest pastel hues for spring 2013 include blue, green, pink, lavender, yellow and orange. What is your favorite pastel hue? Happy shopping and say fabulous 

Laura Mercier En Pointe nail polish review

 in Beauty / Nail Polish  tagged classic style / laura mercier / pink / reviews / spring 2013 by

Pastels are huge for spring 2013 and one of the easy ways to wear this color trend is through nail polish! Laura Mercier’s new, spring 2013 collection, “Arabesque” has a fabulous, extra soft baby pink nail polish named “En Pointe.” This sweet hue is perfect for spring 2013 since it is subtle and understated; ideal for a nail polish shade which will not compete with spring’s vibrant prints, florals and color palette.

There are so many color palettes in apparel for the spring 2013 season. In addition to the pastel color palette, which happens to be the most important color group this spring season, bright colors and even neon hues are at the forefront of fashion for spring 2013. In order to wear pastels one day, and then bright colors the next, it is important to have an understated nail color which will blend easily with all of the season’s colors and prints.

Soft, baby pink is a cheerful alternative to a nude nail and the subtle hue is easy to wear with almost any skin tone. Of course, Laura Mercier’s nail polish is also high quality. The polish does not streak and lasts a full week with one base coat and two coats of color. We did not apply a top coat for our test.

Laura Mercier’s “En Pointe” nail polish for spring 2013 is available now and can be found at Laura Mercier counters, at LauraMercier.com and at Sephora.com. Happy shopping, and stay fabulous 

 

enpointenailpolish

c/o Laura Mercier “En Pointe” nail polish.
One base coat, two coats of color, no top coat.

Photo: Cathy/Bay Area Fashionista 2013©

The rise of the flat sole

 in Shoes / Trends  tagged high heels / spring 2013 by

Over the course of 2011 and 2012, we have discussed the possible demise of the platform sole. As fashion moves into 2013, designers and Fashionista’s on the street have rediscovered the flat sole shoe and have started to push their platforms towards the back of the closet. This is not to say that the platform is not relevant; it still has its’ place in fashion. The platform is just slowly fading and starting to hang out in the shadow of the new “IT” shoe in town; the flat sole.

Shoes have been reaching for new heights over the past several years and designers have been having fun being creative with platform soles. As garments begin to be more lighthearted, and consumers begin to tire of the sky-high platform, the sole of the shoe has become more understated; as not to compete with the rise of “anything-but-understated” apparel.

Prints, neon hues and bright colors are hot right now, and will continue to reign supreme as we move in 2013. This being said, the last thing a properly dressed Fashionista wants to do is have her shoes compete with her dress. This brings us to the flat soled shoe. A pretty, pointed toe pump in a solid, bright color looks perfect and fresh for the spring 2013 season when paired with a beautiful, floral, A-line dress. Somehow the thought of a multi-colored platform shoe paired with a sweet floral frock does not seem proper; wouldn’t you agree?

This does not mean all platforms must be banished from our closets, it just means as we move into 2013, look for a balance of soles in your wardrobe and invest in flatter soles rather than sky-high heels. Carrie Bradshaw and her collection of Manolo Blahnik shoes will be proud J