I'm Bringing Pretty Back

Cynthia Skirt. 
This one’s named after my Momma because
she’s similar to a lovely bouquet of flowers…
delicate, admirable and beautiful. 
She has also been known to cause quite
 the allergic reaction at times.
 Love you, Mom!  

I think I’ve plagued you long enough by continuously ranting on my love of below-freezing temperatures and fluffy fur coats.  Clearly the big man upstairs didn’t feel like blessing us with a ski season this year, so I’m dubiously throwing in my puffy down filled parka and am on to more colorful things, such as Spring Fashion!  Since I can barely remember to water myself, I’m obviously not much of a flower girl, unless we’re speaking of a floor length floral print frock, of course.  I must admit, each year when Spring starts to show her warm sunny face I get super excited just like the rest of you, regardless of how little snow I got to shovel this year (and the realization that I need to start running 15 miles per day for the next 3 months straight if I plan on wearing any of my shorts from last year).

For those of you who don’t know a whole lot about the world of fashion, it can be quite confusing.  New York Fashion Week took place February 9-16, but designers were showing their Fall 2012 Collections (designers show their lines for next season, then buyers from around the globe determine what lines they want to carry for next season, which then determines the production of the actual lines themselves).  To make a long story short, as much as I love seeing the latest collections, my brain can only hold so much information at once (which seems to be increasingly less and less with each birthday) so I could really care less about next fall right now.  I was fortunate enough to attend Spring 2012 Fashion Week, which took place in September of 2011.  So confusing, right?  Well it’s even more confusing for me to sift through 5 months of information to uncover Springs most pertinent and wearable trends, but there are a few standouts that have left an indelible impression in my mind.

From washed out neons (think pastel meets 80’s color) to the beloved peplum silhouette (if you aren’t familiar with a peplum, Google it immediately- I love the false illusion of curves it creates), spring fashion is full of feminine, structured sportswear, if you will.  My absolutely favorite trend this spring, however, is the influx of bold prints that are beginning to line the shelves and racks from store to store.  Floral prints seem to be a staple for just about every spring, but this season the prints are exaggerated and quite a bit of fun.  I’m talking full on floral print pant suits, tropic thunder maxi dresses, and bold neon floral prints mixed with stark white elements.  If you’re not quite sure of how to pull this look off without looking like a flower child on Halloween, start small and work your way up.  The most important element in this to keep things fresh is to stick with a modern print.  Buying vintage and thrift store shopping can certainly be fun, but it’s also an easy way to look like you went thrift store shopping (have no fear… a thrift store tutorial is on its way for next week).  To ensure you’re on trend, stick with a floral that is this season, and don’t try anything too dainty.  This spring is all about having fun and being a little bold.  Think bright pops of color and in your face prints!  Here’s one of my most recent floral additions in my store: