it’s my favorite time of year: spring time! The temps get warmer, my allergies go hay-wire, we get longer days, and there are blossoms & budding a plenty! With this oh so welcomed change of season, comes a whole new sense of beginnings for the new year to come.

Maybe it’s just me, but when spring hits, i get a much more eager anticipation for summer, so much so that i can already smell the suntan lotion and taste piña coladas.

My most favorite part of Spring? The new fashion and beauty trends, of course! These are a few of my favorites things:

Florals!

Ask me about florals this time last year, and i woulda laughed! There’s something about this year that has a naturalistic orientation that i actually dig! Its almost an antique-y feeling that these patterns have, but also a 1970’s hippie element (previously, not so much my style). But with these modern fabrics, textures, and designs, these “traditional” floral patterns can still fit in with modern-minimalist tastes. Or to reiterate ELLE Magazine’s term for this style, Hippie chic. Regardless, yeah for color (and hyper-femininity)!

Pastels
To continue with this “softer” side of fashion in the new year, pastels are becoming my mantra! From clothing to makeup, i’m totally down with lightening the mood with spring-inspired colors, which were previously, what i avoided; bolder and darker hues were my forte. Don’t get me wrong here, ’cause i’m still a dark and/or highly-accented eyes advocate. But mixing it up with faint pastel-ish eyeshadows and paler cheeks, are a good transition, and are especially appropriate for this time of year!
This is a tres inspiring Yves Saint Laurent halter dress, again reflecting the softer colorations associated with nature and spring. Something like this is perfectly versatile for the spring and summer, as it would be equally gorgeous in either day or evening wear.

Shoes

My personal highlight (not including frozen n’ fruity cocktail drinks) of the season, and every girl’s admitted weakness!
A unique style peripheral to the warm season in 2008 is the gladiator! I could melt i love this concept so much. Sure, maybe not every girl would be able to pull this off, but i predict a gladiator movement in shoes in the future. For instance, every girl most likely has her own take on the gladiator look, there are the bolder, thicker straps, shown right, that i particularly adore. I think the only way to truly pull these puppies off is if they are treated as an accent accessory. This means DO NOT wear a bunch of other wild colors, bulky and gaudy jewelry, etc. However, should the mood strike to not place so much of an emphasis on shoe accent, there are also the thinner, more strappy with various color options out there. The gladiator headquarters i’d say would have to be at Urban Outfitters (see UrbanOutfitters.com).
Okay, I know the nude colored heels aren’t exactly ‘the latest thing’ in fashion trends, but they are becoming more and more practical (and accessible) to those of us in the non-couture affording variety. These lovely digs are the newest from Calvin Klein and despite the fact they may be out of price range, they sure are nice to look at aren’t they?
They fit in nicely with the pseudo-hippie feel to the summer. I can’t wait to save up some money and flaunt these puppies EVERYWHERE.

Beauty

Yay for nudity! Wait, no, not like that! As you can see, I’m a huge fan of nude this season. Neutral and nude-colored fabrics, shoes, and the barely there, babydoll-esque makeup applique. As I stated above in pastels, the nude lips coupled with dramatic eyes are my new covet.

And of course, this look should, in no way, ever, be taken out of hand.
For instance the (poorly attempted) reinvention of bold and primary colors back into fashion. No thank you.
I say one thing to the open wound that is the neons and primary colors: get back into the 90’s where you belong!
I shudder at the thought.
However, i doubt this concept is completely out of place during this season. I can actually dig the ‘bold pinks’ look, example:
This is do-able. It is making a statement and at the same time, not going overboard. The look is not so over-the-top that it exceeds the natural look, it’s just a slight embellishment. This coupled with some darker garments could work well. I would advise caution when applying the bolder variety of pink and red hues, as it can add exaggeration in all the wrong ways. We’ve learned the mistakes made during the 80’s by our previous generation (or have we?).

I’m omitting a hair section; at least temporarily. It’s a big enough issue to deserve its own post regardless. So i’ll save it for a later date. The main reason is because i simply can’t make up my mind in what i’m more partial to. I love the overly-frizzed and frazzled look but i also adore big waves and the ‘beach’ look. As for coloring? Meh, to each her own. More to come, i’m sure, just as soon as some inspiration knocks!

One thing I didn’t mention that i meant to are dresses. I somewhat addressed them in pastels section. To get to the point, the longer and bright color style of summer dresses are only a tax refund cheque away from being MINE. See below.

Need i say more? the only thing i dont understand is why they aren’t more embraced. I only rarely see these about, probably because everyone is busy embracing their slutty (i mean maximum skin-bearing) apparel. I declare it my mission to make use of these dress styles, they’re the classic beauty garment of the times, i tell ya.

Happy spring, everyone! Be beautiful!