Take a combination of decades of style, add a dash of Old Hollywood glamour, and you’ve got on-trend magic for Spring 2008. This season, designers added modern twists to our timeless and classic favorites. Fashion icons like Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, and Princess Diana sported many of these sophisticated, classic trends—romantic, flirty, and colorful in design and mood. Here are my top twelve trends for spring. You may not love them all, but I encourage you to select a few to add to your existing wardrobe to look more modern and on-trend.
1). Crayola Colors This season, designers have added many vibrant shades in saturated colors like bright yellow, grass green, royal blue, red, safety orange, and fuchsia. These bright colors can be difficult for everyone to wear. If you want to experiment with bold colors, start with a bright top or jacket and pair it with a pair of white pants or a skirt, which will tone it down a bit. When wearing bright colors like these, keep your accessories simple so that color becomes the focal point.
2). Pattern print, creative and floral strokes Dresses, jackets, blouses and skirts will come in all sizes of patterns this season. Popular prints will have graphic, geometric and abstract motifs. You’ll see some beautiful new prints that look like patterns of creative brushstrokes from an artist’s canvas in a light whimsical doodle or blurred watercolor abstract. Romantic floral prints will dominate the season in medium to large prints. When selecting a print to use in the professional business arena, remember to keep it small to medium range and subtle in color.
3). The defined waist dress Spring is all about dresses this year. The two most popular styles, which I adore, are the shirt dress and the sheath dress; both of which accentuate the waist area. I love these styles because they work well in a business casual work environment and can transition from day to night with a switch to dressier accessories. The shirtdress has a fitted silhouette that is elegant and classic, with a collar that can be worn slightly up and a button-down front that, when unbuttoned, can create a deep V-neckline. A shirtdress with a sash or belt it can complement a waistline or help create one that isn’t prominent enough. This style of dress flatters many different body types. Many styles of sheath dresses can be worn without a belt, but they fit your body and define the waist a bit. This dress looks professional with a modern or tailored jacket during the day, and with a large bag and clutch for an after-hours event. For work, this style of dress combined with a jacket conveys professionalism, experience and femininity for the business woman.
4). The timeless trench The classic trench coat returns in time for spring weather and is a great wardrobe staple that every woman needs in her closet. This season you will see a more modern version of the classic trench coat. The latest twists are brighter colors, lighter fabrics, and shorter jacket styles, which look great with dress pants. The timeless trench coat gets a fresh, spring look with softer fabrics and fun colors. This is also a great item to pair with jeans and sandals during those cool spring evenings to look sharp and chic.
5). The Feminine Blouse The mood of the season is romantic and flirty when it comes to blouses. Beautiful soft blouses in pastel tones and prints with many feminine details such as ruffles, tucks and small pleats. With the fine details on these blouses, keep jewelry to a minimum. This is a must-have for all working women, as this sophisticated and romantic item can modernize a classic suit and add a feminine touch to a basic tailored suit.
6). out of africa Safari clothing is once again a huge timeless trend this season. Dating back to the 1970s era, you’ll see African safari jackets, khaki shirt dresses, and belted safari pantsuits. With this trend you will find large animal prints, such as leopard and giraffe, on dresses and tops. To give this style a great head-to-toe look, try pairing a safari outfit with some natural wood accessories and trendy strappy sandals with wooden soles and heels.
7). Wide and flirty skirts Skirt silhouettes will be full and in style this season, like the dirndl, A-line, pleated styles, and soft, flirty skirts with a fuller silhouette. These styles will be in bold solid colors, color block prints, floral and artistic prints. A soft A-line skirt that gently drapes the hips is a flattering style for many women, as it camouflages large areas of the hips. Any of these styles paired with a modern blazer, twin set, or soft feminine blouse is a winning combination to consider for a business casual workday.
8). high waist pants This is a difficult trend for many women to accept as we have had to get used to low-rise pants for years. This trend started last fall and we are definitely starting to see more dramatic waistlines being raised to new levels. The styles that illustrate this trend are sailor or wide-legged pants. While this trend may not work for everyone, if you have a defined waist, this can really show off your small waist. You will look curvaceous, but feminine. When wearing high-waisted pants, be sure to balance it out with a fitted top across the upper torso, making your legs look slimmer and longer. If your body type doesn’t look great in this trend, skip it, as there are plenty of pants options this season.
9). overall elegance This season, designers traveled the world and went outside the box for inspiration in new patterns, shapes and accessories to bring that “melting pot” charm to the outfit. You’ll see a lot of ethnic influence like clothing with embroidery or intricate Bali-influenced prints. In the jewelry you will see tribal beads, stones, necklaces carved from solid wood and pieces of natural wood. When you wear a piece from this global look, incorporate it with a few other pieces in your wardrobe. Perhaps add a dramatic necklace or bracelet from a faraway place to finish off a look on a safari ensemble or casual denim outfit.
10). Shoes: architectural heels and bold colors This season’s shoes will be highly structured with lots of architectural details on the heels and cleverly designed platforms. The structured wood heels and soles of the sandals will look natural and earthy when worn with dresses and skirts. At the other end of the spectrum is color. You’ll see pops of color in a modern mix of color blocks on shoes like bright pinks and yellows mixed with black. If you decide to wear colorful shoes in bright colors, let them be the center of attention and keep the outfit simple and elegant.
eleven). Gold Tones: Metallic Jewelry This season’s necklaces, bracelets and earrings will be in new shades of metallic gold. Rose gold is the new modern gold to wear. If you like warm colors, adding rose gold accessories will make your current wardrobe more contemporary. This golden hue looks beautiful with many of the lovely neutral colors that will be coming out this spring and summer.
12). Armbands and stacked cuffs In the bracelet category, you’ll see bracelets in various metals and bold colors in Lucite. Stack your arm with some fun bracelets in different shapes and sizes. This is a fun item to add a little flair to a dress or if you’re wearing a sleeveless or short sleeve top. If you are in the workplace, be careful not to overdo it. Maybe opt for a bracelet so she’s not jingling all over the office.
I hope you find at least two or three trends that you are willing to try to incorporate into your current wardrobe. If you add a few of these into your classic trend ensembles, you will look classy and elegant for every occasion.