Orange, pink, and the combination of orange and pink are spring’s most exciting and new color palette.  It’s refreshing to see this kind of unexpected, neon, funky approach to a season which is so commonly saturated with florals and pastels.  There are only so many times I can read about florals for spring being a new and exciting trend - florals are not trends!  So - the Louis Vuitton ad for Resort 2008 is the main catalyst for this break, and accordingly Richard Nicoll (above right) and Alexander Wang (above left) followed suit.  These colors scream Lily Pulitzer & Tory Burch - that polished casual prep that is usually confined to East Hampton, and while that look is something I covet for trips to the shore, there are other ways to translate bright hues into your everyday routine.

What’s so forward about Alexander Wang is that he’s thinking in terms of separates - so you can combine pieces you already have in your closet to achieve this look, an orange short with a hot pink cardigan, or picking up a new bag or accessories to transition your closet into Spring.  The Richard Nicoll look is also so fresh because the look is just not preppy at all, it’s futuristic grecian with modern colorblocking thrown in - and can be translated from runway to sidewalk easily by pairing a fuchsia skinny jean with a flowy, draped tangerine sheath.  Color developments are one of my favorite trends year round, because they’re so easy to execute on your own.  It’s not specific to fabrication, treatment, or designer - which means you’ll not only be the most on trend girl in your hood, you’ll be the most original.

Forever 21 color splash tank $14.80

Tory Burch patent wallet $94 (orig $195)

J.Crew Crawford sheer blouse $39.99

Top Shop flower earrings $11

Old Navy scarf $12.50

As a die hard bow addict, I’m on France Luxe’s mailing list and so receive their catalogs (which even if it is a dying business - I really do love getting). France Luxe is a small ecomm/direct luxury hair accessories business based in Washington, which I discovered through late night desperation googling for a bow headband last year (see post: Feeling Girly? Take a Bow). The great thing about luxury anything is that when you are on top of a trend that is hard to find - pretty much the only way to find it will be in its original form and usually not so cheap. At the time I was absolutely willing to shell out $50 for a headband, but then of course got angry when 6 months later there were 5 different versions at H&M. Such is the life of a trend in a modern fast fashion world. And - as I’m on a little punk spree at the moment, flipping through the catalog the studded tortoise shell headbands jumped off the page, I got a little excited, and then looked at the price and my heart sank! So, as always - Forever 21 to the rescue.

If you have more than $10 in your checking account, shop France Luxe

Otherwise, budget friendly Forever 21

How’s that for alliteration? I grew up in a very small town (cows) - and the only way to suppress my desire to leave was by expressing myself through dress (men’s ties as headbands, thick glasses) . I remember being asked junior year what I wanted to go to college for, and so said fashion - nothing but crickets. Then when I did go, my AP (thank you) English teacher actually asked why on earth I did such a thing. Thus the reason why I shun public schools. So much for supportive educators, but thank god for New York! I’m sure you can feel the teenage angst in my tone - the clothes just bring it back! I don’t think I’ll ever let go of the punky aesthetic, I’m a cynical New Yorker at heart and I can’t resist a dangerous looking pyramid stud for the life of me.

Punk chic connoisseur Burberry has really reinvented itself over the past several years - and in doing so has become a modern represenatation of the British punk movement, as well as a huge motivator for mass to translate it in a forward & feminine way. Christopher Bailey (of Burberry) has paved the way in reinterpreting how the tartan, motorcycle jacket, and stud read. Vivienne Westwood as well, the original curator of underground punk dress (she dressed the Sex Pistols) - brought safety pins and shredded garments to the likes of Bergdorf’s & Henri Bendel.

Forget the fishnets, mohawks, and Hot Topic - updated punk is Blondie chic. Think black jeweled heavy bib necklaces, backless dresses, skinny leather, and metal hardware. Heavily embellished accessories paired with a streamlined silhouette, or tartan/animal print/striped pieces with a metallic shoe or bag are easy ways to interpret punk without losing your femininity. And when I say femininity - I do mean looking completely bad ass.

Forever 21 studded tote $34.80

Newport News studded boot $39.00

Asos tulip skirt $35

Alex & Chloe Le Crane necklace $48

American Apparel latex legging $42

Now is the time to forget about silly rules and pull out all of your white from your summer stash under the bed. Sure, a white sundress is totally inappropriate in the middle of winter, but white jeans, white sweaters, white handbags – are so polished and refined. I have a pair of white wide leg, 8 wale corduroy pants (on sale from $300 RL Blue Label, for $50) that I love to wear into fall and winter by giving it a spectator feel with black tops – the black and white combination let white appear less seasonal, more transitional.

Off shades of white are also good rules to live by in the winter – eggshell or creams – and classic silhouettes that don’t scream picnic or beach (turtlenecks, shift dresses). Some fabrication rules to live by: stay away from any cotton lawn, poplin, or gauze. Go for textured whites – corduroy, cables, & twills - the more substantial the fabric, the better. A white shoe is a lot harder to pull off than a white handbag, but can be done right by sticking to a matte finish & again seasonal shapes (booties, no open toes or wedges). If the shoe in question is not a bootie – a black opaque tight with a white Mary Jane screams tres mod chic.

Forever 21 crochet cardigan $27.80

Top Shop bracelet $40

Banana Republic Wilshire hobo $150

Newport News snake embossed shoe $39.00

Victoria’s Secret military coat $149.99

Even after complete immersion, it still baffles me how the most random things can create entire movements in fashion. Tuxedos have been around forever, and YSL really brought the aesthetic to the forefront of women’s wear. Forget Annie Hall, forget Dandy - the modern interpretation of the tuxedo is sexy & strong, with no grey area.

This trend is happening now and it’s happening in a gorgeous way. I’ve been seeing tuxedo pants – straight leg, ankle Audrey style pants with satin trim along the side seam – pop up everywhere, and even in denim. Not only bottoms - tuxedo jackets, boyish or even cropped – as well as feminine bib blouse interpretations and a bevy of bows.

About three years ago when I couldn’t find anything to buy that didn’t have a sparkle of some sort sewn onto it – I went into complete opposition mode and would only wear huge men’s sweaters and dress shirts with tights, a cinched waist belt, and a thick black headband (Prada played a big part). As much as I try not to regret my fashion choices – you’ve gotta live in the moment – this is not how I would do opposite sex dressing these days. Now it’s all about the same silhouettes you would usually rock - feminine & fitted - but with menswear inspired detailing (peaked lapels, bibs, french cuffs).  Oddly enough - sometimes it takes dressing like a man to put a little swagger in your step - spitting and vulgarity aside.

Asos Jacket $85

Forever 21 Vest $22.80

Urban Outfitters dress $88

Victoria’s Secret pant $39.50

Newport News shoe $34.00

My time spent in Barcelona was short & sweet. It was my first trip of many outside of Italy during my semester abroad – and I went to visit a high school friend of mine studying at University of Barcelona. Their fast fashion was very affordable, and I happened to have extra money left over from opting out of buying books for the semester. This trip was my first introduction to Mango, a mix between Zara, H&M, and Forever – but with more color, texture, and personality. It was also my first trip to Top Shop, which I had been dreaming about for years prior, as well as Corte Ingles (which is it’s own little phenomenon). The main shopping street is called Las Rambles, and luckily my dear friend lived close by (as well as 5 min walking distance to the Mediterranean). Dressing in Barcelona is a bit flashy, uber colorful in the flavor of Custo Barcelona, and all about form fitting silhouettes.

Outside of shopping, there is a ton of partying. Everyone always says that about Barcelona, and it is definitely true. There are specific venues that serve only Chipitos (shots) of varying combinations and themes. The Chipito bars were insanely crowded, but that just added to the flavor and experience of it all – it was like the college version of going to a wine tasting, an endless menu of shots.

Maybe it’s because I was with a gay man, but that trip was especially interesting for many, many reasons. Although it is very Western and comfortable – when I went I kept badgering my friend about how lucky he was to have normalcy, because Rome is VERY authentic – I still loved it. It was nice to speak English and use the Spanish I had learned in high school but never utilized – even though Catalan (dialect) really puts a hitch in your step. Looking back, 85% of my time studying abroad was spent partying, and thank god. There’s a reason why they made concealer for under eye circles - so you can live in the moment.

Mango fringe dress $109

Forever 21 clutch $24

American Apparel legging $52

El Corte Ingles ring $45

If I was going to live in any decade – it would be the 20’s. I can’t get enough of that flapper mentality – cutting your hair off, throwing away panty hose, and boozing and dancing all night long. It would have been a great time to be young – rather than during the Bush administration and this lovely economic downturn we have going on. We have to play the hand we’re dealt – but that doesn’t mean we can’t live vicariously through Chanel & Paul Poiret and all that they stand for! Luckily – this decade has been resonating in the contemporary market recently, and I’m not exactly sure where it came from – I can’t think of any notable designers who showed anything that would spark this revival, but that almost makes it so much better.

Some key components of the 20’s were the dropped waist, cloche hats – and an overall androgynous silhouette that freed women from corsets and their inhibitions. If you are in the market to see cloche hats in film – Angelina Jolie’s film Changeling is a perfect example. They were actually created because the forehead was considered unfashionable, strange but true. The dropped waist and shift silhouettes came from an extreme turn around in the fashion cycle, going from very tight Victorian corsets to a liberated, I can do anything as well as a man, fashion standpoint. Women actually used to bandage their breasts to make them appear less womanly. I also recently learned from my love’s grandmother that the saying “the bees knees” came from that period – when girls would put blush on their knees because it was considered an errogenous zone – the most anyone had shown at that point were their ankles. Can you imagine? Ok, we are pretty lucky to be young right now.

Forever 21 $34.80

Urban Outfitters $18

Asos $50

Top Shop $36

Go Jane $32.99

Leighton Meester (of Gossip Girl) has great style on and off the show, both credited to two very talented stylists, Eric Daman for work and Rachel Zoe for play. There are tons of snarky comments floating around the media about Rachel Zoe, but that’s because people love to hate! She obviously knows what’s going on - Leighton always looks fabulous, and that pink dress - I could die!

It’s so easy to get carried away in a sea of black during the winter, and I love black - but there’s gotta be something to break up the monochromatic monotony - and why not pretty hot pinks? If you’re afraid the color is too daring, too much - I like to think I’d rather stick out like a fashionable sore thumb than blend in!

Urban Outfitters dress $78

Hue Tights @ Bare Necessities $9.37

Forever 21 bow clutch $16.80

Girlprops lucite earrings $4.99

Photo taken from People.com

I have no idea what Twilight is about (beyond vampires) - but I do know that people are completely obsessed with it, and that the guy in it is bangin’. So - as the lead character (Robert Pattinson) is the second coming of Johnny Depp, the starring actress (Kristen Stewart) had no choice but to take it up a notch at the premiere in her very on trend and very Fall color block Balenciaga. Enjoy the color blocking, crazy fans!

Top Shop dress by Alice McCall $110

Forever 21 $22.80

Jonathon Saunders for Target $18.89

Delia’s Corinne dress $49.50

Twilight photo taken from People.com

NY Times article “The Way You Wear Your Hat” - Here’s to dressing well!

Forever 21 wool cloche hat $12.80 (flapper style hat - foreheads were unfashionable in the 20’s)

Urban Outfitters leopard cocktail hat $28.00

Target wool beret $12.99

Top Shop felt trilby hat $40