Fashion people are already looking ahead to fall (the pre-fall collections are already out!), but we normal people are still thinking about what to wear this spring. Around here, some of us are already dressing for spring…the high was 56 yesterday!
Here are my favorites for this spring from the Milan shows. Check out my picks from London and Paris, too (all runway images from Style.com).
shoes from Dolce & Gabbana
There was lots to like at the Dolce & Gabbana show, but the painted wicker stuck out for me. They had bags of different sizes and colors (I loved the tiny clutches, obviously), but the wicker on the shoes really caught my eye. Especially the gold painted heel. So flashy and fun!
clutches from Bottega Veneta
Is there anything better than reptile skin clutches? Oh right, reptile skin clutches in bright colors. This is a no-brainer for me friends…it’s like these were made especially for me! I particularly like the interesting twist on the envelope closure.
When it comes to handbags, snakeskin or alligator (or crocodile or lizard or whatever…) is always going to be better than plain leather, and color is always going to be better than black or brown.
earrings from Marni
I have nothing against the Statement Necklace (and I have a feeling it’s going to be “in” for many more seasons to come), but if I’m going to wear oversized, obnoxious, flashy, or otherwise eye-catching jewelry, it’s going to be hanging from my ears, not around my neck.
I love huge, long, colorful, and graphic earrings, and Marni had all of the above. The best ones were orange or red!
fringed scarves from Missoni
I surprised myself with this one, friends…usually I do not go for fringe at all. It makes me think of silly cowboy costumes or tacky evening wear. But all the crazy excess in the Missoni spring 2012 show really appealed to me, for some reason (seriously, check it out: no minimalists need apply).
I completely fell in love with these super-long scarves with excessively long fringe. So dramatic, so colorful! These are fairly monochromatic, but the wildly printed ones were awesome, too. The fringed necklaces caught my eye, as well (didn’t I just say I’d rather skip the statement necklace?!).
(left: Pucci mini dress, right: D&G scarf dress, spring 2012)
the IT color: yellow
Yellow was all over the Milan runways, in many permutations: bright and bold solar power as decreed by Pantone, pale pastel yellow, and everything in between.
There were particularly lots of great examples of wild prints featuring yellow, which I think is a very easy and great looking way to incorporate yellow into your wardrobe.
The D&G outfit above is also a great example of how yellow can look great on someone who is pale and blonde. You don’t have to be a brunette or have dark skin to look fantastic in this bold, sunny color!
(Also: don’t be afraid to wear your yellow with gold jewelry. But that is for another post!)
When you start building your spring wardrobe, look out for bold earrings as well as the ever-present statement necklace. Think about the possibility of your summer staples of wicker, woven, and straw bags and such in color (or even metallic!) instead of nude tones. And what about experimenting with dramatic fringe? Tell me what you think!
Stay tuned for my favorites from New York!
