When it comes to scouting new trends, the obvious place to start is the runway. While copying ideas directly from the catwalk can be a bit far-fetched (hello, giant flower headpieces and feathered booties), they’re the best sources of fashion inspiration. Finding your own way to interpret the latest runway trends is the trick to looking perfectly of-the-moment without sacrificing personal style.
That said, one of the most glamorous trends this season is also the easiest to wear! Bright, saturated colors in simple shapes create instant drama, and with the right accessories and attitude, the look is clean, effortlessand youthful.
The photo above highlights one of the biggest color trends this season: ORANGE. In hues from pale tangerine to bright poppy, orange is fresh, bold, and oddly classic – all at the same time.
As young college students, we have lots of room to experiment with this vibrant color! It’s easy to make a statement with a geometric persimmon dress or chunky orange wedge, but if you want something a little more understated, try a sweet sheer top with orange-juice-tinted stripes.
Other colors to look out for this season are yellow, teal, lime, and white (yes, it counts). If you’re up for a particularly bold look, try combining any (or all) of these hues together! On the left below is an example from the Gucci Spring 2011 collection — note that by mixing cool colors together, the looks are vibrant, yet not over-the-top. Unfussy shapes and hues from the same color family work together to keep the outfits polished and sophisticated.
If that’s still too much look for you, try mixing 1 bright color with a subtle pattern. Clean stripes or girly liberty-print are both the perfect foils to electric shades – they soften and refine the look without competing for attention. Try a lime skirt with a navy stripe tee, like the Alice + Olivia Spring 2011 look in the right picture above!
Simple accessories like thin scarves and dainty necklaces keep the look balanced and allow you to try your hand at mixing colors subtly. Spring pastels like seafoam, lilac, and lemon look sweet and unexpected paired with brighter hues like cobalt, lime and orange. And don’t forget about those nails! The rainbow of bold, matte polishes from Essie make adding a punch of color to your outfit almost too easy!
Image Sources: style.com, essie.com
