Denim inspired looks for Spring!

I know how my American friends love their denim, and this Spring, denim is anything but basic.  The classic fabric is moving forward beyond blue jeans and being re-imagined in a variety of surprisingly fashion-forward ways.  From subtly printed bohemian jeans to punk-inspired tie-dye vests, here are some denim designs your wardrobe is begging to meet!


A sheer lace front in the same tone gives this gauzy button down denim shirt instant edge and sex appeal.  Give it a more polished feel by pairing it with skinny black trousers or a navy blue pencil skirt.





Tie-dye accents in neon pink and green give this short denim vest a charming punk attitude.  Keep it fashion-forward by pairing it with printed separates and leather accessories.





A sweet bib design gives this fit-and-flared denim dress instant girly appeal.  Practical and easy to transition into summer, this lightweight denim frock makes for a smart purchase.





Kick off Independence Day early in this playful star print denim button down.  Avoid a tacky situation by keeping the rest of your look pared down and streamlined.





A boxy cut gives this color-blocked chambray top a chic feel that you can style depending on your fashion mood.  For a spring-forward look,  combine with skinny jeans in a darker wash.





An all-over polka dot design gives a swingy denim skirt girly charm and retro appeal.  Mark my words, you will find yourself wearing this lightweight skirt now all the way through summer!




An embellished collar lends a bit of edge to an otherwise classic cropped cut denim jacket.  Its versatile wash makes for a practical separate that you can wear both during day and night.





Channel your inner hippie in these sun-bleached flared legged jeans.  A cool tribal motif and a frayed hem gives them instant bohemian appeal.





A light wash gives this denim moto-vest instant rocker-chic appeal.  Pair over a girly printed frock for a fashion-forward balance.






For more ideas on different ways to wear denim this season, check out these pics...

Brocade for Spring? Try It!

Brocade was a major trend for Fall 2012, and why not?  Done up in dark hues, this heavy-looking textile seems like the perfect embellishment for cold weather dressing.  But brocade doesn't have to be relegated to heavy layering and dour colors!  It can be light and frothy and perfect for Spring.  I've seen some beautiful pieces done in confectionary shades with metallic touches that will make you fall in love with them!

Here are some tips on how to wear brocade this season along with some of my favorite pieces for you to get some ideas from.


Ice Blue - the barely-there blue of this frock is so on-target for Spring.  Seek it out in your brocade hunting adventures!  As this design by Suno shows us, coral and light blue are a must have color combo.  You can't go wrong with a geometric pattern either!




Separates - cropped looks may have made their way down red carpets a few months ago, but they are far from over!  Case in point: this look!  Make sure your top leaves more to the imagination than not, and you'll be keeping it chic.





Gold-Tipped - the piping on this dress that calls to mind corsetry is sexy, yet subtle, two lovable attributes in clothing!




Garden Stroll - brocade tends to be rendered in delicate patterns, which is why this bold floral pattern feels fresh and makes me wonder if we'll be seeing more like this in any of our favorite, more affordable, shops.  I sure hope so as I love this frock!  The square neckline is a historic touch that's been missing for so long, it feels new again.  It's ultra-flattering, so do pick it up if you get the chance.





Think Pink - one of my favorite Spring 2013 collections was from Marchesa.  Marchesa's been having an Eastern Love Moment and I love them for it!  This gorgeous fabric needs no adornment.  A drape and sweetheart neckline is enough.  Simply beautiful!





Sherbert-Hued - your favorite dress can now be a reminder of your favorite summertime popsicle (well, mine anyway!).  Joking aside, try orange on for size!  It's hardly worn often enough and is a delightful color.





Lady in Red - what we didn't see on the runways this spring, but is making its way through stores, is the cropped brocade pant.  How cool are these pants?  I just love them!  Warmer weather is the time to skip your gray denim skinnies and go for lighter, more fun fare!  These red pants can be paired with a sweet cardi set at the office and a sexy tank for cocktails.


Cut-Out - Cut-outs and brocade might be the ultimate "everything old is new again" mashup.  Like with the cropped top, as long as you keep it classy, you can maintain the integrity of brocade while still being modern and sexy.




Shorts Style - what would summer be without a pair of hot night-out shorts?  At least for the younger set anyway!  If you've been waiting for the dressy shorts trend to go away, you're wasting your time.  Might as well grab a pair made of metallic brocade and get the party started!


For more ideas on brocade fashions, check out the following looks...

Fresh Ways to Wear Floral this Spring!

While there is nothing exactly groundbreaking about the idea of florals for spring, you can still give this trend a refresher by wearing it in new ways.  As many of you know I am a huge fan of the floral trend, and in fact I wore my cropped floral pants just today with a fitted denim blazer, but for those who are unsure of this trend, I do think there are different ways to incorporate floral in your look in a way that you will love.  From an all floral getup to a brilliantly bold accessory, here I've chosen five different and unique ways to master one of spring's favorite trends!


Head to toe floral - if bold or fierce is how you and others perceive your fashion style, then a head-to-toe floral look is right up your alley when tackling spring's favorite trend!  As seen at the Spring 2013 Phillip Lim show, this botanical print flight suit has enough quirk and swag to fulfill even the most outlandish fashionistas! Warning - this is not for the faint-hearted!




The statement piece - make a statement by opting for a strong, borderline empowering, separate that you can easily pair with more streamlined and basic options.  For inspiration check out one of spring's favorite looks, courtesy of Dior's Spring 2013 collection, which featured an iteration of this floral print iridescent ball gown skirt, a match made in statement heaven!  I absolutely love this look!




Black and white - if you'd rather take the classic route in regards to flowers, then I suggest you take inspiration from this ladylike ensemble.  Give your all B&W look a pop of color by adding a bright accessory, such as electric blue pumps or a bright red patent leather clutch.




Clutch on - another bold, albeit less intrusive, way of donning florals is the Prada way, via a very stylish purse.  Rather than sweet and girly, think loud and womanly when searching for your latest handbag choice.
To give such an item the attention it deserves, keep the rest of your outfit floral-free, and instead think neutral and solid pieces.




The literal way - if you are more of a natural kind of gal, you can always wear this spring trend the literal way, by donning actual flowers.  As seen at the Spring 2013 Issa collection, models showcased gorgeous flowers via sophisticated hairdos.  Channel the Issa women by picking beautiful flowers and pinning them to your locks.  If that pretty idea sounds sort of impractical, you can always rock a floral headpiece instead.




Now that you've seen my five picks of different ways to wear the floral trend, here are some more looks to get you inspired!