The Considered Ensemble

With the quick advancement of spring on our heels, everyone is putting away long coats and pants and replacing them with pleated skirts and shorts, sunglasses and other fun spring and summer wear. Fashion Week 2011 debuted quite a bit of oncoming trends for the season including flowers, animal prints, and more. Check out a few fun trends to try this season in your fashion set!

Spring Nail Colors

(Butter London Spring/Summer Collection)

Various cosmetic companies including Chanel, Dior, Butter London (as pictured above), Essie and OPI have all released their nail collections for the season. Not surprisingly for fashion, the selections are extremely different with specific themes to each. Some look traditionally spring pastels (Essie) while others are strikingly more modern with a touch of glam rock (Dior). Try out some of these colors this season and make your nails and outfits pop!

The Wedge

(Gucci Wedge Heels)

Wedges are in something fierce this season. With a wide variety of espadrilles, wedge heels and cut out wedges, there is a diverse selection of shoes to fit any style. Even if fashion week’s highest brands are not within your reach, there are plenty of equally cute and totally affordable shoes in this style. Be sure to check some out this season. They’ll go great with beachwear and nights on the town!

Prints

Making yet another comeback are prints. This includes flowers, animal prints and more of that variety. There is definitely something to fit anyone’s style in this category so even if print clothing isn’t your style, spice up an outfit with a leopard print heel or headband!

The best way to step into spring with a splash is by doing it in a splash of color. Pastels and whites of previous spring ensembles have given way to bold jewel tones and bright shades that jump out at you.

There is nothing trending right now that blends into the background. With the economy tanking and disasters happening everywhere, we need bright and cheerful more than ever. Notice-me colors and shocking hues inspire confidence, and a little boost of confidence is always a good thing.

There are several different ways to wear this season’s jewel tones; you can adjust your impact according to your personality…

• If you are a little shy, and the thought of wearing fuchsia from head to toe makes you cringe, you can add just a touch of a bright, bold hue. Painting your nails and putting on a bold necklace or chunky bracelet can give you a little color boost without scaring you into a storage closet.
• A little jewelry or nail polish is good, but if you would like to make more of a statement while staying within the confines of conservative (especially if your workplace is strict), you could keep your business attire and add a turquoise or tangerine shoulder bag.
• Daring career girls can add some flashy heels to a conservative suit.
• For evening and dates, there is nothing more eye-catching than a confident woman in a bold-colored dress. Pair it with understated jewelry and silver or gold (match the jewelry) heels, so you don’t overdo the brightness.

Remember, with stand-out colors, there is such a thing as too much of the good. If your dress is bright, go with less jewelry and a small clutch. If your purse, shoes, and accessories are bold then you should pair them with a black or white dress.

Most of all, spring is about happy colors…so have fun with them!

Ponytails are the best way to keep your hair out of your eyes. It is also one of the best styles for spring, and more versatile than ever! Short and long, straight and curly, bangs and all-one-length…ponytails are the way to go this spring.

The low-key pony is the most popular and the one that you can do no matter what kind of hairstyle you have. This one is easy, too! Look up, grab all your hair and gather it onto the back of your head…higher than the nape and lower than the crown. Tie it all together with a bright spring band, and you’re ready to go with a spritz of your favorite sticky stuff! This is the prettiest ponytail for hairstyles with bangs…they look young and fun, but not immature if you pair it up with a sharp outfit and understated makeup.

Long hair is gorgeous in a side-swept, loose ponytail. When your hair is wet, add some hair goo, and scrunch some bends and waves in. Make it messy! Then when it’s almost dry, sweep it over your shoulder on the opposite side of the part and tie it there with something funky. Don’t brush it while it’s wavy and full of hair gel…the more you brush, the bigger it gets. This style is supposed to look rumpled and un-brushed!

To dress up a ponytail for evening, just pull out a few face-framing pieces, add a couple of sparkle clips, and sweep your bangs (or long front pieces) to the side. You can also part your hair down the middle and clip it at the nape of your neck with a pretty clip for a conservatively pretty look.

One color combination that just keeps coming back is black on gold. It doesn’t seem to matter what trends come and go, the combo of jet black and precious metal never goes out of style.

The place to wear it now is on your nails, to add a little wicked into your everyday look…

http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-look/simply-chic-blog-post.aspx?post=5d629d66-f5a6-489b-8960-6a052e651e45

Chanel is the company that is making black and gold nails hot right now, but you can get the look from any brand.

All you need to look for is a metallic gold that suits you, and something in a glossy black. Using some tape (even plain old Scotch tape works), create yourself a French manicure with gold as a base and black tips. The look is edgy enough for the nightlife, and subtle enough to wear to work. You’ll get attention, but it’s not an inappropriate look, even for the most conservative of bosses.

Klorane Dry Shampoo

Klorane Dry Shampoo is the perfect solution for those with oily hair or anyone too busy to shampoo every day. Priced at $15, Klorane Dry Shampoo utilizes the absorbing effects of oat extract to keep your hair looking healthy and feeling clean. All you have to do is simply spray some of the product onto your root, hairline or any other problem areas and comb through for a quick freshened up look.

DermOrganic Intensive Hair Repair Masque with Argan Oil

DermOrganic’s Intensive Hair Repair Masque with Argan Oil works like a charm for damaged or dehydrated hair. If you style, blow dry and flat iron frequently, this hair masque is a great addition to keeping your hair in top shape. The masque is well worth it as it is organic and costs only $13, leaving your hair shiny, hydrated and healthy looking. I recommend using this masque before you shower as it does requiring rinsing.

It’s A 10 Miracle Leave-In Spray

This is TRULY a miracle product that works! Although it is pretty expensive at $15 for 4 ounces, it really brings life back to over-processed hair. Especially beneficial for use after dye jobs,  the It’s A 10 Miracle Leave-In Spray puts much needed proteins and nutrients back into your hair after they have been stripped away. The only thing with this product is to use it sparingly; too much of the product can create build-up in your hair. Just a few sprays will give your hair enough protein to rejuvenate your locks.

The Capri pant takes a slim cut approach for Spring 2011.  Rather than the traditional cut of mid-calf, see them falling just below the calf, or slightly cropped just above the ankle.

The tassel is a simple little trimming that can translate to opulence and luxury on a garment.  They were, after all, used as symbols of status when they originated thousands of years ago.  Exhibiting wealth and power, these ornate attachments were hanging from curtains, pillows & velvet cushions.  As modern times prevailed, trimmings were toned down and moderation came to order.

Now we return to luxury, and the tassel’s comeback makes a greater impact than ever before.  Not only will it be seen on furnishings but also on fashions.  And not just limited to accessories like handbags and purses, shoes and belts; the tassel will be dripping from dresses as well.  In 2011, expect it to be larger, in bold color and to stand out in one way or another.

Bell bottoms and flared pants are making a comeback for 2011.  The revival of 70s fashion is the motivation for this trend.  The modern take on the Bell bottom is to incorporate these vital elements: the hem of the pant should be at least as wide as your foot; they should not be cut slim, but loose around the knee.  And finally consider a high waist if accomplishing the complete 70s vibe; a low cut waist will be fine if going for a more modern look.

An accompaniment to the 50’s and 60’s style re-emergence is a pair of cat eye sunglasses or eyeglasses. From subtle shapes to more extreme there will be an array of frames to choose from featuring designers such as Paul Smith, Tom Ford and Jeremy Scott.

A cat eye frame will generally work best with a square face or diamond shaped face, but nothing is set in stone. It is important to try on a pair and see how they work for look & style.

These frames can be versatile and compliment many outfits, from vintage to modern. However, stick to the 40’s to the 60’s if the goal is for a vintage inspired look.

Many of the style trends for 2011 are about paring down and making a statement. With Cat eye spectacles make a strong statement by choosing a pair with diamond-shaped lenses that point sharply out. Go subtle with an everyday pair that has a slight flare out at the edges.

Polka dots, paisley, abstract images, diamond shapes, tie-dyes, even images of houses; these are among the list of graphic prints being put on garments for Spring 2011.  Designers are opting for bold patterns and images to make their statement for the upcoming season.  Miuccia Prada known for minimalism and understated elegance goes for a bit of whimsy in some of her printed dresses. Marco Zanini added unique prints to his gowns at Rochas and created a new kind of quirkiness.