Gen-U, the first unique example I mentioned in my last blog about four staple trends this spring. To recap, it represents being bold, daring, young and creating your own destiny. This trend carries an urban spirit with it’s shiny, futuristic looks. With that said, let’s get into the major details.

Colors are bright yellow, red, magenta, aqua,  pink, and purple. The materials that carry these colors are holographic, jersey, mesh, and fleece. Rounded shape silhouettes are essential as well as utilizing details such as zippers in the front, hoods, pockets, and buckles. To name some key examples of clothing items are the wrap miniskirt, basketball shorts, mid-drift, cropped and elongated T-shirts, jogger sweatpants, The parka, and The bomber jacket.

If these items, colors, and materials are your flavor, you’re in luck this season. Get a taste of it now, they’re hitting stores as you read this.

With every new season comes new materials, outfit ideas, colors, and themes. I’ve discovered four trends for spring 2016 that carry new these elements into the new season. The first trend, Gen-U, speaks to today’s millennials who are independent and want to create their own destiny. They are a product of their own environment; young, flavorful, and colorful with a deep involvement in the digital world that surrounds them.

Seamless Innovation, the second trend, is all about activewear that is great for those with an active lifestyle, and helps push them to make better people of themselves, inside and out. Silk and nylon are two of the most common materials used for this trend. It is designed to help many obtain self awareness through constant new ideas, and energy, creating a new level of activity. This would result in good mental health of what one should do to create physical health by utilizing the many elements of their world.

Alive, is a trend that all about being a joyful, free spirit. With an organic touch, plant textures, flowers, and many other earthen surfaces, are the inspiration for this trend. It brings us back to ourselves and let’s us just enjoy the fresh air and open our eyes to the true beauty of Mother Nature.

This last trend is for those who carry a bohemian spirit. Its all about traveling the world for inspiration and by being a apart of nothing and everything all at once. The 1960’s free spirit and appreciation for craftsmanship, is what pieces together Global Commune, a trend full of blue hues, traveled apon materials, and many patterns.

Wow, these trends are pretty neat. But this isn’t the end, in my next blogs I’ll be going into detail with many outfit ideas, of course. The first two seem to have a theme of the latest health and technology trends, while the last two are about getting back to Mother Nature and the basics of what designed our world to begin with, before technology came.

Since it will be an early spring, I figured it would be a good time to talk about a couple spring 2016 trends. There are flirty, sculpted pleats for your sillouhuette that gives a unique look with a bend of the fabric; not just the traditional girlie-girl pleats. My personal favorite, sheath dresses with ruffles is an adorable start to spring with maybe some matching sheer or lacey flats.

From shorts, to dresses, to capris, spring will bring to us a bit of shimmer. Look for this especailly on evening dresses to be extra fancy. Something dressy and casual that you can wear to the office or out and about is a wrap skirt with a button up top and heels, then a crop top when going from work to a night out.

Well that’s all for now for the new spring trends this year. As winter slowly melts away, there will be much more to come.

As you have read in my previous blogs, I’ve gone over some super exciting and beautiful  trends for this season, however, there is always a set of rules that ruins anything fun, right? Well, just kidding, these do’s and don’ts you are about to read are actually going to help you set up your outfits with enthusiastic colors, prints, and styles, so you can have more fun than ever during those cold and windy winter days.

Do overdo it this winter with over-sized coats and sweaters, a fur vest, a knee length skirt, and knee high boots. These ‘wow’ items will add some spice to your wardrobe and last all season as they can be used in just about any outfit. Red and white leather jackets are two do’s after seen on the runway several times.

Be daring with colors and patterns, add some lengths you’ve never tried before. Do always add a wow piece as mentioned above when in doubt to set that outfit on fire, well, hopefully not literally. But you will feel extra warm this season if you try this Do layering fashion statement: a leather jacket over a sweatshirt, and a long coat over the leather jacket. You’ll still feel just as hot as you remove your layers with your daring leather jacket and sweatshirt on. As far as boots for keeping warm, do let your socks show while wearing leggings and mid length or low boots.

Don’t let those white clothing items retire after Labor Day. They’re all over the runway with accessories, coats, hats, and sweaters. Don’t forget about those skirts and dresses either this season, they can pulled together nicely with the right jacket, leggings/tights, and boots. Don’t forget to wear these outfits with bright colors and patterns. Just because its dark outside doesn’t mean you should be stuck with only dark color options. This season is all about change, being bold, and trying new things. So go ahead and Do just that, you will feel like a new woman from the inside out.

Picture Sources:

www.tfia.com

www.theladylovescouture.com

www.suttonplacehotelcompany.wordpress.com

If you want to look cool but feel warm and cozy all at once this winter, your best option is to stick with a sweater. The best thing is, there are so many styles to choose from. The first one I will mention is stripes with polka-dots in between the lines. This sounds funny but is seriously everywhere. Its usually found in lighter cotton materials with a high neckline. In fact, high neck lines are the latest thing this season.

Why not spice things up a bit with some sparkle? If you like sequence, you are in luck. This year brings sequence fun to sweaters in many different patterns. This blue sweater for example shows a pattern of sequence, material, sequence.

Speaking of patterns, there is also block color patterns trending right now. Some are bright and some are just right. And some have colors that you never thought you’d put together. But did you ever think you would wear a sweater with fur on the bottom of the sleeves? Maybe this year you will. In a neutral color with matching fur, a fuzzy sleeved sweater would look super cute with your favorite jeans and some boots. But half sleeve sweaters; they don’t sound that warm, do they? They are though, and are extremely comfortable and adorable. They’re adorable as a high-waisted style as well as ones with jewel and embroidery at the neckline as a ‘fake necklace.’ There is nothing fake, however, as to how comfortable these styles really are.

When it comes to getting dressed up for dinners with friends or family, you can either try to impress them with your stylish dress or go with the mind-set that no matter what you wear, they’ll love you anyways. And before dinner maybe you already had busy, long day. So, why not get comfortable and reach for that extra glass of wine or piece of cake. Sweatpants, believe it or not, is key to putting together comfy, yet stylish dinner outfits.

If you really don’t feel like getting dressed for dinner, go for an of the shoulder sweatshirt with a pair of skinny sweatpants. The least bit of effort can be made with a bit more dressy outfit with cashmere sweatpants, loafers, a long sleeve shirt, and a blazer to top it off.  You will be looking sharp but feeling so relaxed and probably more comfortable than half the table, unless you share these ideas with them.

Let’s say too comfortable at dinners actually makes you feel just the opposite. Leather jogging pants, long earrings, a loose, dressier blouse, and heels, is probably the best outfit for you in this category of sweats. You will feel so cozy in the joggers, which are basically light material sweatpants with a scrunchy style at the bottom near your ankles. If your style is unique and daring, try sequence joggers with heels and a plaid shirt to show off your style and how you really feel about getting dressed up for dinner.

Let’s talk about the newest major fashion trends so far this year. Keep in mind that just because we’re talking new trends, doesn’t mean we have to completely throw last year’s wardrobe out. That would be like throwing your money in the garbage. This is a smart woman’s guide to using last year’s trends with this year’s new ones. Stripes, one of last year’s major trends, is still around. To create an instant upgrade with this one, try a matching striped scarf to go with it. It’s so cute, petite and adds a unique touch. Jeans with boots pulled over the knees has now turned into a mini skirt with these boots in suede material.

Last year statement scarves, a printed scarf with all the colors in your outfit to pull it all together, was popular in silk. This year wear it with a low v-neck shirt. A trend that isn’t so much for matching, boyfriend jeans and a blouse that don’t quite go together perfectly, was popular last year with flats. This year, try those same jeans with a matching or similar jacket and a mock-neck shirt underneath.

The neutral-colored pencil skirt from last year still takes stage with a slit down the side and a printed, large-sized clutch. Very chic and put together with heeled sandals and a neutral-colored shirt tucked into it. Pieces, such as an over-sized sweater and scarves in camel and cream colors, broken up with denim jeans were trendy last year. This year those colors still come in handy with dressy pants such as khakis.

The beanie is one the most popular hat styles of all during the winter, but did you know that it is the most versatile? Here are some ways to wear it this season that you may have never thought to before. Match it with a blazer, jeans, and a silky scarf for a casual, everyday look. Mix your patterns, such as plaid or paisley, with a pop of color; a bright beanie to stir it all up.

A grey or blue beanie paired with a matching hue sweater is perfect for the weekend and will look super sleek. You don’t always need to be casual with beanies, they also go great with a skirt and some sandals, believe it or not. A classic look, black and white, never fails with a matching beanie in either color.

If you’re dressed up from scarf to toe, a beanie will spice things up a bit by being the unique piece in your outfit. Adding netting to a beanie with a dressy outfit, such as a long skirt and overcoat will give you a unique, whimsical look that no one will forget. And nothing is better than being unforgettable.

Stormy Weather

If you want to get filled in with the fall/winter 2015-2016 color trend news, keep reading on. We are busy women with jobs, kids, and many other obligations in life that are sometimes complicated and hard to deal with. To help us feel better, sometimes retail therapy is on the list of remedies. As a customer, you may find yourself looking for something simple and comfortable, something not so abstract and all over the place, something just to make you feel warm and happy. Luckily, this season is filled with simple, balanced, and down to earth color tones, to do just that.

According to the Pantone Colour Institute, there are a few main hues that are a constant throughout the color group. A constant, never-changing concept, how wonderful! As you’re shopping for those comfy sweaters or warm pants and boots, keep the following colors in mind and you will avoid all complicated matters such as trying to match pants to shirts or jackets to skirts.

Stormy weather, a constant and dependable shade, carries a constant blue-gray. It’s perfect for the professional woman who wants her wardrobe to reflect her inner strength that she will overcome any obstacle. Dried Herb, an olive green hue, brings a cool undertone to any outfit as its organic side reminds us of healthy activities, such as eating our veggies and exercising, which help us to really get back to ourselves and remembering to put our health first.

The soft pink shade, Cashmere Rose is probably the most chic of all, this season. This color’s appearance is said to look far away from noise and air pollution. So if you’re looking to get away from the pollution in your life, you can at least feel like you have from wearing this amazing, frosty color.

On the other side of the spectrum, is a darker blue called Reflecting Pond. This intriguing but put together shade brings a calming mood as it is can go with any color you’d like, making you feel comfortable and beautiful. A warm shade, that may go nicely with this one is Oak Buff, the color of sunshine rays. Look for it in dressy clothes for work, for a sense of reassurance that there are calm, relaxing days ahead.

Amethyst Orchid, the combination of a jewel and a flower brings to us calmness and sensuality. Along with all of these colors is the classic Timeless Black. Black will never go out of style and is always there to match anything you have while offering a slimming illusion if you want. Dark or light, these colors all bring something special to our lives and divvy up those winter blues.

Pictures:

Stormy Weather: Bykoket.com

Dried Herb: Fusionbeadsblog.com

Cashmere Rose: Etsy.com

Amethyst Orchid: Etsy.com

If it’s in your current plans to go to a formal gathering, the latest look with evening gowns is matching, elbow length gloves. So go ahead, show some glove! Or not going so formal or at all, but want some length? Try mid-length gloves to wear out at night with your friends or on your way home from work, because boy are the temperatures starting to drop at night!

A glove trend for both day and night, that is not only flexible to wear with whatever you want; but comes in handy (no pun intended) when you don’t want to take off your gloves but need to open a bottle or text someone;  the finger-less mittens. They are mittens but with the ability to fold the top part over and become flexible finger wear.

Suede with fur is also another great find this winter season. Wavy, loose fur, fringe-like fur, and soft, short fur are three beautiful trends that go with fur-lined coats to bring elegance, warmth, and comfort all at once. Sounds pretty good to me!

Picture Sources: 1. etsy.com Formal Wear Gloves

2. postmark.com Suede Fur Gloves