Spring 2009 Top trends Part 2 of 2

Moving on to other Spring 2009 trends:

Embellished boho (see below) is a new trend that is so beautiful because of the use of vibrant and rich colors with interesting fabrics and textures. You'll notice that the look is still somewhat structured and less 'flowy' and bohemian than one might expect.

Pastel colored suits (above left) will also be popular as an alternative to traditional black pantsuits. I'm so relieved to see the lighter, fresher colors coming out now. We will also have color block prints (above right) as on this dress above--which have a bold and strong look about them.

Subtle--yes, subtle--touches of neon will abound for Spring (see picture at left). Not that there is only a fringe of neon showing, so it has a tiny throwback to the 80s.

Sequined daywear is also in, so that those embellishments on an outfit make wearing additional accessories unnecessary.

The cropped military jacket is also a 'go' for Spring, though women who are very short waisted should not choose this look.

Last but not least we are seeing some 80s flair in the way of cropped cuts in clothing and very vivid colors. The key to not overdoing this and looking too dated is to add a boldly colored blazer or one of something else--never overdo this or you'll run the risk of looking clownish.

Live in color!

Lauren

Spring 2009 Top trends Part 1 of 2

Black on white prints are big this Spring. Any combination of black and white can work for the more conservative woman, even something as simple as mixing black and white beads.

Not pictured are zipper details, which can be found on jackets, pant legs and even handbags this season. Oversize necklaces are also continuing into the Spring, and I feel that they make great investment pieces for their enduring quality.

The look of pants this Spring will be decidedly relaxed and ethereal, being loose on the hips and tapering slightly at the ankles. Either fitted tops or loose ones belted in keep the look sharp and fresh.

The accessories report indicates that big, exotic bangles when layered will be big, as well as oversized pattern handbags. How fun!

Last but not least, we have the sophisticated trench coat, which is longer and has a more luxe look because of the shimmer. It easily transitions from day to night. And.....hot pink! I am so excited because this is such a brilliant and attractive color on lots of skin tones. This information comes compliments of Glamour magazine, so I cannot take credit :)

Live in color!

Lauren

Own Your Age

It is time to own your age, ladies! I want to see what 40 really looks like, and 50 and 60 and 70 and 80 without going under the knife or being injected with substances to plump up the skin. I want to see more women who own their age and are utterly unapologetic about it. Can you help me?

If you have decided to age gracefully with only the help of good topical products and innovative beauty tricks, then I would love to have you submit a good photo of yourself to display on this blog.

Own your age--that is going to be my mantra moving forward, ladies. This is not to criticize those women who have opted for injections or cosmetic surgery. In fact, direct relatives of mine have gone under the knife in the name of beauty. This is not about judgement. I just want to see for myself how good 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 can look without medical intervention.

I look forward to your photos, ladies. Own your age!

Lauren

How do you feel in your clothes?

It doesn't matter if you wear the latest trend or most expensive garment--if you don't feel comfortable in the outfit, then you'll be fidgety and won't wear it well or look your best. It will have been a wasted purchase--perhaps one that just hangs in your closet for years.



When you feel comfortable in a garment, you exude confidence and appear more attractive. You 'wear' the clothing instead of having it 'wear' you. Let's look at 3 simple steps to making sure you feel comfortable in your wardrobe:



1) Do you love it? If you would wear the garment over and over again, and find yourself grabbing for it routinely, then you love it. If you hesitate before putting it on, then you don't love it and should get rid of it.



2) Does it fit properly? This seems rather obvious, but I see so many women pulling up their pants or fidgeting with a dress collar because of ill fit. Be sure that your garment skims (not clings to) the right places, and that you have it altered for your body type.



3) Does the fabric feel good on my body? Fabric makes a difference on so many levels. Most importantly, the right fabric feels like a second skin, and you don't feel itchy or uncomfortable when wearing it. If anything about a fabric bothers you, then ditch the garment in favor of one that feels nicer to wear.



Live in color!

Lauren

Pantone's 2009 Color of the Year

I love the website of http://www.pantone.com/ because they are the quintessential predictors of color for home, beauty and fashion. According to Panton, the 2009 color of the year is Mimosa.



According to Pantone--and this is a direct quote:

In a time of economic uncertainty and political change, optimism is paramount and no other color expresses hope and reassurance more than yellow. "The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance," explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. "Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation."

What I love about the color yellow is how appealing it is to everyone, even if everyone doesn't like wearing it next to the face. This shade of Mimosa can appeal to both men and women. For men it can be incorporated into a striped or patterned tie. For women it can be incorporated very well into accessories, handbags and patterned tops.

Yellows in general coordinate with virtually every other color, and my favorite neutral to pair it with is actually grey. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Live in color,
Lauren

That one special outfit!

Just came from a fab wardrobe consultation in which we got rid of 80% of my client's wardrobe, and she didn't whine, whimper, cry or throw a tantrum. In fact, she felt relieved and looked happier and happier as we dwindled her wardrobe down to next to nothing!

Here's the thing, though.....we were able to create around 10 new outfit ensembles with 4 simple garments and a few tops we held onto because of their color, embellishment or flair. We had soooooo much fun, because it's always better to have a few great pieces than a whole lot of nothing great.

The truth is that we could have kept going, creating even more ensembles. There was enough left in my client's wardrobe to play with and create many more fun, unique looks.

Stay posted because I'm going to ask my client if we can post a couple of 'before' and 'after' photos. My fave piece we kept is her pant suit. It fits perfectly and is just the right shade of white.

For my client, the white pants suit is that one special outfit! She can wear it for job interviews, date nights, girls' nights out, and on the job.

Live in color!
Lauren

Support Color My Closet in the 2009 StartupNation Leading Moms in Business Competition

Support Color My Closet in the 2009 StartupNation Leading Moms in Business Competition

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