Focus

Spring
Style!
into
Shake off those snow boots and put away the parka. The new
fashion season has arrived, and it brings with it a slew of new
trends that are warm-weather ready.
Our favorite looks for spring 2014 and tips on how to wear
them – from the season’s biggest color to its freshest cuts
and boldest prints and patterns, you’ll find everything you
need to get the look you'll love this spring.
Back in Blue
This spring’s hottest hue is actually pretty cool. Blue in shades
like ice, glacier, navy and everything in-between will show up
all over your wardrobe in the coming months, so scoop it up
early in the season and wear it through the summer.
An easy update that adds some blue: swapping out your
black for navy. Trade your black jacket and white tee in for
subtly textured scuba jacket and shell in navy. Want to keep
it casual? Add a pair of slouchy track pants in heathered navy
to keep the look monochromatic without going overboard.
For something a little more prim and proper, try an abstract
blue print in a classic silhouette. We love the combination of
bright blue and tan, so add a waist-cinching belt and a pair
of tan pumps for a little something extra that won’t draw the
eye from your dress.
Seeking something a little sleeker? Try a color-blocked strapless
dress in shades of cobalt and robin’s egg, complete with
nautical stripes that give the whole look a touch of summer.
If you’re only looking for a hint of blue, add some to your
accessories. A suede fringe tote, cobalt bejeweled sandal, or
ice blue bangle is the perfect way to try out the trend without
diving in head-first.
Start with an a-line silhouette you already know and make it
sportier from head to toe. Rather than cinching your waist in
a midi skirt, go for a cropped tank that shows some skin– add
a chunky flat sandal with thick leather bands to keep the look
athletic rather than ladylike.
Mix genres a little with a short suit that’s sport-inspired without
being unprofessional. A zigzag pattern makes the combination
of a skort and leather tee look a little more serious,
and the collarless jacket is the perfect fit to top the look off
with something more grown-up.
Whether you’re wearing a shift dress or wide-leg trousers,
sheer panels and mesh can take a monochromatic look from
staid to sensational. In a dress, stick to a simple silhouette
with a high neckline – a sheer hem that’s short enough
speaks volumes without showing off too much leg. If you’re
sticking to pants, try layering a mesh sweater over a perforated
leather shell – the combination keeps you covered and
cool at the same time. Add a pair of wide-leg trousers and
slicked-back hair for a sleek finishing touch.
Lace looks a little edgier this spring as designers up the ante
on the classic texture with colorblocking, unusual patterns,
and three-dimensional embellishments. The easiest way to
try out the latest lace is in a simple shift that tries all three
trends at once – featuring a sheer chiffon hem, nude and
canary yellow color-blocking, and a seriously 3-d pattern, this
Rebecca Taylor dress is just the ticket.
Feeling like your sporty streak is a little sidelined by a ladylike
look? Trade those single-sole pumps in for an unexpected
sandal – a pair of white leather Birkenstocks will do the trick
perfectly.
Sporty Femme
The newest feminine and flirty looks incorporate unexpected
sporty touches from head to toe. Add athletic touches to classic
silhouettes, see-through patches to sheaths and sweaters,
and eye-catching color-blocking to more traditional lace
for a look that’s entirely of-the-moment.
108 FOCUS of SWFL 2014