Spring/Summer 2010 Color and Fashion Trends Forecast

As spring bursts forth in her annual colorful array, fashion echoes in vibrant hues. Fresh colors reinvigorate and awaken both the wearer and those around her. And the best thing about wearing bold shades is that it only takes a little pop of color to breathe new life into an existing outfit!

In recent seasons, most of us have chosen to make smaller and fewer purchases when it comes to fashion. Along the way, we’ve discovered that we really don’t need to buy a whole new wardrobe each season to maintain a fresh look. A few well-chosen pieces that work with clothing we already own are all that is needed to update the collection in the closet.

One of the easiest ways to spice up your look while taking advantage of the season’s fresh colors and styles is with accessories – especially jewelry! It’s a fun, affordable way to enjoy something new without a complete wardrobe overhaul. And whether you’re looking to purchase something trendy or timeless, you can find it here.

But before you shop, check out the latest scoop on this season’s hottest colors and styles…

 
Bold brights and new neutrals create fresh color palette

“Now more than ever, women are vigilant when it comes to spending,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Instead of reinventing their wardrobe at the start of each season, consumers want pieces to complement what they already own. Pairing a bold color with a basic piece or freshening up their look with bright accents addresses the need for practicality, as well as fun.”

Pantone’s 2010 color of the year, Turquoise, anchors the bright, fresh Spring/Summer color palette, evoking both the serenity and the vibrancy of tropical waters in its balanced blend of blue and green.

A perfect complement, the brightly energetic Amparo Blue adds the clear hue of spring sky. Shy Violet is a rich lavender, just right for a breezy summer evening.

Aurora pours a drop of green into pure sunlight, while Fusion Coral, a deeply peachy marriage of red and orange, brings warmth to the palette. Tangy Tomato Purée serves as the season’s traditional red.

Tuscany, an earthy, warm beige, pairs well with the palette’s more dynamic hues. Dried Herb, a classic, deep warm green, offers a nod to summer’s military-inspired fashion. Calm Eucalyptus is the eternal, practical taupe. Bubbly Pink Champagne is a delicate, wispy tint and the season’s newest neutral.

Quick fashion update

One of the hottest trends on its way for spring and summer is sportswear-inspired fashion. And unlike other recent trends, (Thigh-high boots? No, thanks.) this is one that the average woman can really get into: jazzed-up sweats, variations on tennis skirts, sporty stripes and cozy jersey fabrics. For the more adventurous, there are sleek, scuba-inspired dresses!

Other emerging trends include safari-style wear for the urban jungle, sheer fabrics to keep you cool this summer, and long skirts with thigh-high slits. In a similar leg-baring trend, hot pants and boy shorts are also in vogue. (Time to get those legs in shape, ladies!)

Military-inspired designs are back for another season, this time with a bit of a futuristic tone. New elements include chain maille detailing, tribal motifs and tunics paired with a military-style jacket.

Other fashion trends that promise to be all the rage this spring and summer:

·          Jumpsuits and bodysuits

·          Ripped denim. Yes, still!

·          Fun girly stuff like ruffles, sequins and fringe

·          Soft, nude colors such as light pink, creamy beige and pale caramel

·          Knee-high (and over the knee) socks

·          Lace leggings

·          Headbands with bows, feathers or sequins

·          Bold belts

And if you can’t get your fashion fix fast enough, Trendstop.com has got just the thing for you! Their mobile app called trendtracker™ sends the latest runway looks, fashion news, trend ideas and inspiration right to your mobile phone. What will they think of next?

 
What’s bold, carefree and shiny? Summer hair, down to there!

Long locks rule the beach this summer. But not to worry, shorter-haired maidens – hair extensions aren’t just for celebs anymore! If you want to be part of the Rapunzel set, you can visit your local salon to get that length or simply snap up some snap-on hairpieces online. Once you’re flowing free, you can choose from the hottest hairstyles: long 1940’s waves, the long side braid, or sleek and straight.

Or you can choose to go reeeeally short, because the pixie is back – with or without tousled waves up front!

Other summer headlines feature wet-slicked or gelled hair, romantic chignons and twists and the pretty pony tail.

And the biggest fashion story of the season? The jewelry, of course!

Once again, jewelry is big for the coming season – literally! Big necklaces, big earrings, big crosses… If you like your jewelry super-sized, you’ll love this season!

Here’s an overview of the most important trends in jewelry for Spring/Summer 2010:

·          Global fusion – As our world shrinks, it’s no wonder that exotic colors, ethnic beadwork and tropical designs are increasingly finding their way into American jewelry. The latest in this trend are individual pieces of jewelry that are little melting pots of sorts, with multiple cultures represented – and blended – into a single piece of jewelry.

·          Collage jewelry – With the invention of new, non-toxic resins and more bezel settings, jewelry featuring tiny treasures captured in resin are becoming all the rage, especially among those who create handcrafted jewelry. Often made with found objects, these pieces combine the recycling, vintage and mixed-media trends into one creative, well, collage!

·          Go green – Recycling has made its way to your jewelry box! More and more designers are dismantling vintage jewelry and reusing the beads in new pieces. In fact, many independent jewelry artisans (myself included) will take your own old jewelry and breathe new life into it for you! Another trend called “upcycling” takes items of no value, such as magazine pages, books, old unwearable leather items and fabric scraps and repurposes them into cool, new jewelry. Paper beads, for example, are part of this emerging art form.

·          Go wild – Speaking of green, leaves will be a popular jewelry design element this spring and summer. Other nature-inspired motifs will include flowers, sea life, animals and the lovely patterns of animal coats.

·          Make a statement! – Research on seasonal trends keeps revealing that the “statement necklace” is still the defining piece to own. And it’s just the thing to help you shine amidst a sea of sheer fabric and military jackets! Fortunately, there’s more than one fashionable way to make a statement with your neckwear. You can do it with a multi-strand necklace, a bib necklace or something big, bold and decidedly chunky!

·          Bold, ornate earrings – Chandeliers for your ears are still in vogue. Whether dripping with dozens of tiny stones or featuring intricate wire-wrapping, all manner of bold ear adornment is in this season. Especially hot are neck-lengthening silhouettes like gem-encrusted teardrop shapes and multiple crystals dangling from long strands of chain.

·          Cross your heart – One way to do that while celebrating your faith is to wear a big, heavy cross necklace! From shiny, simple pendants in solid, polished metals to ornate styles emblazoned with crystals, all kinds of crosses await this season.

·          Personalized and sentimental – In this fast-paced, often impersonal age where items are mass-produced by the thousands, personalized jewelry is becoming ever more popular. Pieces that carry names of loved ones or words of encouragement on them have much more value than the cost of materials alone. Charms that remind the wearer of special people or treasured life events are also an important trend. And if those charms are personalized, all the better!

·          Arm candy – Whether you prefer cuffs, bangles, charm bracelets, woven metal, beadwork, fiber or chain maille, bracelets continue to be a sweet treat, especially when stacked! Cuffs really take the cake – or rather, the sweet spot on the wrist – this year, though. Make sure you pick up at least one! 

·          Lay it on thick! – In addition to sporting a stack of bangles, necklace layering is still in style. The latest variation on this theme is the layering of chains (especially long, textured or mixed-link styles) with beaded necklaces. Pendant layering is still hot, as well. For the sequential folks among us, that might mean wearing several similar pieces (all hearts, for example) or complementary ones, such as a group of all silver pendants of a similar size, or even pieces on a theme, like a grouping of suns, moons and stars. For the more abstract souls, layering means anything goes! Knock yourself out!

·          Knuckle busters – Big, bold cocktail rings are everywhere this season. Reeeeeally big rings! (Have you seen the stars on the red carpet lately?) Some rings sport a single, giant faceted stone and others are covered with a pavé of itty bitty gemstones or crystals. Domed rings and those with smooth cabochons are especially hot.

·          One-of-a-kind keepsakes – A return to artisan-crafted jewelry has been happening for several years now and shows no signs of slowing down. Jewelry has become a mode of self-expression for many and there’s no better way to express yourself than by wearing a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted piece that no one else owns!
 

So, if your wardrobe could use a breath of fresh color and new life but you don’t want to overhaul your entire closet, try starting with a few new pieces of jewelry! Choose a style or two that are new to you and popping with bold color or bright shine – or both! You might be surprised at how fresh and new those same old outfits suddenly look!

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul and paints his own nature into his pictures."
-- Henry Ward Beecher