Top Spring Nail Trends!

Never in a million years did I ever think I would be entitling a blog "Nail Trends", but for whatever reason, nail art has exploded onto the scene, I would be remiss not to write a feature specifically on this fascinating and colorful idea. It's loud, it's proud, and it's trending from ages 5 to 85. It's goodbye boring old French Manicure and hello ultra glam. And with a generous selection of fabulous new nail products hitting the beauty market, it's easier than ever for women to take their look from demure to divine diva in a matter of minutes! And what I looove about this particular trend, other than the fact that the design possibilities are endless, but it's a trend that's suitable for every budget. So let's take a look at some of the hottest looks and how to get them!

Sally Nail Effects

These are available practically anywhere including stores like Walmart, Walgreens and Shoppers Drug Mart. Personally, I'm a big fan of this product because I like something portable and easy when I travel. Sally Nail Effects are easy-as-pie to apply to your nail, they come in forty different designs, and they can last up to ten days provided you're not doing anything too rigorous. And as an added bonus, they're easier to remove than conventional nail polish, and at under $9 a package, it's a steal!


Impress Press-On's
I was at the theatre two evenings ago, and the young lady who was serving us had the most amazing nails. I was practically mesmerized as she swiped our cards, and shuffled tickets, I couldn't keep my eyes off of them. I finally broke down and asked her where she got them done and she beamed that it only took her 15 minutes to do them! My mouth dropped. They were the brand new Impress Press-On Nails by Nicole Scherzinger, and I had to get me some! You need to do a little bit more prep on your nails than you do for the Sally Nail Effects. But with 36 hot designs to choose from, you can have yourself a better-than-the-salon look for under $15!

DIY Designs

I'm a do-it yourself kind of girl myself, mostly because I'm a budget-conscious student. However, I also love learning how to do new things, and ever now and then, when I'm feeling creative, I start meandering through Tumblr for fabulous DIY blogs. If you have some extra time to pamper yourself, pop on your favourite episode of Fashion Star, and glam up those nails to your heart's content!

Girls Do it Better!

Calvin Klein. Alexander McQueen. Roberto Cavalli. These are a few of the couture fashion houses that have been dressing us for the last several decades. No one can argue that these leading men knew how to dress women, and they knew how to do it really well, but there seems to be a shift occurring in fashion industry, we are hailing the return of women designing for the ultra feminine and irresistibly potent sex. And if you ask me, it's about time!

Don't get me wrong, there isn't too much that can top the feeling of slipping into a sultry Roberto Cavalli dress, that is, until I strut around in anything designed by Fridda Giannini or my personal favourite, Diane Von Furstenberg. Ever since I can remember, I could never understand why it was that men repeatedly dominated the world of fashion. I always understood that there was little or no place for feminism in its political form, because fashion and all those involved continuously break the rules of feminism. But wouldn't women know how to dress the female body better? What does a man know about how a woman feels at any point in her day, and how her personal style is often a direct reflection of what she thinks of herself?

The answer was simple. Men dressed us in what they thought we should be wearing, and women complied. They made beautiful garments, that made us feel sexy, and we bought into the fantasy life they were selling us, hook, line and sinker! But since Coco Chanel arrived on the scene in the 1920's with the iconic "Little Black Dress", it's been clear to me, that women know what women want. I've been falling back in love with female designers for the last five years now, and I don't know if I can ever turn back. From Kate Middleton's Sarah Burton (for Alexander McQueen) wedding gown, to Stella McCartney's lace "optical illusion" prints, if you happen to be a woman learning how to become a fashion designer in the near future, you couldn't have jumped in at a more exciting time!

Bag Yourself the Hottest Hand Bag!

I know I'm always rattling on about the hottest fashions, and I tend to neglect what can sometimes be, the most significant part of an outfit, the handbag! What's the big deal, you're just slinging it over your shoulder right? Ummm, WRONG! C'mon gals, a hot handbag is the ultimate conversation starter, and there's nothing better than being the talk of a sizzling soiree! As you all know by now, colour blocking is the hottest trend going right now, but nudes and pastels are also hitting the streets, so let's have a look at what's hot, and what you should be clutching!

Colour Me Good! I cannot express to you how enamored I am with the colours I see strutting down the street (well, not down my street yet, it may be Spring, but we're still waiting for that warm breeze!). But my girlfriends from back East are stompin' around town with the likes of Marc Jacob and Victoria Beckham.

In the Nude. Fleshy tones are really big this season, and when you throw that together with a woven design, it makes magic. Not every bag designer can pull this off, but brands like Marni sure can. The $1700 price tag might be a bit steep for you, or you can snag something cute and chic at Target for a mere $15. Thank goodness someone's lookin' out for us poor folks!

A Punch of Colour. If you love colour, but want to keep it subtle, you'll probably fall in love with Fendi's Confetti Bag. I'm sure it costs a mint, and for a gal who's trying to keep up with bills, getting my online degree, a Fendi bag can cost as much as a semester of school, yikes! Oh well, a girl can dream right? Here's hoping I see Fendi, Marni and Marc Jacob in dreamland.

Fall in Love with Flats All Over Again

I know I'm always going on and on about all the latest clothing trends, but lest we forget about the piece de resistance for every great outfit, the all important footwear. Hot shoes can make or break an outfit. It can pull an ensemble all together, or obliterate whatever concept you've dreamt up in your overly creative head!   I hate to be a forgone conclusion, but I admittedly, like many fashion-wannabe's before me, have an insatiable shoe fetish. And of course, the majority of my shoe collection is made up of pumps, peep toes and stiletto's that I've worn no more than a handful of times and they're not shoes that are conducive to my everyday coming and goings. Sure, I'd love to think that I'm chic enough to pick-up my dry cleaning or strut down the frozen food section at the grocery store in my favourite Ralph Lauren platform pumps, but I'm no Carrie Bradshaw. Those babies are reserved for special occasions.

Thankfully for a sneaker-donning tomboy like myself who would love to make more of an effort to be fashionable and fabulous, flats are coming back with a vengeance and I couldn't be happier. Not only are flats a fabulously versatile footwear option, but if you're shopping in the right shops and boutiques, you're going to have hire yourself an executive assistant to help carry your shopping bags!

Okay, so first stop for shoe bargains, Payless Shoes! Whether I happen to be shopping in Canada or when I'm outlet shopping in the USA, this is generally my first stop for cute, affordable shoes. And despite it's reputation for being suspiciously "cheap", I have Payless shoes in my closet that are well over five years old!

H&M is another great stop for fab and affordable flats, especially if you're really into the pastel trend that's really hot right now. Their selection isn't as varied as a Payless of course, but what's convenient about shopping here, is that all of their shoes can easily be coordinated with anything you buy, and you know it's damn near impossible to leave H&M without buying an armful of goodies!

GoJane is another one of personal faves and with flats as low as $14, how the heck can you go wrong! Gojane is often featured in InStyle, Cosmo and Elle, and for all you budget-concious fashionistas lusting after the hottest shoes, completing your collection at GoJane couldn't be easier!

Crazy for Colour Blocking!

There are so many hot trends for this upcoming Spring and Summer season, but one of my absolute favourites and one that I can't wait to start experimenting with is the colour blocking trend. If you're a pastel, or muted-colour kind of gal, it's time to spread your wings and embrace the rainbow girl! Don't panic. You might be telling yourself, "but I can't wear colour!" Hogwash, of course you can! Don't worry, we're not going to send you out onto the street without a few tips first! Does a tattoo artist start their work without the correct tools, of course not! So here's why we're loving this trend and how to wear it!

Why we love it! I am an accessory freak! I adore dressing up my outfits, so any excuse to get some new baubles, sign me up! Colour block accessories are plentiful, and adding an oversized ring, bangles, necklaces, earrings and headscarves. Once you know what colours compliment each other, you can start manufacturing your own style!

Mixing and Matching is easier than you think! Who knew that bright yellow went with so many things! Like other trends, there are some rules to follow so you don't end up walking down the street looking like a circus clown, but not so many that this trend gets left to the stick people on the New York and LA catwalks!

Eyescessorize

It's totally affordable! Sure, you've got everyone from Dries Von Noten to Salvatore Ferragamo pumping out colour-block couture for prices only our tiny bank accounts could imagine. Fear not, because vintage is so hot this season, thrift shops and consignment stores are brimming with bright coloured treasures, just waiting to be plucked from the rack, for prices that won't break the bank!

Things to remember. Neons colours can be a bit trickier to put together, and can date your look negatively. They can also make you look a little washed out. Stick with solid colours from solid palettes; Pretty purples, gorgeous greens, rich yellows, rich reds, funky fushia's, and perfect pinks. Take a peak at the pantone below courtesy of one of my favourite blogs, Eyecessorize.

The Perfect Peplum

Like many women, I can be a bit of a slave to fashion trends. But not all trends. I could not, in good conscious, jump on board with the whole Uggs phenomenon because I thought they looked like moon boots, and all of my Australian friends were gasping in horror when they heard North American women were donning Uggs out on the street, instead of wearing them in the comfort of their home where they are meant to be worn! So, I enthusiastically shelved the over-priced moon boots up there with tye-dye jeans, and wearing Lululemon to inappropriate places like anywhere outside of the gym or yoga studio. But one trend I am absolutely loving is the return of the Peplum.

The Peplum was a dominant feature of womens' dresses and skirts in the 1940's, 1960's and 1980's, and finally, it's made a fierce come back for 2012. Designers like Stella McCartney and Marc Jacobs dotted the runways with their pretty Peplum pieces. But well before New York and LA Fashion Week, women have been pining after this chic style since Mad Men came into our living rooms.

The Peplum-style waist is flirty, girly and ultra-sexy. It accentuates the curvature of a woman's hips and the smallness of her waist, which is good news for a boyish-figured gal like myself! The design itself is to be paired with sleek, well-fitted or tailored pieces. A beautiful pencil skirt or leggings are both great options. Peplums can be sewn onto the piece itself, or they can be removable. It's a style that's accessible to absolutely everyone in just about every setting. Whether you're an executive assistant at a big firm, or cocktail waitress, going to the movies, or heading out for a hot date, throw on a Peplum and turn your entire outfit into a showpiece!

Getting Nostalgic at the Oscars

As my love and adoration for fashion grows, despite the fact that I am a self-professed movie buff, I find myself looking forward to the pre-Oscar show far more than the awards ceremony itself! I don't really care who's wearing what, but watching the designer greats being paraded up and down the red carpet, is quite riveting for a fashion hopeful like myself! Unfortunately, I found the Oscar wardrobe ensemble to be about as exciting as the show itself. And with the exception of Angelina Jolie's emaciated right leg, who now has its own twitter page, and the JLo's apparent nipple slip, the entire night was a disappointing fashion snore! So let's not dwell on the recent past, but instead, let's step way back in time and pay homage to the some of the greatest Oscar dresses of all time. 

When Audrey Hepburn stepped on the red carpet, photographers couldn't get enough of this lacey little number. Audrey donned this exact dress in her Oscar winning role in the Roman Holiday . The dress went to auction a couple of years ago, and is worth an estimated £60,000! Who could forget Julia's vintage simple but exquisite Valentino gown for the 2001 Academy Awards. The dress, though understated, was brought to life when Julia took the stage and won her first Oscar for her brilliant role in Erin Brokovitch. Loved the dress, loved the speech, love the girl!

She may not have donned a little gold statue, but Diane Lane looked ravishing in her Oscar de la Renta Ostrich gown for the 2003 Academy Awards. I'm not usually a fan of women wearing colour palettes that match their skin tone, but this gorgeous gown brought out the natural tawny golds in Diane's perfect complexion. The off-shoulder design highlighted the gentle slope of her shoulders and accentuated her naturally curvy figure. 

One of my personal favourites was Penelope Cruz's shop-stopping Atelier Versace original that she wore for the 2003 Oscars. Penelope rarely disappoints when she steps onto any red carpet, but she was perfection in peach in this breathtaking work of art. 

And to round off our Oscar favourites, I'll leave you with Halle Berry's fabulous Elie Saab. The iconic satin train, and strategically placed embroidery left jaws agape on the red carpet.  This was to be the most poignant moment in Halle's professional life when she took home the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in the gritty film, Monster's Ball. 

Street Chic

Ever wonder where the term "street fashion" came from? I always did. I never really understood what designers meant when they used the term "street". To me, the streets were a place of survival, a constant quest to get the basic essentials, unforgiving and gritty. But many of the world's top fashion houses have all experimented with "street fashion" at one point or another. There really isn't an era or time period associated with street fashion, but it does seem to be generally associated with youth, or a youth movement. It's not a trend that originated in fashion houses, or with specific designers, and you don't have to learn how to become a fashion designer to harness the eclectic style that is street fashion. You just have to have a little imagination, and be a little risky!

One of my favourite street style looks, is bohemian. And I'm not talking about looking like a wandering gypsy with patchwork bohemian, I mean, "chic and sophisticated, I am a creative being and I am embracing it" bohemian. Despite what women think, it's a look that absolutely every woman can pull of. Whether you're a high-powered attorney at a swanky firm, or a Starbucks barista paying your way through college, it's a look that encourages you to let your hair down, and embrace your inner goddess.

Another signature aspect of street style, is the punctuation of colour. Since there are absolutely no rules, yellows, bright oranges, neons, you name it, it's all fair game! As long as you can coordinate with a funky colour palette,  and you don't look like a Las Vegas casino billboard, you can rock it! Long gone the days of black, grey and off whites, colour is the new couture, and as a woman of colour who loves to rock her lime greens and bumblebee yellows in the dead of Spring, I am loving it!

In the past, street fashion has often been edgy, sharp and borderline masculine, but it's finally gone feminine. There's no need to hide that girlish figure behind a harsh motorcycle jacket and a pair of doc martins. Designers are putting the girl back in girly and cranking out some salaciously feminine pieces, especially for this spring. Street means edgy, and if you want to get that certain edge in a frilly sundress, accessorize with a leather studded belt and a pair of sandals, voila, sassy street style!

Hit The Slopes in Style

It's mid February and and for Canadian students, many of us are about to go on our Reading Break, which is the equivalent of Spring Break for our neighbours down south. While American students tend to love soaking up rays on the beaches of Mexico or Florida, Canadians can't get enough of life on the slopes! Western Canada and the Laurentians in Quebec, are often inundated with university students from across the country, looking to ski, snowboard, snowmobile or anything else that involves being out in the crisp, cold powder. Whether you're just beginning or you're a seasoned veteran, everyone wants to not only have the best gear, but wants to look fabulous on the mountain.

Safety First. Okay, yes, we want you to look fabulous, but it's more important that you are wearing pieces that will keep you warm, comfortable and safe. When you're just learning how to ski or board, you are bound to spend a lot of time on your butt, so you are definitely going to want to layer up. As a rule, I always wear a base layer, a thermal layer and a fitted piece over top that hold the warmth into the other two layers.

Water Resistant Required. There is nothing chic about getting wet in the cold. Even if you're active, you can run the risk of getting hypothermia if your body isn't kept warm. It's most important to keep your feet dry and warm, so stick to synthetic fabrics, or lightweight wool like Merino. Don't wear socks that are too heavy, and don't wear 100% pure cotton, it's doesn't dry. Wearing brands like Columbia, Arcteryx and Burton, will not only guarantee your warmth, but you'll look like a pro!

Hats, Gloves and Scarves, Oh My! Along with keeping your core warm, it's important to keep your head and hands warm. I'm a huge fan of wool. It's a natural fiber and it has natural properties that make it an ideal material for the wet and cold. Vermont Originals is one of my favourite wool hat companies. Hand crafted in the USA, they feature a line of funky hats that can be designed specifically for you!

Gloves are an essential part of your ski ensemble. And too often, I see skiers on the slopes that are wearing ill-fitting gloves. There is no no need to go overboard, but there is nothing wrong with spending $40 - $50 for a pair of excellent quality gloves. Snow equipment is costly, but in order to get as many seasons out of it as possible, it's important to purchase items that are high quality!

Ugh, I have Nothing to Wear!

 It's date night. You've known about it all week, but like me, you're a woman wearing multiple hats, with a schedule that probably requires a minimum of two executive assistants to balance it, and you've given little, if not, zero time to what you're going to wear for your beau tonight! You're scrambling around, tearing your closet apart, and you're about to have a fashion meltdown! Okay girls, let's take a deep, deep breath and regroup. Here are 5 wardrobe essentials that you will help you avoid any future fashion crises!

 The Perfect Little Black Dress
Absolutely every woman must have a little (or not so little) black dress in her wardrobe. It doesn't matter if you're a size 0 or a size 16, black is ultimately flattering, accentuates natural curves, it's wonderfully versatile. You can dress it up, or keep it casual, with hundreds of different accessory options, it's every woman's best friend, and no dress is the same.




 

The Crisp White Blouse
This is a personal favourite of mine, and I cannot tell you how often I've used this wardrobe piece. I've worn it to interviews, luncheons, evenings out, formal events, you name it, my go-to white blouse has been there! It can be made of silk, cotton, polyester, it doesn't really matter. Like the little black dress, it is one of the most versatile pieces you'll ever own. 



 

The Classic Dress Pant
Another must-have, dress pants, like jeans, can be tricky to shop for. Flare, bootleg, straight leg, skinny, the options are endless. We use the word "classic" because it should be your classic style. Personally, I have a petite frame, and I prefer a classic bootcut or a straight leg. Some of you may like a trouser style pant like the one pictured here. Which ever fit you choose, a chic dress pant can be a woman's secret weapon!

 Dazzling Denim

Every woman needs a pair or two (or ten!) of fabulous jeans. Don't get overwhelmed by all of the different fits. Despite what you may tell yourself, there is definitely a style out there that will look amazing on you, it just takes a little hunting around! Check out this style guide to help you. A beautiful pair of jeans can be made to look as formal as dress pants, and be dressed down for a walk in the park with your pup.

How to Dress for Your Body

As women, we've all spent countless hours in the changing room, feeling at the end of our proverbial rope because nothing seems to fit. It's almost like every designer in the world came together in some secret meeting and conspired to make everything in their collection completely unwearable to anyone who's above a size 6. Ladies, don't lose heart, there are plenty of designs out there that practically have your name sewn into them. What it all boils down to, is understanding your perceived flaws, and appreciating the natural curve and shape of your body. If you want,  it's possible to give the illusion of a nip here, and a tuck there, all under the guise of a well-constructed garment. Once you unlock the formula for making your body look bangin', you'll be turning heads everywhere you go! 

1) The Petite Figure. We should all be so lucky to be built like mini mouse right? Wrong! Sure, it may be fabulous being a size 0-6, but if you don't know where to look, it can be difficult to find fashionable jeans, trousers, or blouses that are designed for a shorter torso, or shorter legs. No respectable thirty-something year-old woman wants to be shopping in the teen section! Simple, clean lines and well tailored clothing looks best on a petite frame. When buying dresses, keep the hemline above the knee to give the illusion of longer legs and make you look taller. If you are donning a gorgeous petite, hour-glass shape, items like a wrap-dress, a sultry pencil skirt, and a blazer with a tailored fit are essential to your wardrobe! 

2) The Pear Shape. Don't fret ladies, pears are delicious, just like your shape! Women that are pear shaped are more curvy through the hips and derriere, and smaller on top. It's important to balance out the bottom by adding shape and detailing to the top half of your body. If you are self-concious about your shape, it's best to avoid tube dresses, pencil skirts and fish-tail hemlines. These are all designs that will accentuate your behind! A-line dresses, maxi skirts,  and blouses with embellished necklines or kimono sleeves attract attention to all the right places! 

3) The Rectangle. This is a body type that is often perceived as a little less shapely. But ladies, you have no idea how many women would kill for your shape! Your shoulders, hips and waist are a similar same ratio, hence the name rectangle, which often translates into women with this shape, look good in just about everything! However, there are designs that shouldn't don't flatter like sheath dresses and dropped waistlines that make your figure look more boyish. Lower cut blouses and shift dresses best accentuate curve and shape. 

Spring 2012 - Channel Your Inner Fashionista

For any of you seeking a career in fashion merchandising, having   your eye on the latest trends is essential. Last week, we shared with you some of the exciting up and coming trends for Spring 2012. Stunning vintage pieces like cloche hats, classic pearls and fascinators, along with bold, tropical prints, boxy silhouettes and earthen toned accessories. As we inch closer to the transition from thicker winter fabrics and into breezy Spring prints, we start to get a more realistic idea of trends that actually have a fighting chance of making it from the high flying catwalks of London and New York, to the mean streets Los Angeles, Chicago or Toronto.

All About the Midriff! Dolce & Gabbana, Anthony Vaccerello and Emilo Pucci are all about abs, abs ABS! Long flowy skirts, and undersized embellished bandeaus strutted their way down the runway. So you might want to grab yourself a copy of insanity ladies and start working on those six packs ladies. Or you can flip off this trend, happily sip away at your full fat Americano and stop freaking about losing a million pounds before the summer. This look isn't for everyone, myself included! Keep the long flowy skirt, and pair it with a pastel tank or fitted corset.

How about a trend all of us shapely gals that doesn't require us to skip lunch everyday! Thank goodness for the mavens of the roaring twenties! Flapper frocks are all the rage this Spring season and guess what, you don't have to be a triple zero like the waifs pictured above, to look look the part! The subtle, yet sensual boxy, low waisted silhouette is wearable by all! Let Alberta Ferretti, Roberto Cavalli and Gucci be your muses this season. Sequins, sateens, even jersey, the fabric matters not, it's all how you accessorize it.

Is there anything sexier than a woman in a suit? Yes, a woman rocking her confidence in a short-suit! This is a favourite trend of mine that, thankfully, designers keep reinventing. A girl can never have too many suits, and in every colour. Linens are always a favourite for spring and transition beautifully into sultry summer eves. 

We're seeing stripes! A splash of colour and dash of chevron and you've got a recipe for show-stopping look. Classic design houses like Dior and Burberry draw from the Art Deco movement of the 1930's and translate the geometric shapes of the era onto frocks, crop sweaters, capes and blouses. 

Crazy for Cloche and Other Vintage Treasures!

It's always interesting every year watching accessory designers scramble to think-up the next big thing to bring shock and awe to the runways of Fashion Week. This fall season was a fury of unique and refreshing designs. Stunning Navajo beadery, delicate feather extensions, chunky necklaces and bangles could all be seen on the worlds most prominent socialites. When Kim Kardashian dons 9 inch earrings, we scrambled to jump on the trend train. But what I am loving about this season, is our new found love affair with the illustrious, notorious, sensuous roaring 20's. The era where ladies of all classes donned boxy, shapeless silhouettes, calves and ankles were as sexy as decolletage and the bob was all the rage. It was a tumultuous time. Jazz was the spoken language, and the cloche hat was the most worn accessory of the time. Cloche hats were generally made of felt, so as to ensure they conformed comfortably to the head, and maintained and highlight the integrity of the bob. Later, fashion houses like Lanvin and in-house designer Jeanne-Marie Lanvin, capitalized on the popular trend by coordinating fashion designs with the cloche being the piece de resistance. Wool was often used by couture houses in London, Paris and New York to account for the severe winter weather. In the summer, months, hat-makers often used more light-weight material like straw, or sisal. It's chicness, and versatility that has allowed the cloche to stand the test of time, and is lovingly reinvented by the likes of Bergdorf Goodman, or more affordably, Jessica Simpson.  

Do you remember how enraptured we all were with the new Princess of Wales? Kate Middleton's style is affectionately copied the world over, but if there was an accessory that took off like the concord, it was the hair fascinator. No, this is not a modern day fashion super hero! Fascinators are beautiful headpieces that are often clipped to the hair with a bobby pin, or snap barrette. They're a gorgeous alternative to a full veil for brides that want to be a little more temptress and a little less priestess on their wedding day! Spice up your favourite little black dress, or spend at day at the races with the girls. The fascinator is a guaranteed conversation starter!

Pearls are also a timeless, and fabulous way to take a favourite outfit of yours back to an era of elegance. Larger pearls are perfect for a subtle black dress, or simple soft toned tank. Smaller pearls are ideal for outfits with more embellishments like lace, sequins or crocheted knits.

Keep Chic for Spring 2012

Alright, perhaps it's tad early to start getting excited for the Spring melt, but nothing drags me out of my post-Christmas blues like curling up in my favourite over-sized armchair, a pot of my favourite jasmine tea steaming in a pot nearby whilst being comforted by old friends like Vogue, In-Style, Elle and Marie Claire. Spring 2012 is certainly shaping up to be a bright, soft, sleek, edgy and as always, vintage-inspired season. Personally, I'm an avid fan of the sleek, shapeless silhouettes of the sultry 1920's. So rouge your knees ladies, put your stockings on, and take yourselves back to the elegance of the days of prohibition. Low-waisted silhouettes, luxurious cloche hats and silk panty hose make for fashion splendour. You don't need to learn how to become a fashion designer to dress like the great Louise Brooks or Clara Bows. But you can surely use use them as inspiration. After all, copying style is the greatest form of flattery. 

Warm, sumptuous tropical prints are heating up the catwalks. What girl doesn't want to sway down the street imagining a caribbean breeze flowing through her hair, looking sun-kissed and ready for a day at the beach. Everything from matte sheens, to canvas, bright silks, breezy jersey's and tulle and organza all make their appearance in this year's Spring's line up. This stunning tropic isle dress is from none other than Dries Van Noten. It may be a hair out of the price range for the average budget conscious fashionista, however, don't let that stop you for hunting around for tropic prints at penny-pinching prices. 

If you didn't get your fill of tribal and native prints this seasons past, they are back with a vengeance, and even more exquisite then before. Fine beading, rich fiery reds, deep golds and earthy browns illuminate the runways with classic cuts and indigenous patterns, once again, creating the perfect marriage between the past and present. This fabulous turquoise ring by Kelly Wearstler is just one example of the exceptional accessories you can find this season. 

Shoes, shoes, glorious shoes. How I adore thee. Tropical pinks and cool peaches will be strutting down Madison Ave soon enough. Diego Dolcini's ultra sexy strappy sandals scream spring flings, and soon after, summer fun. It's time to break out of your dreary post-holiday blues girls, snap some spring colour into that sad winter wardrobe and rest assured, the warmth of Spring is on its way!