Popular Colors for Spring 2012

Every year, Pantone forecasts the year's most popular colors, these are the ten they have for this year.

1. Tangerine Tango (Pantone Color 17-1463)
Have we posted a trend post yet without mentioning tangerine? I don't think so, tangerine (or "tangerine tango") is definitely and without a doubt the it-color for spring this year. Tangerine looks great as a pop of color for an outfit. Juicy Couture even has a charm bracelet in tangerine!

2. Solar Power (Pantone Color 13-0795)

Another bring hue for this spring is Solar Power, a bright yellow. This "solar yellow" demands someone's attention. Sometimes, yellow can be a little harsh, but worn in moderation and in the right way, it can brighten up your wardrobe for this spring.

3. Bellflower (Pantone Color 18-3628)
Purple looks beautiful in the spring. It compliments the beautiful spring flowers wonderfully. This lavender/violet looks gorgeous as a dress, shirt, or just an accessory.

4. Cabaret (Pantone Color 18-2140)
Cabaret is a gorgeous mix of rose and violet. This color can be flowing and girly, or tight-fitting and mysterious. This color is very versatile and flattering. Try it in nail polish as well (it's one of spring's nail color trends) And I found another Juicy Couture charm bracelet!!

5. Sodalite Blue (Pantone Color 19-3953)
This dark blue is perfect for incorporating into a nautical-themed outfit. Dark colors are slimming, so it's flattering too! Navy goes with everything (like jeans) so it's easy to wear as well.

6. Margarita (Pantone Color 14-0116)

Margarita is a beautiful yellow-green. Green has been named the color of 2012 by many different sources. This green is soft and wearable, but unexpected as well.

7. Sweet Lilac (Pantone Color 14- 2808)
This lilac-toned pink is very romantic and girly. Wear it with girly pieces like dresses or skirts. Also, wear it on your nails for a natural pink flush.

8. Cockatoo (Pantone Color 14-5420)

Cockatoo is a whimsical light blue that can be incorporated into many different clothing styles. Try it with bohemian, girly, classic, or quirky outfits.

9. Driftwood (Pantone Color 18-1210)

Driftwood is a blend of grey and brown. Driftwood could look very modern and fashion forward when worn with pieces of that style, or casual and bohemian if worn with casual pieces. 

10. Starfish (Pantone Color 16-1120)
Starfish is a blend of sand, nude, and khaki colors. It is very natural and wearable for everyday. Wear it on your nails a well (Foundation nails are a 2012 spring nail trend).

In general, the colors to wear for spring 2012, a light, bright, or neutral. They are very wearable and you most likely have at least one of them in your closet already. -XOXO

Must Have: Nine West Loafer

I happened to be roaming around Nine West this weekend, one of my all time favorite stores.Strutting around in banana yellow pumps with a three inch heel is one of my favorite past times! I digress. I was wandering around the famous shoe store when I saw this poster with the Nine West Loafer smack in the middle. I was stunned. The Nine West Loafer heel was the perfect shoe--the heel is high and sexy, but the loafer style and design looks innocent. Perfect for attending your boyfriend's family reunion: sexy enough for your boyfriend, girl-next-door enough for talking to Great Aunt Millie. Nine West Loafer? Yes please!

Click here to visit the Nine West website

Nine West Loafer--Must Have

Xoxo

How-To-Rock-It: Color Blocking

Color blocking has been in for a while now, but it still remains a hard look to pull off.

Designer: Gucci

To pull off color blocking there are a few things that you need to remember: less is more, opposing or complementary colors, little texture. and harsh lines.

To explain, when I say "less is more" I mean that color blocking tends to look better when there are only a few different colors.

Jessica Alba

When there are too many different colors in your outfit, it looks much too busy. Stick to only having three different colors. If you do not want to have a full color blocking outfit, you can have one piece that is "pre-color blocked":

From Lulus

Another hard thing to know is what colors to wear when you are color blocking. You do not want your colors to be clashing, but sometimes that look can work for you if it is done right.

The orange and blue are not quite opposites, but are far apart.

When choosing colors, you either want colors in the same family(ex. pink and red), or you want them to be farther apart (ex. orange and purple)

Spring 2012 Fashion Trends

1. Tangerine
Just like in the spring nail polish trends, tangerine is on trend for spring. Pantone has named "Tangerine Tango" the color of 2012. This bright red-orange is super bright and will cheer up any outfit.

Designers: Sophie Theallet, Steven Alan, Doo-Ri

If you aren't comfortable wearing a solid tangerine top, bottom, or dress, that's no problem. Try just sneaking a tangerine accent into your outfit, that way you won't have a super bright, our-of-your-comfort-zone outfit, but you can still have an on-trend outfit.
Try: Tangerine Earrings, Bags, or Shoes
Look out for a full post on how to wear tangerine(and other trends in this post) in the near future!

Click "Read More" for more trends!

Easy Smoky Eyes

A smoldering smoky eye can be flirty and sexy, perfect for girls night out. I decided to try an easy technique for the sexy look.
What you'll need:
-Eyeliner in pencil
-Eyeliner in liquid (Glitter is optional. I didn't use the liquid liner but I recommend it.
-Light grey-blue eyeshadow
-white eyeshadow
-black eyeshadow
-grey eyeshadow
-mascara
-clear gloss
(Read more)


-eyelash curler
-mascara primer
-white eyeshadow
-fluffy eyeshadow brush
-sponge tipped eyeshadow brush
-nude lipstick

Apply your pencil liner as usual, and then using a sponge tipped brush dipped in grey eyeshadow, apply it directly over the pencil liner. (This will darken your eyeliner and assist in the next step.) Get your fluffy brush (without any eyeshadow on it) smudge the eyeliner upwards. This will create a sexy smoky look. Your eyeliner should have completely smudged away. Get a black eyeshadow on your sponge tipped brush and apply it like a liner over your eye and under. Using a black eyeshadow instead of liner makes the look more sultry and smoky. Then put the gray blue eyeshadow over the black underneath your eye. The two colors look gorgeous together. Then apply white eyeshadow in the corners with your eyeshadow brush and smudge it in. (Optional: Apply liquid eyeliner) Next curl your lashes, apply primer and mascara as usual. Finish with a nude lipstick and clear gloss.

You may find while applying your smoky eye, some of the techniques I used here do not work for you. That's fine, everyone's eye shapes and what works for those gorgeous eyes are different. Good luck.

XOXO

Nail Polish Trends for Spring 2012

1. Tangerine
Tangerine nails are super on trend for spring. You can wear these bright nails as a pop of color with just a neutral outfit, or wear a tangerine bag or shoes to tie the tangerine trend into your entire outfit.

High End Example:

Orly Nail Lacquer in Truly Tangerine, $5.49 at Ulta
This tangerine is more on the orange side than the red side, it also has a slight hint of pink in it as well.

Drugstore Example:

Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear nail Color in Crushed, $2.99 at Walgreens
This Sally Hansen color is a beautiful duo chrome of an orangy-tangerine and a more red toned tangerine.

Click "Read More" for the Rest of the Trends!