The Honeymooner

I love collections with charming stories. Lauren Moffatt's spring collection, entitled The Honeymooner, presents itself quite simply as "The Honeymooner and what she packed". This collection, in my opinion, just sings spring. The bright colors, floral prints, straw boaters, and platformed sandals are the perfect mix of ladylike with a touch of quirk. Overall, the collection is perfectly elegant and emits the sort of soft beauty and optimism of a newlywed.

Images via Lauren Moffatt

Design Your Own Dress

I'm always excited to learn about new developments in fashion. After all, as an industry, fashion is all about change. New designers, shapes, fabrics, media - the list goes on and on.

Bespoke fashion, or custom made clothing, is making a come back following the economic recession with an increased focus on quality of purchases. Mary Huang, an interactive designer, has released a new application called “Continuum” which gives anyone the chance to create their own garments.

According to Huang, the future of consumer products doesn’t just lie in more advanced technologies and materials, but also in the reevaluation of the conventional supply chain. Garments can be made to order in your exact measurements, exactly to a consumer's specification.

At the moment, Huang has created a prototype of the software as well as a few examples of dresses. With the help of Kickstart financing, she plans to finish the software and website and set up production to make the physical dresses and deliver them. Is this the future of fashion?

 Images via Ecouterre

April Showers

Rabbit, Rabbit! It's a well known saying that "April showers bring May flowers." Of course, you could bear said showers with a boring, black umbrella. Or, you could celebrate spring downpours with a cheerier version.

(Lane Bryant, $30)

(Old Navy, $8)

 

(Totes, $22)

With umbrellas like these, you might even find yourself wishing for a rainstorm!

GO Target!

The clothes section of Target is deadly. It seems that every time I stop by to pick up shampoo or a DVD, the racks of affordable clothing draw me in only to forget why I'm at the store in the first place. Target’s GO International collections have been particularly difficult to resist. After all, designer dresses and affordable are rarely in the same sentence. As a celebration of the 5th year anniversary of the collaborations, Target has re-released a 34-piece collection featuring dresses from 17 of the previous designers.

 (Tucker for Target, $40)

One of my favorite pieces from the collection is this navy Tucker frock. I love the demure boat neck which perfectly balances the scoop back and short hemline. The longer sleeves are very ladylike as well. My favorite detail though is the charming ruffle on the back. Worn with simple flats or dressed up with trendy accessories, this is the perfect LND (little navy dress).

Pops of Pink

While I enjoy feminine things, I often shy away from pink for fear of appearing too "girly". I've recently come across pink shoes in a number of iterations, and a bright pop of color in footwear is something I can always get behind.

 

(Kartell, $135)

 

(Bloch, $119)

(Adidas, $70)

(Keds, $35)

Color blocking is a huge trend for this spring, so why not let your feet get in on the action?

Bottega Veneta Fall 2011

I know Milan Fashion Week was ages ago by the standard of time of the fashion world, but I keep finding myself musing about this collection. I love the ladylike silhouettes and of course the pops of color were appreciated. You can see Tomas Maier's experiments with textures throughout the collection, though some were much more successful than others. Here are a few of my favorite looks.

I love the bold orange hue matched with equally outrageous textures. How fun is that bag?

This sleek draped dress is accented perfectly by the lace detailing.

Two very similar looks, both equally beautiful. I like that there's a sort of dark mystery despite the refined, ladylike construction of the outfit. It's amazing the story that textures can tell.

Images via Style.com

Freshly Neutral

While I have a seemingly endless obsession with bright colors and loud prints, I like to think that there's a more refined, elegant side that appreciates quiet neutrals just as thoroughly.

Not only does this shot have me craving ice cream, but it also reminds me that subtle colors (here a pale pink and yellow) look gorgeous paired with neutral counterparts. The result is very refreshing, but not bland. I think an outfit pulled with three of the above colors in mind would look stunning now, but incorporating more brown and yellow would work just as well in the fall. Who knew you could find style inspiration in food?

Image via weheartit

A Bright New Look

New Look approaches the color blocking trend in three short words: "BRIGHT. BOLD. BLOCK." Simple enough. I love these three vibrant and versatile pieces for the spring.

A loose, airy t-shirt tunic in a shocking fuschia (New Look, £15).

A skinny belt in a bright cobalt shade, perfect for cinching over cardigans and sundresses (New Look, £3).

A functional coral cross body bag with turn lock detailing (New Look, £11).

Color Blocking and Brights, Oh My!

I can't get enough of Zara's lookbook styling. The iterations on the color blocking trend are so effortless, yet eye-catching. I love the bright, citrus colors and the warm, sunny feeling they bring to the outfit. The jumper balances out the short hem of the skirt, but the loose knit keeps it from looking too stuffy.

(Zara)

Unrelated to color blocking, but to its credit still bright, how neat is this necklace? It's handcrafted in Ghana as part of the Bluma Project. I like the playfulness of the beads and fun tie, but it's not juvenile. It's the sort of necklace that can dress up or down an outfit, and unique to boot.

(Shopbop, $75)

Thank goodness for bright colors. Good bye dull outfits!

This or That: Bright Orange

Orange has officially become my spring color. After a visit to Zara and two H&M's on Sunday, I'm now the proud owner of a pair of skinny orange trousers. It was quite the exhilarating shopping experience, darting into stores and trying to spot a single vibrant hue. In celebration of all things orange:

This delicious orange rock candy...

... to go with that bright Milly shift.

Image via here

Take Flight

I'm loving this playful editorial with Karen Elson in March's V Magazine. The colorful background of this image is incredible. The simplicity of the outfit balances the drama of the setting to present a rich visual effect. Plus, doesn't that just look like an unbelievable amount of fun?

Image via The Fashion Spot

Gorgeous Gown

How incredible is this Atelier Versace Spring 2011 gown? The combination of the pleating, the bold color, and the incredible softness leaves me breathless. The look book certainly doesn't disappoint in terms of glamor and elegance. This is the magic of couture.

Image via Fashion Gone Rogue

The Perfect Trench

 

Is there anything more chic than sipping your morning cup of tea or latte at an outdoor cafe while decked out in a trench coat? When it comes to trench coats Burberry is the quintessential brand. However, as such a coat remains a purely aspirational addition to my closet, I love my London Fog version. It's amazing how throwing a trench over the simplest of ensembles (skinny jeans and a tee, a floral dress, etc.) instantly adds a bit of glamor.

(London Fog, $100)

And, should an errant springtime thunderstorm err your way, you're perfectly protected from the elements. What's not to love?

Image via weheartit

Mary's Scarves

About a week ago, I wrote about Mary Katrantzou's A/W 2011 collection. Of course, like most other items shown on London Fashion Week's runways, her collection is significantly out of my price range. With this in mind, my delight at hearing that Mary Katrantzou had designed two silk scarves for Topshop hardly needs explanation.

(Topshop, $100)

(Topshop, $100)

I'm glad to see Mary Katrantzou's gorgeous prints splashed across as many mediums as possible. Factor in the high street prices, and I'm sold.

Tea for Three

While Jessica Simpson has more or less dropped off the celebrity radar, I do remember hearing she had branched out to fashion design. Being a celebrity designed collection, I had low expectations and generally didn't pay much attention to her pieces. I happened to come across her spring dresses and I can't help but admire the sweet creations.

 

My current orange kick is rather well documented here, but how gorgeous is this geometric poppy print? The buttons on the skirt give the otherwise girly dress a bit of quirk. (Jessica Simpson, $148)

This is my favorite of the collection. I love the demure tea-dress length, and the graduated print is sweet. Not to mention the smocking at the waist gives it a super flattering shape. (Jessica Simpson, $128)

I really like the colors of this dress. I'm not crazy about the ruffle at the waist, but the applique detail at the hem is divine! (Jessica Simpson, $148)

I'd love to wear any (or all?) of these to high tea or a garden party. Perfect for spring.

Converse and Marimekko

It's no secret I love bold bright prints. I also have a slight Converse obsession (I even own a sequined gold pair... words cannot describe how amazing they are). So you can only imagine my delight, no extreme euphoria, when I heard about the collaboration between Marimekko, the incredible Finnish textile design house, and Converse, the classically quirky American shoe brand.

Unikko, an iconic Marimekko print.

For those unfamiliar with the brand, Marimekko was founded in 1951 by Viljo and Armi Ratia. Armi asked some artist friends to apply their graphic designs to textiles. The fabric was then made into a collection of simple dresses. Jacqueline Kennedy, ever the purveyor of style, made the line famous in the United States when she wore eight Marimekko dresses during the 1960 presidential campaign. Today, Marimekko is known for its bright, cheery prints appearing on a range of clothing and home furnishings.

A video explaining the history and creation of the collection.

The collection, entitled 'Converse ♥ Marimekko', is available here. Picking just one pair's the hard part. If only they could all magically appear in my closet...

Images via Marimekko and High Snobiety

ASOS Shift Dresses

Dear ASOS,

I would be perfectly happy to live in your shift dresses all summer long.

Seriously... before I finish penning a gushing love letter, take a gander at these beautiful examples.

 

I'd start off with simple neutral pieces... ($50.20 and $50.20)

 

... before transitioning into punchy brights ($43.03 and $53.79).

Just throw on some colorful sandals or ballet flats, fun bangles or a chunky necklace, and you're set to enjoy warmer temps! Now where was I?...

Soft Skirts

Call it an over romanticized version of spring, but March always finds me itching to shed the bulky layers of winter and twirl around in soft, easy clothing. Realistically, it will still be another month until that fantasy becomes reality, but in my daydreams I'm wearing these light, draped skirts.

(Alloy, $15)

(Banana Republic, $45)

Technically it's a dress... but I'm loving the bright bodice! (ASOS, £35)

Prime Prints: Jonathan Saunders Fall 2011

While many designers excel at prints, London Fashion Week seemed to have more than its fair share of talent. While my overall impression of Jonathan Saunder's Fall 2011 collection was a bit underwhelming, his print placement was spot on. I'm still astonished how the bright colors almost seem, well, restrained.

I love the unconventional orange and turquoise pairing that quite accurately bridges summer and fall. I know the cardigan is menswear, but the combination of the color and print makes it seriously covetable.

 I love the blouse on the right and the skirt of the dress on the left. Who am I kidding, I love the skirt on the right as well... just not the head-to-toe styling. The waist defining silhouette of both looks is incredibly figure flattering, and the flutter sleeves and length are ladylike and elegant. At the same time, the fun print and unexpected colors keep the look very youthful and fun.

This final look doesn't showcase Saunders' prints, but I love the juxtaposition of the flirty hemline and large, graphic overlay. Very minimalist and modern.

Images via Style.com

Mary Katrantzou Fall 2011

One of my favorite collections from London Fashion Week was Mary Katrantzou's incredible rendition of prints. Her collection was once again inspired by interior decor, though this time it felt as if Katrantzou had picked up the objects, ranging from Fabergé eggs to Ming vases, and magically turned them into fabric. While a stiff silhouette prevailed throughout most of the show, softer fabrics made a debut. Above all, the focus was on the vibrant prints, which transfixed my attention from the first to last look.

 I love the soft, but vibrant colors, and the couture shapes.

 The skirts of these two looks are a bit more wearable in their fluidity. The sleeves of the top are a nice touch, adding a note of femininity while emphasizing the structure of the collection.

For good measure, the New York Times described it as "an object lesson in inspiration.... Rising designers always have a “breakthrough” moment — and this was the season when the designer’s sculptural vision created a collection of startling beauty." All in all, a gorgeous collection that definitely was a standout of London Fashion Week.

Images from Style.com