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?

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!

Mad or Glad, for Plaid?

I'm currently fixated on plaid. Perhaps it's the cheery red and green scarves that pop up this time of year and the cozy oversized flannels that are in abundance. Some of my favorite plaid pieces:

A polished plaid skirt.

A relaxed, ruffled shirtdress.

A classic timepiece.

The secret to wearing plaid is to keep everything else simple. Pick two colors from the pattern to structure the rest of your outfit. Alternatively, take a color from the pattern and add another coordinating/neutral color. May your plaid make you glad ;)

Oxfords

No, not the school, the shoe. I've been eying this trend for a while now, and I came across what might be the deciding factor.

The Wanted Belfast Oxford. I love the rich color, delicate perforations, and dainty bow. The ribbon balances the masculinity of the trend and keeps the shoes from looking too serious. I have trouble picturing some oxfords with dresses and skirts, but the bow and small heel of this pair are very versatile. Plus, at this price, they're practically a steal. The only thing I'm worried about is the comfort of these shoes. Unless I wore bulky socks, they'd probably be rather tough and uncomfortable. Perhaps with a little wear they'd loosen up.

If not, they're beautiful just to look at...

Mood Ring + Nail Polish

This makes two consecutive posts about nail polish, but I couldn't pass up this unique version. I've always had cold hands, my doctor blames poor circulation, which was awful during the winter, but perfect for mood rings. While most of my friends would busy themselves with trying to change the stone from an ugly brownish green to a striking purple, my ring would oscillate between deep and deeper blue.

Perfect Formula, the beauty gurus behind many other color changing products, have created a line of nail colors to match your mood not for the length of a typical manicure, but by the minute. Changes in body heat trigger the polish to transform from cool, deep tones to warm, bright colors. When we relax or are content, our body temperature cools. Excitement, nervousness, or anger causes the reverse and our body heats up. Other environmental factors, from taking a warm shower to holding a chilled glass, will also spark a transformation. Imagine all the possibilities!

Rompers

Every once in a while, I meet a trend that is hard to incorporate subtly. Usually, if a trend is a bit much, I'll just incorporate it as an accessory, for example: animal prints, leather, metallic.

Rompers, however, pose a more difficult task. There's really no way to wear a piece of clothing without wearing, well, the entire piece. While I think they'd ultimately be flattering (my legs are probably my best physical asset), I can't help but fixate on the childish vibe of the piece.

It might just be a matter of finding the right romper (alliteration anyone?). A strapless number would lend a more mature edge while throwing on a cardigan and wedges would give it a more sophisticated air. A darker, more subdued color, like the pictured version from Tilly, would also do the trick. Happy shopping!