While walking the NYC streets the other day I noticed a change in fashion. People were flaunting new prints, new colors, and, overall, new styles. After many head turning moments it finally hit me. Spring fashion has arrived! Now if you’re a total fashion nut like myself then you already have seen the runway shows and know all the new styles. But if you’re not then you’re in luck. I’m here to help! I’ve gathered the top 2012 spring fashion trends. Check ‘em out!

We’ll start with color first.

1. Pops of neon color: Mix a neon color (pink, green, blue, any color will do!) into your everyday attire. Add neon blue earrings or a neon pink satchel. It’ll brighten your outfit instantly!
2. Pastels: Spring is a pretty time and what’s prettier than pastels! You can mix an array of pastels. The soft colors blend nicely! However, sea foam green seems to be the most popular.
3. Orange: Orange seems to be the hit color in all departments. Entire orange outfits are cropping up everywhere! If you want a more simple style, stick to orange bags, jackets and shoes.

Next we’ll cover patterns.

1. Floral prints: So huge for spring. This is my absolute favorite trend! Floral prints are pretty, feminine and can add flare to simple outfits. Floral print pants seem to be all the rage. So find a pair as quickly as you can and hold on tight to them!
2. Tribal patterns: It seems as though the popularity of tribal patterns from winter has carried into spring. Tribal patterns are edgy and somewhat sexy. A tribal shirt or jacket can add edge to any outfit.
3. Bold prints: This is cool if not overdone. Bold prints are an article of clothing that have different patterns (swirls, geometric shapes etc.) and colors blended into one. These are great for any nighttime outfit.
4. Futuristic patterns: This goes above and beyond the classic patterns. Futuristic prints appear as though they are digital patterns on articles of clothing. If wearing a jacket with a futuristic pattern keep the rest of the outfit simple. Remember to not go overboard!

Finally the remaining trends.

1. Sporty: Don’t be thrown. These sporty looks are very feminine. Most of them show high collared shirts with longer sleeves or a broad shoulder jacket with a prominent zipper. Stylists are pairing these with cute, loose shorts and coloring them in pastels and pinks. The results are the perfect combination between feminine and sporty.
2. Colorblocking: This trend is exactly how it sounds. Clothing are designed with chunks, vertical or horizontal, of specific colors or shades of one color. Soon enough you’ll be seeing this style all over your favorite stores!
3. Peplum Ruffles: This is a very specific ruffle. It is one ruffle resting on your waist line either from your shirt or skirt. It’s very feminine and adds a bit of flare to an outfit.

Hope this helped. Happy Spring everybody!

[Lead image via curlychellez.blogspot.com]

Lately, I’ve been enjoying wearing pants when I go out, as opposed to skirts and dresses. Pants are a fun and unexpected option for a night on the town that also keep you mega comfy! Harem pants made a comeback a few seasons ago and since I’ve never featured them, I figured it was about time!

This pair from Forever 21 features a fun, tribal-inspired print in girly rose pink. As they are harem pants, they’re made from comfy, lightweight rayon and come to capri-length. These are a great option for summer, as they will keep you cool and looking chic and polished. This week, I decided to show you how to wear harem pants for a night out and a day at the office. Forever 21′s prices are so affordable that it doesn’t matter if this piece is super trendy – you’re getting your money worth with only a handful of wears. You can’t expect amazing quality for the prices, but you will have at least a season to wear out your piece.

Let’s start with business casual:

Click on the picture for all the shopping deets!

Playing off the dusty rose color of the pants, I chose a sheer champagne blouse. The pleating and front-knot give it a youthful feel! Tuck it in and toss on a fitted, black blazer and you’re good on top. As for shoes, I stuck to a simple faux-leather kitten heel in basic black. The pants are awfully busy and you still want to look office-appropriate. The beige satchel is a decent size, so you can fit all your files and work essentials, but will also match anything! Finish off with a dainty headband and several pearl bracelets to complete the lady-like look.

And now evening:

Click on the picture for all the shopping deets!

Even though these pants aren’t a natural choice for nighttime, I think they are so stylish! For a little sexy, pair with a black, lace long sleeve. With or without a tank top, it’s up to you! Stick with black pumps, but add some glam with  a giant platform and rounded toe. The white patent clutch won’t compete with the pants, but is a chic classic. For jewelery, keep it simple with a stack of neutral bracelets. Finish off with some dramatic makeup, especially a bright lip! This magenta shade compliments the pink of the pants.

And that’s it! I hope I’ve proven that harem pants, even printed ones, can be a versatile addition to your wardrobe.

[Every girl needs a good purse (or 12). Whether you’re going for groceries or running from class to class, they are simply essential for holding all your, uh, essentials. Each week, I’m going to show you a fashionable, yet functional purse for the college crowd and let you know why you absolutely need it! I apologize ahead of time to your bank account.]

Since last week’s MBMJ bag was uber cute, yet uber pricey, I wanted to hunt down an affordable purse with just as much chic-ness for this week! I’m often so disappointed by the quality of cheaper brands’ purses; the seams rip open after a few wears, the faux leather looks terrible and the shape isn’t functional at all. It’s almost more difficult to find purses that are a good bang for your buck when you’re shopping bargain rather than high-end. Thank goodness for brands like Melie Bianco, who realize that not everyone can drop hundreds of dollars on a purse, but everyone deserves good style and quality!

The Melie Bianco Ethnic Applique Hobo is one of the prettiest bags out there. The tribal pattern will definitely stand out in your purse collection, but the neutral colors Melie sticks with make it super wearable. Even the mint – it goes with a whole host of shades and really spices up an outfit. The faux leather is quite nice and the wrap detail on the handle really up the ante. This bag is just a delight for the eyes!

On the inside, you’ll find a full fabric lining, a couple slip pockets and a back zipper pocket for valuables. One downside is the magnetic closure; it’s not as secure as a zipper, but the hobo shape of the bag wouldn’t work with a zipper. The handles have a generous drop, so you’ll have no issues slinging this over your shoulder on the run or over a heavy coat.

The ethnic trend is SO hot for summer and why not use your purse as a canvas to display that? The $60-70 price tag is also a huge bonus – you won’t feel bad about stuffing this under a cramped airplane seat and setting it in the grass at a music festival. Trust me, having a few great stylish bags that can get dirty without you having a coronary is a good thing!

If you’re interested, several etailers deal in Melie Bianco, and you can also purchase directly from the company at meliebianco.com.

Post courtesy of out friends at StyleBakery.com. For more awesome fashion, style and beauty news, check them out!

There are some trends that last season after season: leggings, floral prints, gladiator sandals, etc. Then there are those that fade away: baby doll tops, harem pants. How are you supposed to know which trends to trash and which to invest in? Luckily, fashion is already way ahead of you. Fall 2009 and Resort 2010 collections have already been released, and Spring/Summer 2010 is in the works. For most designers, Resort is a preview of what’s coming next. Therefore, the collections provide great insight into what will be hot and what will be not for summer 2010.

We scoured the Resort looks of all the top designers – from Stella McCartney to Brian Reyes to Prada – and compiled a list of summer fashion trends that aren’t going anywhere:

One shoulder tops and dresses are chic without being too revealing. Don’t wear too much jewelry with this look as it makes a statement on its own.

(Ella Moss “Odessa” Top, $87 at Nordstrom; Leila Teired Dress, $237 at Bluefly; Juicy Couture Print Ruffle Dress, $180.60 at ShopBop).

Exposed zippers are edgy, but a favorite of designers such as Phillip Lim and Brian Reyes. This trend definitely has a future.

(Mink Pink Kansas Dress, $93 at Chickdowntown; Brian Reyes Sleeveless Dress, $510 at ShopBop; Charlotte Russe Zipper Ruffle Top, $19.99).

Statement necklaces can glam up any basic outfit, from jeans and a tee to a silk dress.

(Kenneth Jay Lane Flat Zebra Pendant, $99 at My-Wardrobe; Banana Republic Party Bib Necklace, $79; Lauren by Ralph Lauren Multi Bead Bib Necklace, $58 at Nordstrom).

Even though Jenny’s first order of business as queen on the TV series Gossip Girl was to nix her clique’s signature headbands, their influence remains. Bow details will still be in for summer 2010.

(French Connection Flash Bow Dress, $89.99; Newport News Bow Necklace, $29; Felix Rey “Emma” Wristlet, $156 at Bluefly; Forever 21 Pamela Satin Bow Headband, $4.80).

Other looks to shop for include both skinny and wide leg pants, cardigans, high-waisted pants and skirts, fitted blazers, belted waists, ruffles, tribal prints, sheer fabrics, and long tunics.

Which short-lived trends should you buy at cheap-chic retailers? There’s no way to be sure, but it doesn’t look like neon brights, fringe details, studs, or harem pants will be hanging around much longer.

[We all live busy lives: we go to school or work (or sometimes both), we try to keep our lives in order and, on top of everything else, we try to maintain a social life.

It can all be a bit overwhelming at times, especially when you’re running here, there and everywhere, and in the process of it all, still trying to look cute.  On a weekly basis, I will be posting a guide for an outfit that looks super cute and casual during the day, but you can easily rock out at night with a few accessory additions and/or a change of shoes.  And maybe, just maybe, it’ll help ease the stress of life a little bit because, hey, when we look good, we feel good, right?]

It’s easy to bring out your wild side this season with the offerings of ikat and other tribal prints available in darling dresses, skirts and tops.  And a bonus is that with the right style, this print can easily look fabulous no matter what time of day you’re rockin’ it.

I love that summer means you can show of those gams in super cute dresses, and I am lovin’ this one from Forever 21. What makes me even happier?  The under $25 price tag.

For Day:
The dress is cute enough on it’s own not to need too much accessorizing, especially for daytime. Throw on a cute pair of black sandals and you’re set.

For Night:
All you need to dress this up is to throw on some accessories and hit the town.  If you really wanna doll it up, you can always pair it with some black strappy heels or black wedges, but cute sandals are perfectly acceptable for going out this time o’ year.  (And – bonus – if you keep those suckers on there’s no need to carry a giant purse with you toting around shoes, etc. Hey, sometimes our shoulders need a break.)

Since the dress has a lot going on as it is, it’s OK to keep the accessories pretty basic. In this case: basic black. They will bump up the glam for evening without making you look like you went on accessories overload.

If you want to give the look a little more oomph, you can also wear jewelry in a fun and funky color like yellow,  purple or teal. It’ll really pop without being too over the top. (Thought I’d throw down some rhymes while I’m helping your style…)