Spring/Summer 2011 Fifteen Fashion Must Haves

I want to thank Gary Jones for providing the information listed below! 

The Sheer Maxi Dress    

Every season trends evolve, and every season two trends merge. In that regards, spring 2011 will be no different from what has come before it. What will be different, however, is the season’s take on a staple for many women’s summer wardrobe: the maxi dress. 

 Lace Clothing    

No, it’s not new. But, like all trends that span multiple seasons, it has evolved. Lace influences for Spring 2011 are more to the classic side with quality antique-style fabrics the key to the trend. Less of the allover, stretch lace and more of the unique takes. 

Crochet and Macrame    

These are two fabric finishes that could had to return for 2011: the re-rise of 70s fashion, the popularity of nautical, and a love for lace guaranteed it. 

Tassels

Sometimes a little detail is all it takes to change the feel of a garment. In Spring 2011 one of the most popular trimmings is one that signifies luxury or, at times, the exotic. Adorning everything from handbags to shoes to dresses and hats.

 Bell Bottoms

With skinny pants and jeans now so common that they no longer make a statement it was inevitable that a different style would emerge as a trend. It didn’t necessarily have to be this one, but with the come back of all things 1970s it was inevitable that fashion forward people would turn bell bottoms and flared pants as their style of choice.

 Wide Leg Pants

By now the general experiment with cuts of pants and jeans that aren’t skinny should be evident: women’s pant trends in spring 2011 are defined by this experimentation with everyone keen to see options for women that simply aren’t stick-thin.

 Capri Pants

For every trend exists its opposite. So as spring / summer 2011′s fashion trends allow us to welcome flares back into our wardrobes, so too does it allow for an opposite style, in the form of Capri pants make a showing.

 Tail hems:  Dresses that are longer in the back

They’ve been seen as an alternative to the summer mini skirt or maxi dress for sometime, and for spring / summer 2011 ‘tail hems’ continue their reign as the more interesting alternative to both.

 Stripes

Stripes are a dominant part of any spring / summer season, though usually, year on year, featuring a variation on the theme. Spring 2011 sees stripes with an unsurprising nautical dominance – but it’s a dominance inspired by other key Spring 2011 fashion trends. 

 Jumpsuits

They are something of a yoyo trend: one season they’re in, the next season they’re out. For spring / summer 2011 they’re back again, reinterpreted to fuse in many of the season’s other fashion trends. 

Crop Tops

It was 2009 that we last focused on this look as a trend, and back then it certainly wasn’t a trend for the whole year. This is very much a high-summer 2011 look, one great for the hottest of weather and party atmospheres, such as festivals.

 Cat Eye Sunglasses

With the warmer weather comes the need to update your sunglasses collection with a new and on-trend style. For Spring 2011 the best accompaniment to a vintage-inspired look is a shape that screams ’50s/’60s glamour. 

The Belt Purse

There are the years when a particular style of clutch is on trend, and then there’s 2011. It’s out with the clutch and in with a belted alternative. One of the year’s casual fashion trends, the belt purse is a statement piece of daytime wear that quickly went from the catwalks of Hermes and Pucci to the streets. 

Clogs

It doesn’t sound like the most glamorous or practical of footwear trends, and yet the clog reached new heights in 2010 and will continue to have an impact on 2011′s footwear trends. Specifically the brass studding so prevalent will continue to be influential, while the clog’s overall popularity will wane.

 Kitten Heels

Kitten heels are making a somewhat controversial return, spurred on by the trend of ’50s and ’60s dressing. More comfortable yet less appealing than their higher counterparts, kitten heels can work particularly well when dainty, pointed, and either retro-inspired or minimalist. When it comes to this style in 2011 it’s all about the theming. For Spring, kitten heeled sandals are also an option.

Road Trip

Road trips could raise your skin cancer risk.  Facial skin cancers occur more often on the left side – the side that’s next to the car window while you’re driving – a study from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine reveals.  Windows protect you from UVB rays, but they don’t guard against UVA.  Solution:  slather on sunscreen with UVA/UVB protection before you head out.

Bronzer vs. Self-Tanner – Which should I use?

With a Bronzer

You get instant results.  Great for those days you realize “wow, my legs are really pale” so, keep a tube in your drawer at work.

It will wash off.

The worry about streaking with a self-tanner is alleviated.

The shade is more customizable, you control the intensity.

Tip for applying Bronzer:

Mix with your favorite lotion for a quick and easy application.

 With a Self-tanner

The color lasts longer.  Makes applying to your whole body worth the effort.

Better for wearing white since more transfer-resistant than bronzer.

It won’t wash off if you get rained on or fall in the pool.

Tips for applying a self-tanner

EXFOLIATE first – to prevent it grabbing on dry skin patches.

Apply lotion on knees, elbows and ankles prior to beginning to prevent buildup in these areas.

Begin at your feet and work your way up to prevent creasing from bending over.

Wait half an hour before dressing.  If you can’t wait, apply a thin layer of baby powder to prevent it from rubbing off on clothes.

Apply on your face like applying moisturizer – avoid brows and blend well at your ears and hairline.

 Another option – Tinted Moisturizers which are great for adding a bit of color to the face.  It’s easy to customize by mixing a light with a medium or dark depending on your natural skin color.

Layering

flickr

Layering isn’t just for winter.  It’s also a great way to add interest to your outfits and a fabulous way to update your look by shopping in your closet. 

Tops – Take a pretty patterned tank/cami/shirt add a bright solid summer cardigan and top with a belt or leave open for a more relaxed look.    Required to wear a suit?  What a great way to add some fun to that old black suit by having a bright cardigan peeking out – unbelted. 

Try it,  it looks better than you think. 

Necklaces – chains of various lengths paired together.  

Bracelets – layer up those bangles by mixing both small and large. 

Lips – line the entire lip with liner and top with a different lip color.  Not only does it stay on longer but you get a customized color.  Try mixing a red with a pink or plum.  Liner not for you?  Just layer 2 colors of lipstick.                           

Gloss – clear or hued topped on a lip color will give you a fun spring look. 

Nail polish – yet another way to create a unique color. 

Perfume – try mixing 2 of your favorite fragrances together.  You might be surprised at the new scent which is uniquely you.  I tried it for the first time and love the results!  Who would have thought?

People Stylewatch Makeover

Ever been curious about what you would look like with a different hair color or style?  Ever want to do one of the online makeovers but never did? 

I decided to try the People Stylewatch Makeover and was pleased with the site.  

It was free but I had to create an account so I am sure they are capturing information.  The good thing is that you get to save your makeovers and come back to them.  You can use one of their models or upload a picture of your own, I used my avatar.   You are then prompted to adjust the outline of your eyes, nose, mouth, teeth and facial shape so when you add your changes it will fit the picture.   You can even rotate your uploaded picture to be centered as I did, compare with header picture above.

I added Carrie Underwood hair but changed the color to be darker, the blonde just didn’t do it.  Now I know that I will not ever be a blonde blonde.   It was like playing paper dolls.  Select a style and it pastes it on your face, then you adjust with the arrows below your picture.  You can even adjust the size of the hair by moving little dots that frame the hair – way cool.  It was really easy BUT very time consuming.  It was fun and I will keep trying different styles.  Enjoy!

Shampoo

If you are like me, you never really thought a whole lot about a right and wrong way to shampoo.    I recently found some tips that you might enjoy and you probably already knew.

• Detangle hair while it is dry, wet hair is more likely to break and locks the tangles in.
• Soak your hair with water first,  most of us don’t truly soak our hair first.  This allows the shampoo to sink in and do it’s job.
• If you use blow dryers and/or flat irons look for shampoos with heat protectants in additon to your heat protectant conditioner.
• Apply shampoo primarily your scalp, the bottom 2 inches need to retain the moisture.
• If you are prone to knots, don’t bunch your hair on top of your head while shampooing.  You’ve probably already learned that one on your own.
• Rinse for an extra long time, we tend to not rinse long enough.  Shampoo residue will kill shine and attract dirt.
• Use a clarifying shampoo regularly to get rid of product build up.
• A quarter size amount of conditioner is usually all you need.  Focus on the ends, especially if your hair is fine.
• To add body, lightly add volumizer to the roots and flip head upside down to blow dry.  Apply flexible-hold hairspray to roots.
• Lock in your style with a blast of cool air from your hairdryer.  Bet you wondered why they put a cool boost button on there.

Fall Fashion

If you love purples and anything 80′s then you will enjoy this Fall.  I have been checking out the magazines and there are so many fun fashion items waiting for us if we dare!  Colored hosiery is back!  Lots of tights with various colors and textures paired with funky spiked heels or flats.  I found it interesting the way they are combining various patterns and textures, it sure isn’t what our mother’s taught us.  I even saw paisley with plaid.  Shoulder pads, need I say more?  Off the shoulder shirts.  Oh, and the coolest boots in all styles.  I am loving the high tops especially since I am tall.  The most interesting that I saw were the ones that you fold down the tops and they look like the bottom of bell bottoms, leather of course.  I will stop my rambling and give you a brief synopsis of what to look for.

Thanks again to Gary Jones!

Top 10 Fashion Trends:

Bling:

• Sparkles need not relegated to evening. Look for shine, and metallic embellishments on everything.

Bondage Boots:

• Hip-high foot wear stormed the Fall runway, eliciting oohs and ahhs and just a little drooling.

The Cold Shoulder:

• Asymmetrical, off the shoulder necklines and cut-outs reveal sexy glimmers of skin, yet still leave much to the imagination.

Golden Girls:

• Wildly chic chartreuse dresses, coats and suits offset the season’s more quiet moments with their sunny, golden and gilded hues.

Strong-armed:

• Channeling the shoulder padded silhouettes of the 80’s, designers delivered bold-shouldered looks for Fall.

The Power Woman:

• Masculine fabrics make a sharp, powerful statement – houndstooth, herringbone, plaids, tweeds and haberdashery patterns are everywhere.

Mad Hatter:

• From demure to dramatic, hats become the accessory of the season.

Pretty in Pink:

• The sweet-as-candy color gets a neon makeover, bringing to mind the era of excess.

Black is the New Black:

• Layers and layers of gray and black. Think tailored jackets and knit dresses. The look is regal, sophisticated and powerful…not somber.

Cocoon Coat:

• Enveloping and protective, the season’s outerwear serves as the perfect armor against the elements.