Although Maryland weather is unpredictable, there’s no doubt that the weather has progressively been getting warmer over the past few weeks. It’s finally starting to feel like spring and the dirt-stained snow is gone at last! The down jackets and fleece-lined North Faces are giving way to lighter layers, shorter lengths and brighter colors, so it’s time to get rid of all the drab browns and blacks that have become a part of your regular winter wardrobe and try on some of the new and hot spring color trends!
Honeysuckle Pink:
I’ve always loved the color pink and try to wear it year round. This season, the girly color is more fashionable than ever. The Pantone Color Institute, the company largely responsible for setting the color standards in the fashion industry, listed honeysuckle pink as the top trending color for spring 2011. This reddish-pink hue is a bit similar to coral, and was showcased in the dresses, hats and blouses from the Badgley Mischka spring 2011 collection. Most college students can’t afford the prices of such luxury designers, but here are some cheaper options to help you add a pop of pink to your outfit, whether it’s with a quick swipe of lip gloss or a belted trench coat to wear in cooler temperatures.
Dress, $33, Lulu’s
Trench coat, £32, Debenhams
Pure Raspberry Gloss, $30, Yves Saint Laurent
Yellow:
Yellow has always reminded me of sunshine, ice-cold lemonade and sunflowers, so what better color to welcome the beginning of warmer weather? Yellow, or more specifically beeswax, was also on Pantone’s list of spring 2011’s top ten hottest colors. This warm shade of yellow can instantly brighten up any outfit for day or night. Paint your nails a bold neon yellow color or grab a metallic yellow clutch to jazz up a plain black dress for a night out.
Rubber strap watch, $15, www.endless.com
Short, $20, Urban Outfitters
Clutch, $39, Mimi Boutique
Lavender:
This soft shade has been popular for a long time; nail gurus have been fans of lavender nail polishes, such as Essie St. Lucia Lilac nail polish, for quite a while now. But with the arrival of springtime, you can incorporate this pastel Easter color into other parts of your outfit as well. Lavender was listed as Pantone’s #9 pick of spring colors, and the hue appears this season in everything from eye shadows to delicate wrap dresses.
Stardust Eyeshadow 54, $20, Urban Decay
Top, $48, Nasty Gal
Cardigan, $39.50, American Eagle
Orange:
Bright orange is the last color on my list that was also on Pantone’s top ten, which calls the orange hue ‘coral rose’ and listed it at number two. This vibrant shade is very bold, so if you’re the kind of girl who likes making a statement and standing out in a crowd, this is the color for you! You can add a more understated touch with orange accessories or go all out and wear sky-high heels or an orange wrap dress. Whichever way you choose to rock this trendy color, it will be sure to catch everyone’s eye.
Dress, $72, ASOS
Platform heels, $43, Red Kiss Footwear
Bracelet, $24, Fantasy Jewelry Box
White:
White’s crispness and cleanness makes it just as timeless as black, and the spring runway shows made it very obvious that white will be one of the trendiest colors of the season. Most of Alexander Wang’s spring collection consisted of clean-cut and structural white apparel, and the BCBG Max Azria show included many white sundresses perfectly suited for the warm weather we’re all looking forward to. Other designers that focused largely on white included Calvin Klein and Dolce & Gabbana. If you don’t usually wear white, there’s not a better time to embrace this classic color.
T-shirt, $30, Nasty Gal
Denim shorts, $30, Aeropostale
Necklace, $30, ModCloth