| Take a blend of many decades of style, add a dash | | | | African safari jackets, khaki shirt dresses, and belted |
| of old Hollywood glamour, and you have the magic of | | | | safari pant suits. In with this trend you'll find great animal |
| the trends for spring 2008. This season the designers | | | | prints, like leopard and giraffe, in dresses and tops. To |
| added modern twists to our favorite classic and | | | | give this style a great head to toe look try pairing a |
| timeless pieces. Fashion icons like Audrey Hepburn, | | | | safari outfit with some natural wood accessories and |
| Jackie Kennedy, and Princess Diana wore many of | | | | trendy wide strapped sandals with wooden soles and |
| these sophisticated and classic trends: romantic, flirty, | | | | heels. |
| and colorful in design and mood. Here are my top | | | | 7). Full, Flirty Skirts Skirt silhouettes will be full and stylish |
| twelve trends for spring. You may not love all of them, | | | | this season like the dirndl, the A-line, pleated styles and |
| but I encourage you to select a few to add to your | | | | soft flirty skirts with a fuller silhouette. These styles will |
| existing wardrobe to look more modern and | | | | be in solid bold colors, color blocked prints, floral and |
| fashionable. | | | | artistic prints. A soft A-line skirt that gently drapes over |
| 1). Crayola Colors This season the designers have | | | | your hip is a flattering style for many women, as it |
| added a lot of vibrant hues in saturated colors like | | | | camouflages large hip areas. Any of these styles |
| bright yellow, grass green, royal blue, red, safety | | | | worn with a modern jacket, a twin set or a soft |
| orange and fuchsia. These bright colors may be hard | | | | feminine blouse makes for a winning combination to |
| for everyone to wear. If you want to experiment with | | | | keep in mind for a business casual workday. |
| bold colors, start with a bright blouse or jacket and pair | | | | 8). High-Waisted Trousers This is a hard trend for |
| it with a pair of white pants or a skirt, which will tone it | | | | many women to accept since we have, for years, had |
| down a bit. When you wear bright colors like these, | | | | to become accustomed to the low-rise pant. This |
| keep your accessories simple, so that the color | | | | trend started last fall and we are definitely starting to |
| becomes the focal point. | | | | see more dramatic waistbands rise to new levels. The |
| 2). Pattern Punch, Creative Strokes & Floral | | | | styles that illustrate this trend are the sailor pant or |
| Dresses, jackets, tops and skirts will come in all sizes | | | | wide-legged pant. While this trend may not work for |
| of patterns this season. The popular prints will have | | | | everyone, if you have a defined waistline, this can |
| graphic, geometric and abstract motifs. You will see | | | | really show off your small waist area. You will look |
| some beautiful new prints that look like creative brush | | | | curvy, but womanly. When you wear a higher-waist |
| stroke patterns off an artist's canvas in a light | | | | pant be sure to balance it with a form fitting top on |
| whimsical scrawl or a blurred watercolor abstract. | | | | your upper torso, making your legs appear slimmer and |
| Romantic florals will dominate the season in medium to | | | | longer. If your body type doesn't look great in this trend |
| large prints. When selecting a print to wear in the | | | | - skip it, as there are a lot of pants options this season. |
| professional business arena, remember to keep it in | | | | 9). Global Chic This season the designers traveled the |
| the small to medium range, and in a subtle color. | | | | world and went outside the box to get inspired for |
| 3). The Waist-Defined Dress Springtime is all about | | | | new patterns, shapes and accessories to give that |
| dresses this year. The two most popular styles, which I | | | | "melting pot" allure to dressing. You will see a large |
| adore, are the shirt dress and the sheath dress; both | | | | ethnic influence like apparel with embroidery or intricate |
| of which accentuate the waist area. I love these styles | | | | Bali-influenced prints. In jewelry you will see tribal beads, |
| because they work well in a business casual work | | | | stones, chunky wooden carved necklaces and natural |
| environment, and can go from day to night with a | | | | wood pieces. When you wear a piece of this global |
| change to dressier accessories. The shirt dress is a | | | | look, incorporate it with some other pieces in your |
| tailored, stylish, and classic silhouette, with a collar that | | | | wardrobe. Perhaps add a dramatic necklace or |
| can be worn turned up a bit, and a button-down front, | | | | bracelet from a faraway place to finish a look on a |
| which when unbuttoned, can create a great V-neckline. | | | | safari ensemble, or casual jean outfit. |
| A shirt dress with a sash or belt can compliment a | | | | 10). Shoes - Architectural Heels and Bold Colors Shoes |
| waistline, or help to create one that is not prominent | | | | this season will be very structured with lots of |
| enough. This style of dress is flattering to many | | | | architectural details on the heels and artfully designed |
| different body types. Many sheath dress styles can be | | | | platforms. The structured high wooden heels and soles |
| worn without a belt but are shapely to your body and | | | | on sandals will look natural and earthy when worn with |
| define a bit of waist. This dress looks professional | | | | dresses and skirts. At the other end of the spectrum is |
| worn with a modern or tailored jacket during the day, | | | | color. You will see pops of color in a modern mix of |
| and worn with a great purse and clutch handbag for | | | | color blocking on shoes like bright pinks and yellows |
| an after-hours event. For work this style of dress | | | | mixed with black. If you decide to wear some colorful |
| worn with a jacket conveys professionalism, expertise | | | | shoes in vivid colors, let them be the focus and keep |
| and femininity for women in business. | | | | the ensemble simple and elegant. |
| 4). The Timeless Trench The classic trench returns in | | | | 11). Shades of Gold: Metallic Jewelry Necklaces, |
| time for the springtime weather and it is a great | | | | bracelets and earrings this season will be in new |
| wardrobe essential that every woman needs in her | | | | shades of metallic gold. Rose gold is the new modern |
| closet. This season you will see a more modern | | | | gold to wear. If you are warm in coloring, adding rose |
| version of the classic trench coat. The latest twists | | | | gold accessories will make your current wardrobe |
| are brighter colors, lighter fabrics and shorter jacket | | | | more contemporary. This shade of gold looks beautiful |
| styles, which look great with dress trousers. The | | | | with many of the beautiful neutral colors coming out |
| timeless trench takes on a springtime, fresh look with | | | | this spring and summer. |
| softer fabrics and fun colors. This is also a great item | | | | 12). Stacked Bangles and Cuffs In the bracelet |
| to pair with jeans and sandals during those cool spring | | | | category you will see cuffs in various metallics, and |
| evenings to look stylish and chic. | | | | bold color in Lucite. Stack up your arm with some fun |
| 5). The Feminine Blouse The mood of the season is | | | | bangles in different shapes and sizes. This is a fun item |
| romantic and flirty when it comes to blouses. Beautiful | | | | to wear to add some style to a dress or if you are |
| soft blouses in pastels and prints with lots of feminine | | | | wearing a short sleeve or sleeveless blouse. Do be |
| details like ruffles, pin tucks and tiny pleats. With the | | | | careful if you are in the workplace that you don't |
| fine detailing on these blouses, keep jewelry to a | | | | overdo it. Perhaps go for one cuff bracelet so you |
| minimum. This is a great must-have for every | | | | aren't jingling all over the office. |
| workingwoman, as this sophisticated and romantic item | | | | I hope that you find at least two to three trends that |
| can modernize a classic suit and add a womanly flair | | | | you are willing to try to incorporate into your existing |
| to a basic tailored suit. | | | | wardrobe. If you add a few of these into your |
| 6). Out of Africa Safari wear is a great timeless trend | | | | classic-trend ensembles, you will look stylish and chic |
| again this season. From the 1970's era, you will see | | | | for every occasion. |