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Interpreting Pantone’s Influence on Spring 2013 Fashion

February 26, 2013 By Harpermac

Do you ever wonder how fashion trends develop? When following the latest runway shows, similar styles and themes appeared to crop up among the major design houses. Although there are many forces that guide the fashion industry, when it comes to choosing an on-trend color palette, Pantone is the reigning queen. Twice each year, color specialists and fashion experts hold an exclusive meeting to decide upon a color palette for the coming season. The resulting Pantone color reports are essential viewing for any lover of fashion.

What Are Pantone’s Spring 2013 Colors?
For the spring 2013 season, Pantone’s color palette references fresh, beautiful floral colors. The colors aren’t as saturated as in years past, but have more boldness than basic pastels. They feature the beautiful Nectarine, muted Dusk Blue, lush Monaco Blue, dusky African Violet, vibrant green Tender Shoots, bright Lemon Zest, punchy Poppy Red, a refreshing Grayed Jade and calming Linen. Also included is the hue named 2013 Color of the Year: Emerald. Incorporating any of these colors into your wardrobe is sure to keep you on-trend for the spring season.

How to Wear the Pantone Colors
In general, it’s best to stick to just one or two key colors in any look. Unless you’re wearing a colorful floral frock or another print, having too many colors in one outfit overwhelms you. Several of the Pantone colors naturally pair well together: Lemon Zest with African Violet, Monaco Blue with Tender Shoots or Nectarine with Dusk Blue.

To incorporate these hues into your favorite looks, find a great pair of fitted ankle-length pants in a punchy shade. Poppy Red pants look timeless and classic when paired with a white button-down shirt. Or find Monaco Blue pants for a fresh take on regular navy blue. If you’re wearing bold colored pants, pair them with neutral ballet flats and a simple top. Add your favorite necklace and stud earrings to complete the look.

Fresh New Looks with Fashion-Forward Colors
One of the freshest ways to wear this season’s hottest colors is with fun prints. Floral prints are big this year, cropping up in blouses, dresses and shoes. Find a frock with African Violet, Tender Shoots or Dusk Blue to look ultra-chic. Add some tougher accessories like a fitted leather jacket or sexy booties to keep the floral look from becoming too girly.

Another hot trend this year is stripes. Look for a Red Poppy striped rugby-style shirt to pair with tailored linen shorts. This unexpected pairing looks fresh, modern and chic without losing your casual cool-girl vibe. Alternatively, find a striped boatneck dress with three-quarter length sleeves in Emerald or Tangerine to create an ensemble that flatters nearly every figure. Pair it with a fitted blazer and cute heels, and add chandelier earrings to complete the look.

When experimenting with Pantone’s spring 2013 colors, less is more. Updating your wardrobe can be as simple as winding a Monaco Blue scarf around your neck or finding a great pair of Poppy Red flats. Adding one or two key pieces into your regular wardrobe rotation helps you stay on-trend without breaking the bank. Or invest in a gorgeous Emerald structured leather handbag for a piece you can take everywhere. Adding one or two pops of color to each look will keep you looking fresh and modern.

From Cluttered Closet to Trendy Wardrobe

February 18, 2013 By Harpermac

Have you ever gone to your closet to put together a trendy outfit, only to find that it was so jam packed you couldn’t locate a single thing? Somewhere between the formal you wore to your sorority outing and the pair of jeans you haven’t been able to squeeze into for years are outfits that scream fashionista, but you cannot find them. That happened to me this week, and it has pushed me into purge mode! As I prepare to purge, here are some tips I am going to use.

How to Decide What to Lose

The hardest part about this project is going to be choosing what to keep and what to purge. After all, trendy girls clothing and outfits can often be created with old pieces if you know what you are doing, so it’s not always obvious which pieces should be purged. So, I have set up some basic ground rules. First, if I haven’t worn it in a year, it gets tossed. Also, if it is too small or too big, I am purging it. Finally, if it is damaged beyond a simple button, it goes.

How to Decide What to Keep

Now, what will I keep? I am looking for pieces that have character or are obviously trendy. Unique fabrics, basic solids for layering and slacks and skirts that fit well have to stay. Since bold colors are in this year, bright pieces will be keepers. Also, sweaters and jackets will stay, unless they are way too outdated, because these can dress up a simple outfit quickly. Finally, I plan to keep a few dresses, preferably those in the hot maxi or above-the-knee lengths. Once I am done, I will make a list of the pieces of girls clothing I need to buy to complete my trendy wardrobe.

What to Do with the Purged Items

Next, I need a plan for my purged items. Instead of just tossing them, I’m going to donate them. I know you can just dump a bag at the local Salvation Army, but I want to go above and beyond. After all, it feels good to have the opportunity to help people who are in need. To make this happen, I plan to talk to some friends who are also purging, or who need a little push to purge, and organize a clothing drive. We will partner with a local charity organization that needs the clothes and uses them to help local families directly, so we can be certain our items are getting the most use. We will collect items from our friends and offer one big donation to the charity organization of our choice.

I am looking forward to being able to open my closet and clearly see the outfits available to wear, without having to dig through my old college sweatshirt and the t-shirt from my high school senior trip. This plan is exciting to me because not only will I have an easier time picking a trendy outfit, but I am also going to be able to help the community at the same time. This has turned a boring chore into something I am actually looking forward to doing.

Lindsey is a professional writer living in the Indianapolis area and she writes on behalf of Sears and other deserving brands. She specializes in writing guest posts on social media and education. Currently, Lindsey is completing work on her master’s degree

Spring is on the Horizon

February 6, 2013 By Harpermac

Even as most of us are still bundled up in winter coats and gloves, the fashion-savvy it’s already time to start educating ourselves about the new fashion trends for spring. The new pieces are arriving in stores and display windows even now. What pieces can you keep and update with a trendy accessory? What absolutely requires an updated replacement?

One of the easiest ways to begin evaluating your current wardrobe versus exciting—and possibly expensive—new fashion trends is to take a look at the “new” colors emphasized on the runway. Instead of overturning your entire wardrobe, though, consider incorporating accessories like bracelets, scarves, necklaces and even shoes into your closet to keep it current.

2013’s New Colors

Unlike previous years’ easily described pastels or neons, the colors of 2013 include dynamic brights mixed with unusual neutrals and also new, lighter shades too powerful to be called pastel. “This season’s color palette emphasizes the need for balance, while at the same time allowing for individuality, self-expression and excitement,” explained Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. Use Elseman’s quote to justify your new color combinations and pairings of the old and new.

· Greens

Appropriate for the season, a range of greens is prevalent in designers’ collections. First, there’s Pantone’s Tender Shoots shade, a mix of a light yellow with a pale lime green. The color combination is almost neon—but not quite—and provides a significant degree of power to a piece despite its gentle shade. A second green common to this season’s collections is known as Grayed Jade. Unlike the muddy mix you might imagine, it’s in fact a more subtle, lighter hue. Finally, the most vibrant of the spring greens is that of Emerald, described as sophisticated and radiant.

· Blues

The new blues of spring have nothing to do with a down mood and everything to do with the range of shades you might associate with a summer day at the beach. Dusk Blue is the shade of a child’s crayoned ocean: a light to medium tone with its slight potential for brightness just barely held in check with a very slightly gray undertone. The much darker Monaco Blue is a navy blue infused with a purple tint that allows it to serve as the foundation of an outfit, if necessary. In between these two blues is a light but corporal African Violet shade—almost like lavender with muscle.

· Whites

Get ready for white, a lot of it and in almost every type of garment. The crisp, clean white of 2013 is less a neutral shade to provide contrast against a color, and more of a stand-out shade on its own. Designers have played with white to demonstrate two huge fashion trends of the season: laser cut-outs of the primary white fabric for a peek-a-boo effect and the sheer craze that teases the eye with pretend exhibitionism. Pantone’s Linen hue most likely stands in as the light neutral of the color family as white holds court on its own.

Ready for the Change?

After a few seasons of color blocking bright neons against seemingly incongruous shades of deep intensity, the hues of 2013 seem fresh, fun and gentle to the eye. There’s still plenty of power to be had in the new Poppy Red and Nectarine shades; they just don’t have to be worn together to catch the eye and keep up with style.

Unique Engagement Rings for Unique Ladies

January 30, 2013 By Harpermac

The era of offering mass-produced sentimental gifts is coming to an end, and the preference for thoughtful, individual tokens that reveal the giver’s intimate knowledge of the recipient’s tastes seems to escalate yearly. Nowhere is this trend more apparent than in the most romantic of bequests, the engagement ring. More women are clamoring for unique settings that set them apart and showcase their distinctive personalities than ever before. Fortunately, there’s a multitude of fashion-forward and modern rings that cater to the discerning interests of strong ladies who know who they are and what they want. From a name-taking bank CEO who favors architectural vintage settings to the unconventional hipster barista with a penchant for pear-shaped stones, there’s a ring for every miss. Here are a few of the top unique styles for the unclassifiable girl.

Vintage Rings

It may seem counterintuitive to display one’s individuality by selecting a second-hand ring, but vintage pieces are becoming quite popular on account of their decorative settings, variety of styles and romantic anachronism. Vintage rings also stand out grandly from the basic solitaire setting with their architectural bands that often employ delicate filigree designs or layered stones of many sizes. They have an unabashedly luxurious look without relying on one grandiose rock to impress. As a result, in addition to being feminine, charming and memorable, they’re generally more affordable.

Modern Rings

Many modern brides-to-be chafe at the notion of permanently donning a conventional cushion or square cut diamond simply because it’s traditional. These days, the truly atypical opt for modern rings that riff on the status quo while still representing the sentimental nature of this special token of love. Whether utilizing an unusual material like wood or brass, bucking symmetry trends with a band shaped like a telemetry display, or rejecting the inclusion of any gemstones, the stunning variety of contemporary engagement rings is sure to delight even the most idiosyncratic lovebird.

Custom Rings

For some, buying off-the-rack will never do. For an undeniably unique engagement ring, one must custom order a design. For better or for worse, her wedding typically signifies the most important day in a woman’s life. More than a few hopeful romantics fantasize about every nuance and detail of that coveted future event, and chief among those daydreams is the look of that longed for ring. Customizing the ring ensures a one-of-a-kind product that represents the special bond between two individuals, which no one else can claim. A custom ring is the perfect choice for the lady who wants total fulfillment, and hates to share.

The preference for simple and classic rings featuring one statement-making rock has given way to the desire for singular pieces that portray the modern woman’s individual characteristics in a tasteful and often whimsical way. Today’s bounty of distinctive designs offers each future missus an opportunity to show off her unique beauty with just a wave of her hand.

Keeping Your Festive Spirit Alive After the Holidays: 3 Wardrobe-Enhancing Tips for Staying Stylish in the New Year

January 29, 2013 By Harpermac

The bulk of the holiday season is officially in the past, and that means no more dorky Christmas sweaters or sparkly sequin New Year’s Eve dresses. How’s a girl supposed to have a little fun with fashion once these festive items are no longer appropriate? Although you may feel like your outfit selection is dreary without these quirky pieces to choose from, there are plenty of ways to keep the fun spirit of the holidays alive in your wardrobe without looking like you don’t own a calendar.

1. Overload Your Accessories

Accessories can transform any basic, dull outfit into a fabulous, eye-catching look. If you’re used to a subtle pair of studs or just a simple necklace for your everyday outfits, add a little more color and pizzazz with accessories to keep your holiday spirit alive. Attachable embellished collars are a popular fashion item this season, which can make your outfit preppy and pretty in no time. Wear them with your favorite bold colored sweaters for a pop of sparkle and texture. You can also give your wardrobe more festive flavor without spending a fortune by going to Claire’s for fun feathery hair accessories, animal print scarves and glittery belts for a fun accent.

2. Brighter is Better

Maybe your wardrobe is feeling a little “blah” because you’re only choosing between blacks, grays and beiges. Although every wardrobe needs these colors represented, they tend to drag your mood down when it’s all you ever wear. When you’re looking for a fashion pick-me-up, go for bright colors like hot pink, sunny yellow and classy royal blue. Bold and vibrant colors give your outfit that brand new look, which keeps you confident in your style all year round.

3. Experiment with Textures

Color isn’t everything when it comes to choosing the right outfit; texture is also an important element for finishing off a stylish outfit. Lace is definitely in this season, and is a perfect choice for giving your look a subtly sexy touch, while still staying appropriately covered. Velvet is also a fitting post-holiday fabric to stay cozy and add a unique, opulent shine. Lucky Brand has a great selection of velvet jeans right now, while Victoria’s Secret carries beautiful long-sleeved lace tops that are perfect for a bottom layer in the chilly winter weather.

Without the holidays to distract from the dreary winter weather, it’s easy to get down in the dumps and bring your wardrobe down with you. However, you don’t have to abandon all hope and high spirits just because the Christmas lights are down and you’re back to the daily grind. These fashion tips will help you replenish your wardrobe with more of the festive spirit you brought to the holiday season, which will keep you going until warm spring finally arrives.