Chris Benz Floral Print Pant & Shoes

Floral prints are commonly seen on skirts and dresses to make a complete feminine statement but Chris Benz has decided to put the pattern onto a pair of pants and a matching set of shoes.  The colors of the print and slim cut of the pants are very spring without being overly girly.  Using slim pants and bright colors give the trend a new and more modern feel.

Mary Katrantzou Floral Skirt

Just like the flowers that inspire this print bloom every year so does the trend.  Spring brings out the feminine style in most ladies during the spring so wearing one of the ultimate feminine symbols is only fitting.  Usually a print that is used on ladylike spring dresses and skirts, floral prints are a trend that is here to stay.

Natural Waist Monique Lhuillier Pants

Natural waist cut pants were also a reoccurring statement for spring.  The silhouette gives the wearer a long, lean look because of the higher waist and tailored wide leg.  The belt also draws the eye towards the waist and gives the appearance of an hour glass shape emphasizing the waist and draping from the hip.  I also love the color combination of the outfit, bright colors paired with white are the perfect color palette for spring.

3.1 Phillip Lim Silk Pants

Impeccably cut pants were all over the runway for spring collections and seem to be to perfect alternative for midi-skirts for those who don't find them to be quite their taste.  I especially love white silk for the spring and thought these pants were perfect for the season.

Proenza Schouler Navajo Inspiration

After taking a road trip to Santa Fe, the brains behind Proenza Schouler, Jack McCollough and Larazo Hernandez, became inspired by Navajo blankets and the fabrics for their fall 2011 collection.  They made the classic their own by adding handcrafted details to their computer generated prints. The result is a unique and unmistakable collection that has found elegance in an print that hasn't been used in this way before.

Pendleton, The Portland Collection : Americana Heritage

Pendleton has always been a company known for their rich heritage and beautiful Native American fabrics. The region is reflected in their southwestern American style clothing.  Recently the brand debuted a new fall 2011 line, Pendleton, the Portland Collection, which opens up a new target market for the brand in younger consumers.  The brand hired two up-and-coming designers for the new line, Nathaniel Crissman and Rachel Turk, creators of Church & State.  Also part of the collaboration is John Blasioli, the stylist behind indie legends, The Decemberists.  All of which are Portland grown artists.  The collection will include Navajo inspired prints and buffalo plaids.

Varsity Jackets - Men's Fashion

Whether these jackets are paired with trousers or cuffed jeans, they still look good.  Versatility is key when it comes to menswear. Now this trend is seen as less of a jock item as a nerd chic piece.  It takes a complex man to pull off the "I'm stylish and sensitive" look in a jacket that was mainly reserved for men on the complete opposite side of the spectrum. 

Oxford Heels

Old-school collegiate style has made its way back into the current trends of today with these shoes that first gained their popularity in, you guessed it, Oxford University in 1800.  Believe it or not the originals of these shoes were first seen as a sign of rebellion.  Now women have taken the Oxford shoe and made it their own by adding a heel and emphasizing the arch with details of common tones.

Stella McCartney Le Smoking Jacket

Tuxedo, or smoking, jackets are another item of clothing women have decided to take from menswear and make their own.  The fit of smoking jackets are usually close fitting and well-tailored.  I especially like smoking jackets in white for spring.  The color and fit are perfect to pairing with spring dresses or over cotton tee shirts.

Boy Meets Girl

Blazers are another trend that have been taken straight out of your boyfriends closet and onto your chic body.  The fit of the blazer is the personal part of the trend I believe. Some blazers are fitted and tailored for women, while other blazers are worn loosely with the sleeves rolled or pushed up. I like the trend best when it's paired with feminine elements, such as a lace skirt or ruffled top.

Nautical Accessories for Spring

Chanel, H&M, Tod's, Jimmy Choo all shown in this image are a part of the crazy that happens every spring when almost every designer jumps onto the annual nautical kick.  I didn't really understand it at first, but I've always known I either really hated or loved this trend.  I think I'm going to embrace the fact that it will be here this spring and the next because I do enjoy the colors, braids, and seagull motifs.  Anchors away on my doubts about this trend.

La Marinière

The Breton shirt, or was created officially by French law, the 27th of March 1858 Act, which made the blue-and-white striped knitted shirt part of the regulatory uniform for French sailors.  The original shirt featured 21 stripes, one for each of Napoleon's victories.  Coco Chanel made the shirt popular with women in the 1930's and it was called la marinière. 

Midi-Length Skirt

The hemline for skirts in recent years has evolved from drastically high to extreme lows, respectively the micro-mini skirts and the maxi skirt.  The new hemline for spring 2011 is the middle ground of those two extremes and falls between the knee and ankle and as mentioned in my previous post dubbed the midi skirt.  Not only do they come pleated but they also come in a more form fitting silhouette.

Chloé Mid-Length Pleated Skirt

Recently I've been seeing a lot of skirts of a new hemline which has been difficult to identify. It's too long to be knee-length yet to short to ankle length, hence the term mid-length.  This flowy pleated skirt was shown on the spring 2011 ready-to-wear runway and I've been seeing them on warmer days here around Paris.  I like the ladylike silhouette and movement from the pleats. This new hemline is something I'm looking forward to seeing more of this spring.

Chanel Ballet Tights

The Chanel spring ready-to-wear collection also used ballet-inspired elements such as these tights with the design of the ballet ribbons worn by ballerinas during performances.

J.Mendel Ballet Inspired Dress

Many designers, such as J.Mendel and Karl Lagerfeld, showed inspiration from ballet on the runway during S/S 2011 shows.  The movie "Black Swan" also created steam for the ballet-inspired trend.  Ballerina dresses, known by their A-line mini-skirts and lightweight fabrics, are bound to make their way onto the streets this spring.