Elegance for spring

BY BRAVETTA HASSELL World Scene Writer
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
1/29/13 at 7:43 AM

Expect this spring to be ever so lady-like.

With laces and ankle pants, peplum and animal print, patterns and prints in soft and flowing fabrics.

Hemlines will be longer or dipped and silhouettes will be ultra-feminine. Colors will range from powdery pastels to bold, lively colors with a summer-struck intensity. All are already filtering into local stores.

"I think that there is definitely more print and fine details in everything," said Laura Scott, owner of Rope, a boutique at 1619 E. 15th St.

And this season's colors just seem to be more flattering than seasons past, she added.

Color

Check out colbalt blue, which we can expect to see a lot of this spring.

"That's a shade that looks great on anyone," Scott said. Reds, too, especially in shades of poppy and berry.

Find vivacious fuschias, tangy tangerines and neon lime chartreuse for dresses, blazers, pants and handbags, said Kohl's vice president of trend, Sofia Wacksman. "These rich, gorgeous colors are very flattering, and sparkle when paired with a neutral solid."

Also see the return of spring colors in shades like sorbet. With pineapple and raspberry, lemon and mango all wrapped up in the season's tops and bottoms and even accessories, Wacksman said these colors offer an "effortlessly elegant" look.

Prints and patterns

Scott thinks one of this spring's biggest trends will be mixing prints. Florals, polkadots, stripes and other designs come out to play in every piece imaginable when the weather warms. A cheetah print gladiator sandal Scott just got in quickly comes to mind.

"You can really really get into it and mix and match your prints, or if you're not really into that, you can mix a print with a solid," Scott suggested. With some pieces even having mixed print already built in, being on trend is even easier.

In addition to patterns and prints and the mixing and matching of such, ruffles and lace will be very popular this spring.

"This season, the soft dressing trend from last year is transformed into prim and proper dressing with feminine fabrications," Wacksman said. "Whether choosing soft sorbets or vibrant colors, it is easy to flaunt lady-like style with a pretty peplum tank and slim cut ankle pants or a colorful lace dress."

Style by the foot

The Glass Slipper's Cindy Marshall said shoe lovers will see a lot of color in footwear. "Specifically pastelly," but there are pops of green, oranges, turquoises and yellow, too, Marshall said.

Wedges are always popular for the spring and loafers are emerging as a popular style. Find loafers with a tassel or a metal chain, as well as lace-up oxfords.

Just like Scott has seen, there are some shoes with prints on the way, but Marshall suggests keeping it small and simple.

"They look really cute, but then you're like, what do I wear that with?"

Hint: a solid color.

Bravetta Hassell 918-581-8316
bravetta.hassell@tulsaworld.com

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