Spring in your Step: Floral Pump

◍◍◍

Add a little Spring to your step with the floral pump. An easy way to add color and style, this Spring trend will pair well with anything from edgy leather pieces to everyday essentials.

Mixing prints can be tricky. With this pump, mastering the mix is easy. Pair with any pattern in similar color families. Mix your florals with stripes, polka dots, graphics and/or animal prints and you are well on your way to one stellar mash-up.

Manolo Blahnik ~ BB Pump: $645.00

Alice + Olivia ~ Danny Pump: $295.00

Ivanka Trump ~ Kayden 2 Pump: $130.00

Guess ~ Neodan 5 Pump: $99.00

Spring 2013: PANTONE Color Report

⟡⟡⟡

PANTONE LLC, an X-Rite company is the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries. This past September, PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald, a lively, radiant, lush green, was announced as the Color of the Year for 2013.

The Color of the Year selection is a very thoughtful process. To arrive at the selection, PANTONE quite literally combs the world looking for color influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films that are in production, traveling, art collections, hot new artists, popular travel destinations and other socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from technology, availability of new textures and effects that impact color, and even upcoming sports events that capture worldwide attention.

For more than a decade, PANTONE’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design.

Twice a year, during the spring and fall Mercedes-Benz Fashion Weeks, PANTONE surveys couturiers about the color choices and inspirations for their collections; that intelligence is used to create the PANTONE Fashion Color Report. The report features the top 10 colors for women’s and men’s fashion for the upcoming season, along with designer sketches, quotes, headshots, and recommended CMYK equivalents.

Not surprisingly, trending spring colors include florals and fruits to evoke freshness, and growth. According to a PANTONE statement, the colors represent “consumers’ desire for self-expression, balance, and the need to re-energize.” The spring hues offer balance, and, “allow for unique combinations that offer practicality and versatility, but at the same time, demand attention and earn an appreciative glance,” states the group in a release.

Plump It Up!: Rodial Dragon’s Blood Sculpting Gel

⨻⨻⨻

Dubbed as the “Liquid Facelift”, Dragon’s Blood Sculpting Gel by Rodial promises to plump, sculpt and lift the complexion as it sags and wrinkles with age.

Created to be the natural replacement for Restylane injections, Dragon’s Blood Sculpting Gel plumps facial hollows and ‘orbital troughs’ under and around the eyes, as well as for cheek volume and contouring of the chin, forehead and nose.

Dragon’s Blood is formulated with red sap of the sangre de drago tree that has been used for centuries by ancient cultures for dye, incense, wound-healing/first aid and antioxidant properties. The product news release states, “It works to form a second skin-like protective film on the skin. Protects against environmental damage and contains anti-inflammatory properties.”

Morning and night after cleansing, smooth on a thin layer of gel, then add your regular moisturizer on top with SPF for daytime, of course. The gel absorbs quickly into the skin and has a soft scent of florals and pink bubblegum. Within minutes, you can feel a tightening sensation on your skin. Not the tightening one might feel with very dry, parched skin, but a “sucked-in” taught feeling. I most certainly noticed a more sculpted and voluminous difference, however, more mature skin would reap the benefits of Dragon’s Blood much, much more.

Easy Breezy: Summer Scarves

✠✠✠

This summer leave your statement necklace at home and add a splash of color with a lightweight scarf. This finishing touch is versatile, vibrant and adds an extra layer of style to any look.

From bold, graphic prints to floral bouquets, adding something extra to your ensemble has never been easier. The breezy, effortless nature of a lightweight scarf is perfect for summer. It pulls together a chic look and also acts as an extra layer of sunscreen. Functional and versatile, here are a few fresh new ways to wear your scarves this summer:

Turban: Take a long scarf and tie it into one knot on your forehead, then cross the ends around each other and tuck them in place behind your head. (This look is great for bad hair days)

Mini Caplet: Fold the scarf in half, diagonally, and tie the ends together around your neck – scarf should be draped on shoulders.

Belt:  Tie scarf around your waist or weave through belt loops to cinch the waist.

Experiment to find new ways to wear your favorite scarf: twist, braid, tie two scarves together… Here are a ton of different scarf options to choose from, separated into four categories: Stripes/Florals/Brights/Graphics.

STRIPES:

Mango ~ Cotton Sailor Style Foulard: $19.99

Juicy Couture ~ Chevron Striped Scarf: $68.00

J.Crew ~ Lemlem Gama Gauze Scarf: $125.00

Marc by Marc Jacobs ~ Jacobson Striped Modal Scarf: $180.00

FLORALS:

American Eagle ~ AEO Floral Scarf: $24.50

Forever 21 ~ Floral Scarf: $8.80

Rebecca Minkoff ~ Floral Explosion Silk Scarf: $210.00

J.Crew ~ Printed Summer Scarf in Bold Orange: $59.50

BRIGHTS:

J.Crew ~ Italian Summer Scarf in Belvedere Red: $45.00

Love Quotes ~ Knotted Tassel Scarf in Sunshine: $88.00

Mango ~ Basic Cotton Scarf in Mint: $19.99

J.Crew ~ Italian Summer Scarf in Brillant Purple: $45.00

GRAPHICS:

ALDO ~ Draughon: $22.00

Lucky Brand ~ John Robshaw Vines Print Scarf: $34.99

Tory Burch ~ Ikat Scarf in Turquoise Lucio: $155.00

Tillys ~ Aztec Pattern Scarf in Navy: $9.99

Festival Fashion Series: Day 2

ͷͷͷ

Glow-T’s Festival Fashion Series continues with dresses. Simple and comfortable, dresses make packing a cinch. Grab solid colors, florals or patterns and accessorize accordingly. Long or short, dresses can be paired with boots, sandals or wedges. Form-fitting or flowing, a dress is an effortless option for festival fashion.

The cross-body bag is another necessity for festival style. Hands-free, these bags can be securely worn without worry. Perfect for dancing or exploring the grounds, a cross-body bag is something you don’t want to leave home without.

Option 1:

Pamela Love – Love Pyramid Pendant, Isabel Marant – Dicker Boots, Isabel Marant – Vick Printed Silk-Georgette Dress, Color  in Optics – Marilyn Retro Sunglasses

Option 2:

Alexander Wang – Diego Bucket Bag, Splendid – Tomboy Ribbed Cotton Dress, Missoni – Zigzag Crochet-Knit Headband, J.Crew – Distressed Belt, TKEES – Thong Sandals

Mix-n-Match: Spring Suits

⍒⍒⍒

Mix and match your favorite coordinates to create the perfect Spring suit. The blazer and short combo is a refreshing way to transition into Spring. From statement making florals and prints to original color combinations, discover new outfit ideas for the warm season ahead. Here are a few pieces that will mix-n-match effortlessly to ‘suit’ anyone.

Net-A-Porter ~ Rag and Bone 42nd Street: $450

Topshop ~ Structured Blazer: $130.00

Net-A-Porter ~ Elizabeth & James Bruce Floral Print Silk Jacket: $395

Shopbop ~ Elizabeth & James Colby Shorts: $235

Forever 21 ~ Sweet Polka Dot Romper: Out of stock

J.Crew ~ Scalloped Short: $118

Sneak Peek: Marni for H&M Collection

⨉⨉⨉

Here is a small preview from the Marni for H&M Collection. The latest designer collaboration for H&M has great resort-wear pieces and affordable jewelry that is bold and bright. Official in-store launch is March 8.

Dress – $99.00

Jacket – $99.00

Sunglasses – $19.95

Bracelet – $19.95

Silk Dress – $129.00

Sandals – $59.95

Handbag Trend: Bright Neon

✯✯✯

Spice up dreary winter fashion with neon hues. Fluorescent-colored bags are radiating in stores everywhere. These high-wattage accessories can add a fresh and fun look to wardrobe staples.

Incorporate neon pieces into your closet this season. Paired with black, a pop of glowing color presents a more stimulating look. Vivid colors can bring-out tones and details in patterns, prints and florals and coupled with neutrals, neons with look sharp and modern.

The neon trend continues to glow year after year. This season create your own fresh take on the trend.

Net-A-Porter ~ Marc by Marc Jacobs: Neon Croc-Effect Leather Shoulder Bag: $495.00

Bloomingdale’s ~ The Cambridge Satchel Company: Fluorescent Satchel-Neon: $155.00

Barneys New York ~ Givenchy Medium Leather Nightingale: $2265.00

Neiman Marcus ~ Michael Kors: Gia Ostrich -Embossed Leather Clutch, Neon Pink: $450.00

5 under $50: Flirty Skirts

✯✯✯

One piece that inevitably returns each year is the flirty skirt. When the sun comes out, so does the mini. A fun and banty item, these skirts can be found in a variety of patterns and colors. Pair it with any simple top or be more daring and go for contrasting patterns like florals and stripes. Flaunt your gams or wear with tights, sandals or a cute pair of ankle socks and wedges. Let these flirty skirts, all under $50.00, add a little bounce in your step this season.

Urban Outfitters Cooperative Printed Skirt: $29.00

Forever 21 Animal Spots w/Belt: $14.80

Alloy Hallie Chiffon Skirt: $14.99

Gap Drawstring Skirt: $19.99

Heritage 1981 Floral Print Satin Skirt: $16.90