Monday, 18 January 2010 | Author: Catherine Horgan | 
It's all about the leg!There are quite a few themes this upcoming season, sporty being one of them. Anything but typical — think lace-up leather shorts with a polo shirt (sans one sleeve) paired with knee socks. How about the new preppy: a crisp button down shirt and straight cut capri pants both in vivid coral paired with a metallic silver belt or two. The utilitarian: from army green to khaki, military inspiration continues into Spring with epaulette detail on shirts, drawstring shirt dresses and jackets with cargo pockets. The hippy chick: while the fabrics and patterns may be conventional, the cuts are not. The ultra-feminine: ladylike shapes in gorgeously weighted fabrics and minimal, yet scrumptious, detail.
Spring '10 silhouettes are all about the straight and narrow. Pants will be cut close to the body. Clam diggers or petal pushers (pants cut an inch or two above the ankle) are back. If you thought FW09 was mini-sized with regard to dresses and skirts, wait until you see what's in store for SS10. Short shorts abound, making a revival. And the jump suit becomes the short jump suit. Not all body shapes will be able to pull off the season's trends. Nor do we want to embrace all trends, for example, the jegging (denim legging). However, there is room for interpretation when it comes to your personal style, such as wearing a mini-dress as a tunic over pants or jeans.
Balance is the key to achieving the right look. If you are donning major leg, balance with a blouson top. And as always, when going for a relaxed and slouchy look on the bottom with skirts, pants or shorts, balance it with narrow, fitted tops, and vise versa.
As for the Spring spotlight color .... welcome to the season of uncolor, i.e., neutrals. White, gray and khaki will dominate over anything bright this Spring. Think crisp and fresh! Whether you go monochromatic (gray + gray, or my favorite, white + white), or pairing one bright color with your neutrals, or introducing a metallic neutral into your neutral color scheme, you can't go wrong — it's anything but vanilla.
You will see a playfulness with fabrics and patterns this season like never before! Layer and mix different fabrics together, such as sequins + organza + lace, for a truly dramatic ensemble. Denim-on-denim is back (much to my dismay). Aside from that particular fabric pairing, there is much to be excited about. And talk about creativity — here's your opportunity to experiment with pattern. Mix a soft floral skirt with a striped top.
Shoes get higher (platforms in heels and wedges), strappier (wrapping around the ankle and up the leg) and more cut away. Thanks to Prada, tie scarf pumps, and the like, will allow you to bring in glorious color and pattern (think florals). While the design says retro, the tie scarf says interesting, modern and sexy. With such ‘look at me’ shoes, your clothing options should entail simple, clean lines. 
The bootie stays for much of Spring. However, the scrunched up sock joins the ranks, paired with clean-cut, cut off jeans. This is my favorite casual 'almost-anyone-can-pull-this-off' look of the season by Erin Wasson. To me, the white-on-white color scheme is the epitome of Spring and is always in style. The cut off jeans add edgy flair. And the ankle boot with scrunched socks is completely fresh! Keeping the details simple, as in the belt and the long, layered necklaces, pulls it together for casual perfection.Accessories continue to make a statement, but go light in material with jewelry. Look for cuff bracelets in enamel, lucite and acrylic. Belts continue to add punch to almost any outfit. There should be no rock left unturned when it comes to size and shape. You can even layer a couple of belts for an unexpected accent.
Spring is sure to bring a contemporary twist into your wardrobe. Even if you can't wear the straight, narrow and mini cuts and styles (goodness knows, I certainly can't), I can show you how to fake it! Sometimes, it takes just a few simple details to recreate a look from existing pieces in your wardrobe. The most important aspect of any season is expressing your own style with confidence!
