Get Happy With Spring Florals

Michael Kors spring 2014.

Spring is so delightful because it's a time to embrace change and new beginnings.  That's what makes fashion at this time of year so much fun.  This season, flowers are not only in full bloom in nature, but in fashion too.  Floral patterns always make an appearance in designer collections with the arrival of spring.  This season the tradition takes on a new modern take by way of saturated color, texture and unexpected combinations.  

Vibrant color palettes of pink, yellow and orange make bold statements especially with dresses using modern cuts, necklines and cinched waists.  By contrast, dark florals in black and navy give the woman with edge an opportunity to be feminine without sacrificing her taste for deeper more masculine hues.  

Michael Kors had a very ladylike collection of dresses, skirts and matching tops in patterns that ranged from tiny delicate flowers to large petals.  Collections like Red Valentino and Josef Ribkoff incorporated big flowers in bright colors like fuchsia, bright blue and yellow.

Red Valentino spring 2014.

Floral printed pants, blazers and shirts are also a way to mix the pattern into your wardrobe without going overboard.  Wear the pant with a simple top and solid jacket.  Or choose a floral, tailored blazer to wear with a pencil skirt to the office.  That way you can capture the feeling of spring without being to extravagant in a conservative office environment.  

J.Crew Spring 2014 floral pant.

STYLE | Gift Bags

Michael Kors Selma Tote in black and sapphire blue.

Holiday gift shopping is one of the most daunting experiences you will have.  Whether you are buying for your mom, best friend or girlfriend, a purse is something that a woman will use almost every single day.  It's a gift that will keep on giving.  If you want to put a smile on her face Christmas morning, get her what nearly every woman wants; a designer handbag. 

If she is a style maven then she's the kind of woman who would embrace something different.  She will appreciate rich color, different shapes, details and mixed textures.  For the traditional woman stick to simple styles like a tote, satchel or clutch.  Avoid all the extra details like studs, jewels and extra hardware since she is more of the simple type.  

Take advantage of all the great deals at this time of year.  Many big brands have outlet stores where you can find some of their best-sellers and favorites for a discounted price.
    

Tory Burch triangle tote bag.

Coach Madison Phoebe shoulder bag.

Lauren by Ralph Lauren Tate satchel.

STYLE | MICHAEL KORS - SPRING 2014

Michael Kors runway show at New York Fashion Week presented a collection that was the perfect combination of sophistication, elegance and classic American style.  His show is usually one of the highlights of Fashion Week and Kors didn't disappoint with his spring 2014 collection.  It was perhaps one of my favorites.

The show opened with a female model wearing a white blazer and sheer fluid skirt.  Her counterpart wore a beige trouser and top with a double breasted white jacket.  They were a perfect pair. It felt like they were heading to a resort and going to sit down for an afternoon drink filled with relaxed conversation.   Throughout the show there were delicate georgette blouses with bows, pleated skirts and below the knee hemlines which all made for the femininity of being a woman.  Kors paired a snake printed top with a pencil skirt and a snake a-line skirt with a navy crop top that offered just a small peek at the model's midriff.  The double breasted short suit was a modern take on a safari inspired look.

Kors said that this collection was a complete contrast to his last one which was much more urban and very sharp.  This time it was more about being soft, relaxed and learning to slow down the fast paced life we live.

(SCROLL BELOW FOR FULL RUNWAY SHOW)

Project Runway Replaces Michael Kors with Zac Posen

Michael Kors (left) and Zac Posen (right).

After 10 years as a judge on Project Runway, Michael Kors is being replaced with Zac Posen for its eleventh season.  The new season will begin airing on January 24 on Lifetime.  According to Lifetime, Kors has decided to leave due to his own scheduling issues.  It will certainly be interesting to see how Posen fills his new role as judge on the show.  According to a spokesperson from Lifetime, Kors will return to the show for the finale as a featured judged.  You can also expect to see a host of guest judges throughout the season including Kristin Davis, John Legend and Bette Midler.

Viewers can expect to see another big change in the show this time around.  Designers will now compete in team challenges every week.  If you're a fan of the show, you'll remember that every time there is a team challenge, the designers typically are resistant.  They don't usually take well to working with others for fear of their design philosophy being lost in a group.  This usually brings conflict and can drive some interesting disagreements among the designers.  This certainly will push each competitor to do their best to stand out each week.  I'm sure the show's producers are betting on the conflict to make for more rivalry between the designers which some viewers enjoy.  

NYFW: Michael Kors Spring 2013

Michael Kors collection for next spring was absolutely delightful.  It was classic American style at its best.
Simple, clean lines, bold color and geometric patterns were core in his line for spring.  It was a mix of city lifestyle with hints of the traditional American style of Tommy Hilfiger or Ralph Lauren.  Color-blocked pants were paired with rugby-striped tops.  Red, green, yellow and navy combinations on silhouettes reminiscent of 1960's mod style.  Overall a very straight-forward collection that's well suited for the modern woman or man.  

Photo: firstVIEW

Photo: firstVIEW

Photo: firstVIEW

Photo: firstVIEW

Watch this video for the full collection.