FashBlog.com

Decorum in dress for the spring and summer season is the way to go if you are a true romantic at heart. Ladylike in this case is the name of the game. For you the days of the bare midriff are dead and gone as showing too much skin has gone by the way side and viewed by you as both trashy and vulgar. What is in instead is chic and refined, dignified and polished, graceful and oh so groomed. Modesty and classiness in fashion is what you yearn for so read on to find out how you can achieve that look.

What is a Fashion Trend?

A true trend is a change, a movement towards a new idea or a different way of doing things. What is very obvious is that a new silhouette is emerging which is neat and small at the top, but much fuller in the lower half. One fashion fact that all designers know is that the main look of any given season always revolves around four or five key pieces. The key fashion pieces that revolve around the spring and summer season for an incurable romantic include the fuller, bigger, longer gypsy skirt (pencil skirts just will not do for the romantic frame of mind), the shrunken cropped jacket, the empire line top or empire lined dress, cropped trousers or overlong trousers that get rolled or turned up, flat or wedge shoes and lots of tribal style exotic jewelry to complete the look.

Key Themes for the Romantic Spring and Summer Season

Ladylike
Present a feminine look by indulging in the ladylike theme of the 1950s. What goes around comes around, remember? Pastels such as pink, peach, lemon and lilac are the dominant romantic colors and they all look fantastic when teamed with delicate floral prints or anything polka dot. Or if you are brave and daring, go bright and bold.

The color white
What would romantic be without the color white? Incomplete that is what! White is so in for spring and summer, whether it be romantic white, modern white or a bit of both. Bear in mind that a romantic white dress is not just suitable for weddings anymore. For the spring and summer season think old-time innocence. Think petticoats from days gone by, skirts, embroidered smock tops and pretty bow sashes. Modern white on the other hand is clean and cool and ultra feminine elegance. Could you ask for anything more?

Dresses and gowns
For fancy events think volume when it comes to gowns. Sumptuous gathering and clever layering serve to create playful new shapes that contain an air of ladylike refinement for the romantic in all of us. For those steamy summer nights look for evening dresses that are basic and oh so effortless, such as ones that are high waisted, full-length and flowing. Remember that it is all in the details so buy dresses that include bows, ribbons and ruffles.

Satin as romantic material
Satin is all the rage for the romantic spring and summer season and the good news is that it is not just nighttime wear anymore. Wear this luxurious material anytime. Satin pieces that are hot include satin bombers, evening tops and cargo pants. Satin cargoes look best when paired with a mesh singlet and funky jacket.

Shoes are the best
What can be said about shoes? Shoes are wonderful. Carrie Bradshaw, the shoe obsessed writer from Sex and the City would be most impressed with the spring and summer lineup of shoe styles. Go from one extreme shoe style to another and still fit in. Wear super flat or super stiletto. Alternate between the two for both a sense of variety and fun. The best shoes for spring and summer daytime wear are ballet style flats in pinks, whites and beige while stilettos are the acclaimed shoes for hot summer outings and nights on the town. The peep toe stiletto looks totally amazing with the 1950s inspired polka dot look, while the closed toe stilettos look incredibly sexy when paired with your 1980s inspired micro mini dress (if you dare that is). So many options to choose from in footwear this season. Go for feminine bejeweled flats or towering wedges (yes wedges are still very hot), but most importantly, go for whatever your heart desires in footwear.

Another must have for the spring and summer season in footwear is gold and silver metallic shoes. These shoes look stunning in strappy or peep toe stiletto styles. Now wearing your fabulous shoes, go dance the night away girlfriend!

Hair is where it is at
The biggest hair trend for the spring and summer season is a very simple and surprisingly obvious one- it is the look of freshly washed hair. It is the sleekness and the shine of the just washed look that is most desirable, especially with the sun shining down on it and giving it even more of a beautiful glow. Spring and summer hair should not only be freshly washed but it should also be full of volume and body. If your hair does not naturally have lots of volume (plenty of women have this hair problem) then do not despair, as there are plenty of volumizing products on the market to choose from. Cat from Redken is a winner as is Aussie Mega with the Real Volume shampoo, conditioner and assorted styling products. Sunsilks Anti-Flat products are new but are making the grade as well.

A little bit of unruly curls is okay (some people like to refer to them as wayward curls) but if you do not have naturally curly or wavy hair, straight locks are still in style as well. For those romantic ladies who have long, flowing manes the old standby is still, well the old standby, which means the ponytail. For days when you do not know what to do with your hair, go for a ponytail but set it high on the crown and if you are so inclined, for an extra bit of drama tease the front ever so slightly.

Bags are bigger and better than ever
Never underestimate the importance of accessories, especially the most essential one which is the handbag. This spring and summer season you do not need to try to fit all of your necessities into a teeny tinny bag because big bags are in. Put away the micro style bags and look to big bags that come in plenty of varieties with the world-trotting trend leaning towards safari, bohemian luxe and holiday related themes. Hobo bags are fashionable and in for spring and summer as well. For example Chloe makes an impressive looking bag. The Chloe leather Paddington bag is considered to be the it handbag for the steamy season. The Burberry Prorsum bag gives a more casual bohemian luxe feel as it features two pockets and extra long straps for comfort and convenience.

Three other big name companies that specialize in hobo bags this season are Anthropologie, Coach and Urban Outfitters. Of course do not discount the tote bag by any means. The tote bag is still around and is still as hot as ever for all casual occasions. This spring and summer season look for tote bags that feature floral patterns which is a trend worth watching for. The company American Eagle makes a fantastic tote bag.

Protect your head with a fashionable summer hat
Shield your eyes from harmful rays with a floppy hat, and go as wide-brimmed as you care to. Or perhaps you will prefer a hat that is neat and short. Both styles are fashionable and are fitting for the spring and summer season ahead. Some patterns to seriously consider investing in include tropical floral, or cloche styles. In case you are not aware of what a cloche style hat is, it is a soft style of hat from the 1920s that was made from a hood of chiffon or handkerchief felt and was small and close fitting and featured a deep rounded crown on it and a very narrow brim. Other excellent hat choices include pop art floral, printed cotton, optic prints (swirls, shapes or geometric curves) and molded knits.

Other fashion points to consider for the spring and summer season
-The nautical look is an excellent one for spring and summer casual wear. For this look think braiding, buttons and sailor inspired stripes.
-Knitwear is an in look for the warmer months. Knits take on a strong presence in crayon-like zigzags and regatta stripes. Twin sets are a modern approach to knits and provide a breezy not to mention sexy look.
-If you are of the bolder more daring kind of personality and you like to stand out in a crowd instead of blend in, think abstract in the form of clashing colors, geometric graphics and batiq prints. In this instance, bolder is most definitely better. Wear this look with confidence and vitality because if you cannot then skip it all together.
-Neutrals are always winners and this spring and summer season they are the answer to sexy, grown up chic. Get acquainted with the new neutrals which includes anything from soft taupe to the palest shade of pink and of course the color shades classified as nudes.
-What can be said about jewelry for the seasons of spring and summer? Jewelry is wild, unruly and untamed. For the hotter months of the year jewelry is ethnic inspired as well as crafty and native. It is also so much fun to wear. The pieces to look for include such items as chunky wooden charms, raffia curios and juicy-hued enamels. Spring and season take you back to nature and back to the forest as jewelry is all about wood this season.

Fashion trends change so rapidly that it is not always an easy task to keep up with them. The secret to understanding fashion is in finding a look that suits you and your body type best. Dress for yourself and not for others and seek to be comfortable and confident with what you are wearing. Pick out pieces that you like instead of going overboard on an entire look. Choose the appropriate key pieces for you and your body while at the same time covering up your imperfections. Always keep in mind that less is more. And whatever you do, do not take yourself or fashion too seriously, as it really is supposed to be about having fun and enjoying life to the fullest. If you are watching your budget closely then realize you can still be in fashion no matter what season of the year it is. Simply buy a few items that you can easily afford and mix and match them well. The outfits of last season for example can get a tremendous boost from adding a stylish pair of shoes from the new season and a piece of jewelry and then you are done! Fashion is about being savvy about how things look and not about who has the most money at their disposal.

Now without further ado, gather your best pals together and go do some shopping and then get out and enjoy the spring and summer sunshine with your new wardrobe in place. You have to love that girlfriend!