Spring Fashion Trends

With spring finally around the corner (despite the blistering cold), Fashion magazines have released their trend alerts for the new season. 

LouLou has outlined 11 trends fresh off the FashionWeek runway, and of those, I have chosen my personal favorites:

ROMANTIC/BOUDOIR

Feminine, classic, sensual, free-flowing - this style can bring out the inner Romantic in any woman and turn the head of any man. A soft and innocent approach with the use of pinks and nudes, a wonderful combination.

TRIBAL

I am absolutely loving the styles influenced by the TRIBAL motif for this season. Although not necessarily my personal style, I respect any woman who can wear these garments with confidence. The bright colors, mesmerizing patterns and unique shapes are absolutely stunning.

WHITE

Nothing snaps us out of the winter blues like crisp white clothing. The beautiful draped fabric shown above demonstrates how any woman can feel like a goddess by the help of this fashion trend.

FLUORESCENT

The 80s are back! I've always wished I grew up to appreciate the style of the 80s (I was just a child) and now I have a second chance! Bright colors and shapes reminiscent of the glam-rock era have shown themselves on the runway for this season. Be prepared for some bold fashion statements!

SILK

Another trend that reminds us how wonderful it is to be a woman. Sexy silk in a variety of colors and shapes accents a woman's curves. Whether it is free flowing or structured, silk is making a comeback this season.

Bright Eyes for Spring 2011

The eye makeup trend for spring 2011 as seen on runways and throughout the pages of fashion magazines, is BRIGHT, COLORFUL and BOLD. Bright eyes are a sure way to take us out of the winter blues. 

Inspired by Pop Art such as the infamous "Marilyn" by Andy Warhol, makeup for this season is playful and fun, with emphasis on a rainbow of color palettes to match any mood.

In terms of color, my personal favorite has always been blue. By combining dark, midnight blue with aqua, one is able to achieve a beautiful contrast that is guaranteed to turn heads.

The above look can be re-created with the help of HIP Bright Shadow Duo by L'Oreal Paris in Showy. By layering the colors, beginning with the darker color in the crease and lash lines, blending profusely, work in the brighter blue from the lash lines out, creating a diffused effect from darkest to lightest.

Define eyes with black eyeliner and finish with a heavy coat of mascara. My favorites are L'Oreal Lineur Intense in Carbon Black and Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black, also by L'Oreal.

Equally as stunning, pastels and bright yellows can make for interesting eye makeup looks.

With the help of high pigment shadows from Make Up For Ever, this look can easily be recreated. 

Additional colors to explore: GREENS, PURPLES, PINKS... separate palettes or combined together!

Montreal Fashion Week - Anomal Couture

I didn't attend the ANOMAL COUTURE show but thanks to the beauty of UStream, I had the opportunity to witness the fabulous collection.


Inspired by the laws of the jungle, this collection showcases the beautiful blend of classic career woman and inner lioness, waiting to be unleashed. The attention to detail is exquisite and emphasis should be placed on the back of the outfit just as much as the front. There is clearly something special on every part and angle of each outfit. Definitely worth seeing!


Here is just a mere selection of my favorites, among many unique styles:

Montreal Fashion Week - Nadya Toto

The fashionistas were out and about this past week in Montreal. 


I had the honor of attending the opening night at Marché Bonsecours. We assisted both the RUD by RUDSAK and the Nadyo Toto shows.


My personal favorite is NADYA TOTO's dark yet feminine and detailed collection. She managed to take a classic black palette and add details of lace and knits to create a powerful, strong female style. Delicate yet fierce, wearing this collection is guaranteed to bring out the inner goddess in any woman.


Here are some highlights:

Part of the collection also included a version of the styles in white, which proved a more innocent and gentle approach to the fierce fashion statement:

I will definitely be on the look out for this young and talented designer.

To my dearest Uncle

Life has a peculiar way of functioning

It places us in situations that shape our journey

It introduces us to people that influence our being

It ensures that we are exposed to the harsh realities as well as the dreamlike fantasies

Life is often misunderstood

It is mistaken as a destination when it should be referenced as a journey

It makes us forget about the impact of each experience

It instead makes us focus on the end result

Life becomes a fragment of time

It is measured by minutes, hours and days

It is referenced by years and timelines

Instead of by each occurrence and lesson

Life is not patient

It blinds us as we speed through each day, looking only to the next

It will not wait for us to appreciate it

It forces us to realize this too late

Life becomes appreciated when there is less and less of it to enjoy

Life should be a collection of defining moments

Life should be a celebration of experience

Life should be an appreciation of this blessing that we have been given

My dearest uncle Eli: you will be incredibly missed. You were taken from us too soon. It is not fair. 

Please know that you were surrounded by people who loved you and who will continue to love you. You were an inspiration to us all and will forever have an impact on each of us. 

Love you and already miss you.

In the presence of greatness

I had the honor of being in the presence of some of my most favorite, most inspiring works of art. This past summer, I spent some time in the MOMA in NYC - the home of Picasso, Magritte, Dali, Pollack and Warhol. 

With each world I visited, I allowed myself to be immersed by the senses expressed through the artwork. I wanted to get lost in the presence of genius and allow myself to experience at least a fraction of what the artists were attempting to communicate. Here are some of the frames that moved me to tears, for they were works of art I had only seen in history manuals and coffee table books. I never thought I would have the privilege of witnessing the original artwork a mere few feet away.

Picasso - "Girl in a Mirror"

Picasso - "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon"

Dali - "The Persistence of Memory"

Wyeth - "Christina's World"

Pollack

 Another interesting find was the evolution of Picasso, one of my favorite artists:

Jennifer Lopez: Entertainer, Designer—and Now, L’Oréal Spokesmodel

It's official!!!

I LOVE this woman and now, am thrilled that she will be a L'Oreal spokesperson. That means that I get to work on her ads to adapt them for Canada!! I can't wait to get started....

Jennifer Lopez: Entertainer, Designer—and Now, L’Oréal Spokesmodel