Community Corner
Resort Wear: Our Prelude To Spring
Get ready to be bold. Resort wear is not for the wall flower.
Accessories buyer for Neiman Marcus, Roopa Patel, says resort wear is simply a prelude to spring. The temperature may be dipping below our much loved perfect 72 degrees in San Diego these days, but the world of fashion is like a fast moving train – it stays on track and moves forward.
Looking toward the fashion of coming months, the future is bright and colors are brighter. Neon pinks, acid greens, yellows and electric blues can be seen from head to toe. Color blocking means literally blocks of bold colors and includes graphic blacks and whites. These vibrant and bold statement pieces will be seen on shoes, belts, bags and clothing.
“Designers know women already have staples. A fashionista needs something to feel emotional about, otherwise, why is she buying? Designers give something to look toward,” Patel says.
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A newer piece is the “day” clutch. It’s over-sized and multi-functional. And according to Neiman Marcus clothing buyer, Ken Downing, yellow is the new neutral.
New York Fashion Week 2012 gave us lots of old-school girly looks with pleats and peplums. Designer Tracy Reese brought us back to the 1920’s with her charming Harlem World line and Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B line offered cutting-edge resort wear a la ethnic-chic.
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San Diego stylist Mahjuba Levine tells her clients that the must-have color for resort 2012 are the vibrant shade of tangerine.
“Seen on the runway from such designers as Givenchy, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Stella McCartney. And the good news is this color looks great on almost every skin tone”, Levine says.
La Jolla boutique owner , says what makes the bright colors of the coming season so fantastic is their lux fabrication—making them look less childlike and more classically stunning.
“We’re going to see a lot of abstract prints, wide-leg pants, metallic’s and the continuation of exotics (both in prints and skin). I’ve also seen a lot of nautical prints – very Brigitte Bardot on the beach. The other really beautiful style of peek-a-boo and off-center slits on maxi dresses will be very big,” Gambucci says.
One look worth the investment, according to Neiman-Marcus, is a super white pantsuit.
La Jolla, sales stylist Ellie Sienkiewicz says they’re seeing lots of lace and soft watercolor style feminine prints by Cynthia Vincent’s line Twelfth St line. Soon the store will be carrying dresses in soft colors and flowy linen tops by designer Trina Turk—all new for spring.
Capricorn boutique owner Lisa Ovadia says the store is already showing lots of light bright colors, crochet, and lace. Long hemlines are still in, but also short dresses with long sleeves; and tons of shorts. She says to look for designer Sam & Lavi, who brings lots of little knit sweaters for layering.
It seems the bottom line on Resort Wear and Spring 2012, is anything goes as long as you keep things bright. Whether you take the leap into a yellow dress or play it safe with a great pop of color and a neon pink belt, color is the new black. It’s the go-to staple that everyone needs to have.
