latest inspiration

Perhaps my love for all things French and Free People makes me a bit biased, but I am in love with Free People's January 2011 catalog. It's just gorgeous!

dresses with back details

Silence & Noise
Burnout Chiffon
Open Back Dress

Sparkle & Fade 
 Pointelle Sleeve 
Sweater Dress

I love bateau-neck and scoop-neck dresses with cut-out designs or with a deep-v on the back. I love the way the simplicity of the front almost deceives you into believing that it is an unadorned and basic dress. I love the unexpected drama that the back adds. It's the perfect balance of plain and provocative. However, I find plunging necklines on both sides of the dress to be too busy and borderline tasteless. Also, to avoid too much busy-ness, stick with solid colors or barely noticeable patterns.

late fifties/early sixties dresses

Louis Vuitton Autumn/Fall 2010
(However,  I like this one for Spring.)

Right now, I'm in love with the full-skirted dresses of the late 1950s and early 1960s. I especially love how flattering they are. This pre-miniskirt dress is cinched at the waist and then bells out until just below the knee. I absolutely love the drama a full skirt adds to a dress, and I love the femininity that the curvy-ness adds. For thin girls looking to give the allusion of curves, this will definitely do the trick. Conversely, the full skirt of the dress can help girls whose upper thighs, lower tummy, and derrière are problem areas by skimming over them instead of clinging like a second skin. "Look to Louis Vuitton and Prada who both put ladylike full skirts on their runways for the Fall 2010 season, particularly in heavier fabrics like wool blends. For Spring 2011 look to bright, fresh colours ans pastels, and prints like florals or stripes," writes Tania Braukamper on Fashionising.com.

Louis Vuitton Autumn/Fall 2010

incorporating color

Lauren Manoogian Cyan/Sienna/Black Pattern Bangle, Urban Outfitters

Though change is difficult and is not usually embraced with open arms, it is inevitable.  So, instead of running away screaming from the Spring 2011 palette of bright, bold colors- the exact opposite of Fall's muted palette- for as long as possible, slowly incorporate it into your wardrobe.

Reef Stone Necklace, Free People

Right now the emphasis is on wearing pieces with clean lines, muted colors, and pairing pieces with different textures, for Spring, it will still be on clean lines, but instead of using different textures to spice things up, bright colors, pardon the cliché, will be the new black.

Henna Print Scarf, Free People

Start incorporating bright colors into your wardrobe now by wearing a few bright accessoires like a turquoise pendant, a brightly colored cuff, or a patterned scarf of mostly muted colors with a splash of a bright color. The closer we get to the Spring 2011 season, the more boldly-colored pieces your should wear.

tail hems

loosely fitted dress with tail hem, fashionising.com

One up-and-coming trend for Spring 2011 is dresses and skirts with a tail hem a.k.a a dress or skirt that is shorter in the front and longer in the back. "These hems fill the void between mini and midi; or between midi and maxi. They cover, yet they expose.  And they're a simple way to freshen up your wardrobe with a new type of cut," states Tania Braukämper of fashionising.com.

structured dress with tail hem, fashionising.com

Dresses with tail hems come in a variety of styles, from structured to loosely fitted. Choose accessoires that fit the motif of the dress you pick. If you choose a more structured dress, choose accessoires that are also structured and conservative in style and similar or complimentary colors to your dress; if you choose a more loosely fitted dress, experiment with accessoires with fringes and different textures, but as with more structured dresses, choose similar or complimentary colors.

animal prints

LOOKBOOK.nu

Like velvet and feather, animal prints have the potential to be either in vogue or a catastrophe. To avoid looking like a Vegas show girl gone terribly wrong, wear classic, simple pieces with conservative lines such blouses, trench coats, or mid-thigh to knee length skirts. Avoid anything too revealing as that too leads to Vegas show girl faux pas.

LOOKBOOK.nu

Another faux pas to avoid is covering yourself head-to-toe in an animal print; I have nothing clever to compare this to, it's just overpowering and bizarre. Instead, limit your ensemble to either one main animal print piece or to a few animal print accents(cheetah pumps, a skinny belt with an animal print, an animal print scarf, etc) to an ensemble composed of neutral pieces. Wear animal print pieces with denim, cotton, and other gender-neutral fabrics in neutral colors and very light and very dark blues. Shy away from ultra-feminine fabrics as they will make your outfit too busy.

high-waisted flared jeans/bell bottoms

fashionising.com

The 2010 Fall/Winter and 2011 Spring seasons are ushering in an old 1970s favorite: the high-waisted flared jean. "...the high waist and wide flare are both flattering and comfortable. I think the flared style is a refreshing change from the dominance of the skinny jeans," states Maddison Rothery, and I certainly agree. The revival of 1970s fashion in general has been a fresh change from the bold, overpowering 1980s theme.

LOOKBOOK.nu

When shopping for bell bottoms, avoid anything that goes anywhere near the hips; choose only high-waisted bell bottoms. A high-waisted cut accentuates the natural waist (the smallest part of your torso) by drawing attention to it, and the flared cut of bell bottoms draws attention away from the thighs by grazing over them and flaring out, where skinny jeans make it impossible to disguise any imperfection by being skin tight all over.

Pair bell bottoms with flowing blouses, tucked in, with intricate detailing, leather belts, sweaters with Native American inspired patterns, and of course, heels.