Fashion Trend: Bold Bright and Bohemian Spring 2009

Spring 2009 collections, showing a clear change from the old, tired and sad, and turning to an era of boldness.

While girls crave cheap and easy ways to obtain those “I’m-in” looks, some local places offers reasonable refuge from the brand names’ “I’m-out” prices:

“Virginia ,Escalante, the store's owner and buyer, buys things from many different lines, including some high-end designer lines, vintage lines and many costume jewelry lines. She looks for things unusual that people will not find in department stores,” Stafford said.

Angela Missoni re-interpreted the rough and undefined look of large chains, and made a surprise run by molding the blazing metal into a mysterious message from another planet. The bold combination of weird, alien geometric shapes seems to convey an existence of another world, a lost civilization — this spring is no longer a synonym for shallow and mundane. Missoni has instilled her meditation into mysteries.

“How am I ever going to wear that out?” Luckily, the otherworldly theme in Missoni is represented in many charm necklaces with a lot less out-crying runway-ness.

A large, vintage, choker-length necklace with a chunky pendant, available for $110 at Accents Plus, seems to have predicted years ago the mysterious style encoded in these necklaces.

For Marc Jacobs this season, a bangle going solo is worse than wearing nothing on your wrist. Bold bangles must be escorted by thin ones; the lustrous shine of enamels makes it impossible to ignore you. Pair a big bangle with two chic, thin and enameled ones and tell the world that after enduring a bleak, somber winter, your spring will be bold and strong.

Creative Director Christopher Bailey for Burberry, never fails to strike us with surprises, and this season is no exception. A large necklace actually made up of cerise rouge boxes complements a deep burgundy bangle — it reminds any girl of her secret, a crazy dream of a whole room full of beautiful eye shadows, blushes and powders.

The core of this Burberry design is a “constellation” of pendants so real-life as if non-pendant-like, like the train of cerise rouge compacts in this look. Recreate Bailey’s marvelous imagination by linking your “non-pendants” on a single cord. Feel free to branch out your possibilities a thousand miles and make a necklace out of anything, even belt buckles. Ask yourself: “Does it look like a pendant to me?” If yes, put it down; if no, put that on.

To start this look, a simple, black cord is the basis. Major online shopping sites like amazon.com offer cords like this. New possibilities inspired by Burberry: wind a funky belt around your neck and place the buckle in front of your chest. That makes a nouveau “chain of no-chain” that vows to catch people’s eyes.

Consuela Castiglioni blew a storm to her fashion label, Marni, with large chain with pigment blue and white seashell — in with the exaggeration, but out with the gaudiness. Elegant with strength, bold with subtlety — who would have thought it?

Bohemian ethnic-print dresses are a strong reflection of Kenzo by Johnny Was. Lovers of this master will gasp with joy.

Also, boost your boldness with something you once thought useless. Got a large ring chain from ages ago that you hate now? Chain it to your favorite new purse like an Hermes scarf and experiment with the different ways you wind and link it — but don’t go with more than two chains on a same purse.

Other Musts for Spring 2009:

1. Anything white – From handbags and dresses to sandals and sunglasses.

2. Cardigan – Go classic or check out new shape options like a buttonless cardi-wrap.

3. Peasant top – Embroidered and embellished or soft and sheer.

4. Novelty skirt – Count on color and interesting fabrics to lead the way. Long and tiered or short and sassy, the skirt is back and better than ever.

5. Ruffled blouse – Pair it with jeans or a pair of shorts for a modern look.

6. Denim – Longer lengths, crops, skirts and shorts continue to be in style. White denim, vintage washes and deconstruction are also trendy this season.

7. Maxi dress – Long and lush, fun and flirtatious featuring solids, floral prints and pasley.

8. Spring scarf – Wrap it, tie it or drape it. Fringe, discreet prints, a kaleidoscope of colors, tie-dye patterns and more make the scarf a delectable year-round accessory.

9. Statement necklace – Choose bold, exotic and colorful add-ons to frame the face. Crafty, one-of-a-kind strands of oversized beads and interesting metal elements are just a few options.

10. Tribal sandals – Rustic or refined; either way, capture an ethnic flair with details like beads, fringe and embroidery.

Neiman Marcus’ Fashion Director Ken Downing released the easiest ways to welcome the new season with these top nine trends for spring:

1) Pink: In every shade, it’s the most powerful color in fashion. Wear it with coral for a combination that says “Spring 2009.” Now I heard it was yellow, then purple (I see purple in the stores)

2) One-Shoulder Dressing: Shoulders bared themselves on every catwalk, from Paris to New York City.... and maybe yet a one-shoulder maxi dress so we can cover all the bases.

3) Snakeskin Accessories: Be it a shoe or a handbag, the real deal or a print – reptilian motifs are a must. Skakeskin, Tribal...ok we get it.

4) Statement Shoes: Create excitement from head to toe in sky-high stilettos and sandals with subtle aggression. sky high stiletto tribal shoes?

5) Ruffles: These feminine flourishes bring romanticism to skirts, tops and dresses. Something they agree on. :)

6) Carryalls: A place for everything, and everything its place! Unstructured handbags are the right pairing for a free-spirited look......maybe in White perhaps?

7) Colorful Cardigans: Considered the new jacket, this wardrobe essential adds polish to dresses and separates. Has this anything to do with Michelle Obama wearing cardigans??

8) Graphics: It’s fashion geometry you can understand. Vivid, optic prints are everywhere. UMMM...maybe a scarf.

9) Bold Jewelry: Whether turquoise stones or pink and coral gems – these statement-makers complement bring colors and patterns. Another thing they agree on...amazing.

It can be confusing, every day someone will say something different!