Spring 2012 Fashion Trends #1 ~ Color Blocking - fashion for faith in four colors

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Spring 2012 Fashion Trends #1 ~ Color Blocking

So, before I depart for Points European, Fashionable Reader, I thought I'd tackle a few of the spring trends. I'm going to attempt to give them to you along with a reinterpretation Retro Rack style.


Here is some of what I've been seeing in this vein on the runways and in fashion spreads.


Here we can see they go daring by pairing two contrasting colors broken up with a bit of black, very eye catching. Or, a second option, with toning down the bright with a pastel and a little extra pop of contrast on the feet. Note the color pairing: bright blue shoes with pale blue bag, bright pink top with pale pink coat, black elsewhere.


And here is a very bright trouser toned down with white and neutrals and a matched bag, or with the pink they show just one major pop of serious eye-searing color. Not for the faint of heart, these looks.



Some retro takes on the brights. All matched yellow swimming costume. Or pair a pink suit with black accessories. Or chose a pretty pattern dress (on trend for spring as well, we will talk patterns in a future entry) and add more bright color with a cardy or blazer.


Some retro brights paired together for the street. A bright purple dress with a pink hat and black accessories, very chic. Or red hair with a pink hat, very daring (from Good Stuff Only by Miss Amelia) with a little nautical inspired top. You don't have to die your hair but could do a take on this with a pink scarf and red hat, for example.

I love the purple in particular: as a fashion forward look and as a retro take and as something suited to the Rack ~ a nice full coverage tailored dress with interesting details, a sensible sized bag, and a hat for shade. Sign me up!


Don't feel strong enough for a whole dress in a bright color? You can just do a crazy shoe and a whole bunch of neutral. Either of these above would look lovely with a little white or black frock. Just be ready for everyone to look at your feet!

So what about you, Fashionable Reader. Will you be giving brights a try this Spring? What's your take?

Here's a cake, because, why not?


"To wear pink and green, red and yellow, together, is to violate very principle of taste."
~ Etiquette for Ladies, c. 1850

Speaking of  pink and green together, A dress worn by Lady Linette in the Finishing School series . . .


1850s Whitaker Auctions

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Extra images and my thoughts on current street fashion and runways show up between blog posts on Retro Rack's Facebook Page.

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