in case you missed the runways in september....

for those, like me, who are uber bored with winter clothing, fear not!  a recent shopping trip {assignment} brightened my spirits as we look forward to the hope of melted snow and higher mercury.  while neutrals took over the fall runways, spring and resort lines are crescendo-ing into a warmer season on new york’s fifth avenue.  put away your heavy skirts, full coats, and insulated boots.  spring is about to have you singing a lighter tune.

white, tan, brown, and—a NY favorite—black, are not absent from 2011’s spring collections, they’re just the backup singers to a new and exotic symphony of color.  j.crew’s forte was neon oranges, yellows, and pinks, with support from a warm range of pastels.  h+m‘s floorset boasted a cacophony of different palettes, but when broken down, it was a similar story of tropical blues, oranges, and yellows, soft and sweet pastels of peach, pink, and grey.  chanel kept to the sweet, classical spring pastels as a fresh alternative to winter’s bluesy vibes, while versace bluntly opened with the shrillest of citrus yellows, oranges, and greens with stark white.

coming down off the color high, the prints and patterns are less dominant and mostly classic.  from the expected florals at h+m, to the unsurprising stripes and polkadots of j.crew, it seems print is more of the harmony for this season’s knits.  even if few of the observed prints aren't particularly innovative, the nautical stripes at j.crew are eye-catching as they vary in width from thin to thick; and the classic blue, though present, is enlivened with fresh colors.  their wovens lay-low with glen plaids and pinstripes for trousers, but shine with gingham and tartan plaids on shirts.  h+m offers a few stripes in both knits and wovens, in addition to their slur of printed florals.  chanel also has their own take on florals, and versace integrated an intricate, brand-unique geometric print solo among mostly solids.

an orchestra of silhouettes covers the entire spectrum of femininity.  vociferous attention to curves can be found in abundance at h+m and versace, while a softer medly of a-line, classic straight, and flounce styles are mostly the selection at j.crew and chanel.  the more classic styles are kept simple in fine knits, mostly solid or heathered, at j.crew, and chunky boucle at chanel.  h+m showcases chunky, open knits in oversize proportions, and versace sticks to jacquards and plain weaves, with a duet of line and shape.

there are so many fresh choices for pulling you off of your couch and into the sonata of spring fashion, but how do you plan your shopping for efficiency?  if you’re shopping bridge or budget, follow the melody of j.crew and h+m, where the casual resort-wear is located in the back of the stores, and the professional and dressier elements are the overture, welcoming you into the store.  if you’re heading for designer, both chanel and versace tempt with new bags and shoes as a prelude for the opus to be found upstairs.  so grab your bag, slip on your shoes, and step with a softer beat into the bright serenade of the spring floorsets, where your black down coat wouldn’t dare hide your newest ensemble.

sourcing:
versace + chanel images--style.com
jcrew.com
hm.com