Spring Trends of 2008

Okay, I admit that I have been putting off this post for awhile now. Mainly because trend posts like these take hours to put up (for me, at least), although they are beneficial for those who love fashion. Well, here they are! The greatest spring trends...


COLORS
Of course, every season brings tons of fresh new colors, and spring this year will not disappoint any neon enthusiasts (come on, you know who you are!). You don't have to go all-out in a neon pink trench coat or some crazy pants in electric blue if you don't want to, but play around with bright and fun colors such as canary yellow, tomato red, and bright violet. Nonetheless, these eye-popping colors in soft, floaty fabrics and meticulously simple designs are a breath of fresh air from the chunky knits and dull colors the beginning of fall brought upon us. Designers (even Ralph Lauren!) have been lighting up the runways with fabulous styles and colors, so you definitely need to play around with this trend. Above: Versace dress.

TRIBAL
For some reason, I am totally digging this trend. It's fresh and new, yet you still get tons of cultural and ethnic flavors that have been around forever when you wear a fab little safari-inspired dress. It's a great way to go global, without leaving home. Plenty of designers (like DKNY, Diane von Furstenberg, Just Cavalli, Christian Lacroix, and so many more) are offering up great clothes with tribal prints, so you have plenty of opportunities to snag one -- whether or not you are paying full designer label prices. Above: Oscar de la Renta dress.

FLORALS
Of course, how typical. How could we survive one single spring without our precious rose clutches and Gucci's technologically-generated blooms? But, seriously, the flowers of 2008 won't have you yawning -- everything was on the runways this year, from fierce, techno blossoms to artsy, reed-inspired skirts. Need some garden inspiration yourself? Check out Thakoon's pastel creations or Aquascutum's simple, fresh prints in clean colors and cuts. Above: Missoni dress.

SHEER LAYERS
Yeah, time to renew your gym membership if you want to rock this trend and you're feeling a little out of shape. Simple, solid, and -- um -- mini clothes in all various colors appear under layers of floaty, pastel-colored or white sheer fabric and chiffon. This trend is refreshing and comfortable. But, if you're like me, you may think it's a little strange and aren't ready to bear too much skin, so try a gorgeous Betsy & Adam party dress from Nordstrom's with a sheer overlay and lace inset or a chic Development smock top from Net-A-Porter with a lace inset. Above: J. Mendel dress.

THE SUIT GETS A MAKEOVER
The perfect way to mix masculine and feminine? Putting a flirty touch on the classic suit. This season, designers such as Karl Lagerfeld were more focused on bringing a glam-rock vibe to the two-piece look, while Marios Schwab and Todd Lynn were playing with fitted jackets and body-hugging skirts and pants. Above: Jens Laugesen suit.

BOHEMIAN ELEGANCE
I love bohemian and I love this trend! It's completely perfect for that formal night when you need a gorgeous, floor-length dress. In a way, it ties in a little with the recurring floral trend, because of the floaty fabrics and some of the prints are very paisley. So, this spring, pair a gorgeous bohemian dress in deep purple, cream, or maybe with a touch of green/gold with some elegant gold heels and a gold clutch and you're set for a night out. Even shop around to see if you can find a shirt that'll do the job -- you can wear it to more places, and dress it up (with dark jeans and heels), or dress it down (with leather flip flops and a nice pair of shorts). Above: Roberto Cavalli gown, available at net-a-porter.com.

HIPPIES ARE BACK?!
Well, at least in fashion they are. Don't cringe yet -- everything has been totally modernized (and we can only hope it won't all get out of hand!). Look out for fringe bags and dresses, dashes of tie-dye (please not the tacky dye-an-ugly-shirt-rainbow), and Prada's lilac and teal palette. Also check for pieces that mix both rock and sixties psychedelia from Nina Ricci. Above: a Maurizio Pecoraro ensemble.

IMAGES (top/bottom, left/right): Marcio Madeira; Marcio Madeira; Marcio Madeira; Marcio Madeira; Marcio Madeira; net-a-porter.com; Marcio Madeira