Spring colours are on my mind after seeing the 2013 collections at New York Fashion Week. I’m in the midst of watching the shows at London Fashion Week, and thereafter it’s Paris and Milan. The colour direction is becoming clear and I’m excited about it. There will be lots of variety, just like there is this year. That’s always a good thing because there will be something for everyone. 

Here’s how I see the colours for Spring and Summer 2013 shaping up: 

• Blue is going to be big, from pastel shades and mid tones, to cobalt, French navy and ink blue. 
• If blue is the colour of next season, white is the runner up. All shades of white are matched with every colour and neutral, or worn on its own from head to toe. 
• Pale shades of yellow are mixed with the blue and white. 
• Black and white is strong like it is almost every season. 
• Shades of blush, linen and taupe are mixed with white, black, pastels and brights. 
• Light earth tones make a lovely debut. Think rich, spicy, earth tones diluted with white. 
• Brights like poppy red, fuchsia, citron, lime green, emerald and violet make another great return. 
• Pastel pink, peach, mint and lilac are there, but in smaller doses. 

Check out Pantone’s colour report for Spring 2013 for more on next season’s colours. Pantone has selected ten colours that they think are most important for the season. Of course, they expect there to be many variations on each colour, along with neutrals like white, grey, black and metallics.

How do these colours and their combinations grab you?

You can probably pull together a version of this outfit for Fall right now! It is simple and casual, yet structured and will take you almost anywhere. From Mum on the go, site seeing, traveling, and running errands, to dinner out, shopping, lunch out with friends, date night, or casual Fridays at work. It’s what I call an ageless, no-nonsense outfit that is ready for action. 

Choose any colour palette that tickles your fancy at this time of year.The components of the outfit are as follows:

• Tapered Jeans: Either skinny or straight because those silhouettes work best with fashionable flats. A slim bootcut could also work.
• Blouse: A soft blouse, buttoned right up to the top is on trend, but feel free to unbutton if that’s your preference. Wear it tucked or untucked. Add a belt to tucked blouses to finish off the look. 
• Blazer: A tailored blazer with crisp, clean lines always looks fabulous because it’s structured, dressy, polished and denotes authority. Choose one in a wool blend, tweed, rayon blend, or any fabrication in a solid or pattern that screams “Autumn”. Scrunch the sleeves for a more relaxed look. 
• Fashionable Flats: Slipper flats, flat oxfords, loafers or ballet flats sans socks are the way to go in either a pattern, solid or colour block. 

Add jewelry as desired, or sport a jewelry free look like the model is doing here. Grab a handbag to match and you are done. 

You know the drill. Fine tune these outfit components to suit YOU. Wear a layering tee instead of a blouse if that’s more your thing. Wear heeled booties instead of flats. Leave the sleeves unscrunched. Wear a denim skirt instead of jeans. Wear boyfriend jeans instead of tapered jeans. Sport an oversized clutch with the look, or stick to a large tote or crossbody bag.

Towards the end of last year I posted about the pairing of sequins with plaid and the reaction was mixed. Some found the extreme mixture of dressy and casual components very jarring, while others liked the vibe. I find the clash so over the top that it’s harmonious – much like when crazy patterns are mixed together and they just work. To my eye, the juxtaposition is interesting, fashion forward and fun, so when eBay asked me to create an ensemble from a collection of items that included a sequin top and some short biker booties, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. 

Consider this outfit formula an updated version of the Levis 501, flannel shirt and Dr. Martens or cowboy boots outfit that you wore in the early ’90s. That was my weekend look back then, only I added a rugged belt and tucked in lace shell top under the open lumberjack shirt for a bit of pretty. 

Here are the components of the formula:

• Glitzy Top: I’ve chosen a neutral sequin top, but a glittery solid tank or knitted top with a bit of sparkle will work equally well. 
• Plaid Shirt: I’ve chosen two types of plaid shirt that complement the sequin top. A classic tartan and a more sedate gingham, both of which are denim friendly. If plaid is not your thing, or you can’t get your head around mixing casual checks with glitz, try a denim shirt instead. Leave the shirt open like a jacket, or button it up for more structure, making sure that the glitz shines through. 
• Casual Bottoms: You have many options. From regular blue jeans, denim shorts, denim skirts and boyfriend jeans, to black jeans, grey jeans, burgundy jeans or black ponte knit pants. Tapered jeans are best for tucking into tough boots to showcase their detailing. But bootcuts are stellar if you don’t mind covering up your boots. Just in case the casual bottoms are not making sense to your eye, I’ve also added a black pencil skirt. 
• Tough Boots: I’ve chosen short, flat black biker-inspired boots because short boots and booties or more on-trend than tall boots at the moment. But tall boots, heeled or flat, are a good substitute if that’s your preference. 
• Clutch or Tote: I see an oversized clutch or casual tote with this ensemble more than any other handbag. The clutch is the modern, on-trend option, but the tote is the more practical and predictable one. Keep the bag solid, or add in a pattern for a pattern mixed effect. 

Add jewelry as desired. Throw on some arm candy or a cocktail ring. Add earrings. Or leave it at a watch and eyewear.

The two eBay items in this ensemble are the Alice & Olivia sequin shirt and the Belle by Sigerson motor cycle boots. Note that the links on these items go to eBay product searches and not the individual products.

As with all the formulas, I sow the seed of an idea. The next step is to substitute the items so that they are more to your taste and in line with your style persona. Wear burgundy, brown or taupe boots instead of black boots. Wear a crossbody bag. Try slouchy trousers instead of jeans. Create a lower colour contrast between all the outfit components. Wear lace instead of sequins. 

I’d wear the denim shirt over the sequin top with the black pencil skirt or black skinnies, and the short biker booties. Or I’d create a column of colour with the boyfriend jeans, tuck in the shirt, and add an animal print belt. Last November I was thinking that my lumberjack shirt wearing days were over, but I do still LOVE plaid and I adore the juxtaposition of casual plaid with glitz, so I think that was a bit hasty. It boils down to finding the right plaid shirt to pull together this combination. I’ll keep you posted on my plaid shirt shopping.

Sitting down with a cup of tea and a big stack of September issues has become a bit of a ritual that I look forward to each year. The fashion mags keep getting bigger and bigger, so I’m still working my way through Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, British Marie Claire, Elle, and a pile of Belgian and foreign language publications. I’m enjoying every minute of it. Which made me realize that I have changed. When I was younger, I used to hate having to wade through tons of ads before getting to any editorial content. Now I actually enjoy studying the advertisements too. Of course, their main goal is to promote brands and encourage us to go out and buy the clothes and accessories, but at the same time all these highly stylized outfits and artful vignettes inspire me to really visualize what I want to do with the latest trends.

I have to say that it works. More than once I wanted to put aside my magazine and start playing around in my closet right that instant. For example, take the Nordstrom Chanel ad on pages 118-119 of Vogue. I’ve been smitten with the long structured tunic over narrow trousers look forever, and seeing this monochromatic metallic outfit has made me even more determined to use my black cigarette pants and dark grey dressy trousers to recreate the look this Winter. And then there’s that stunning green suede jacket and animal print skirt on page 610. One of my favourite shades of all time! I don’t have those exact pieces, but I immediately started thinking of news ways to wear my dark teal argyle turtleneck. I’m going to try a ton-sur-ton ensemble by pairing the sweater with my teal midi pencil skirt and black knee-high boots. I also want to wear it with my ink blue slouchy trousers, a cream leather jacket and light-coloured animal print booties. And oh boy, do I have new plans for my old dark green button-down shirt…

I’m curious now: Are you like the old me in that you don’t really fancy all these fashion ads, or do they spark your imagination and make you want to get busy in your wardrobe? Has a specific ad inspired you to come up with new outfit combinations for this Fall, then do tell us all about in the comments.

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