Trend • Spring Summer 2011 Styles, Fabrics & Colours

This spring and summer you can wrap yourself in beautiful fabrics, in vivid colours or soft neutrals, lace or prints as well as black, white and stripes. Instead of the extreme neon greens and lemon yellows, we now have blue; from deep and dark navys to girly baby blue.

All styles are possible, from festival '70s to a rainbow of colours, from tribal to biker.

Glam wheter it's your turn to wow at the red carpet, a charity fundraiser or just make a big entrance: dress up to the occasion and dazzle them all! Go for a long glamourous dress or, if your a cocktail dress-type, let the LBD behind and go for something detailed, tailhems for example. Nude and blush shades flatter (almost) everyone and the colours look very chic. Blue and scarlet are also big on the runways this season. Of course, a knock-out dress deserves a pair of killer heels; to look gorge and to make your legs look just a little longer.

Elie Saab Spring 2011 • Stéphane Roland Spring Couture 2011

Chanel Spring Couture 2011 • Valentino Spring 2011 Couture

The seventies are back! You can take inspiration from the original hippie festival-goers. Keep your look laid back and loose-fitting. It's the time to let go of your staple denim cut offs and follow the lead that Stella McCartney takes, by floral and fruity prints. Accessorize with some vintage feeling (especially when it comes to the sunnies!).

Derek Lam Spring 2011 • Marc Jacobs Spring 2011

Tory Burch Spring 2011 • Thakoon Spring 2011

Jason Wu Spring 2011 • Marc Jacobs Spring 2011

Biker chic has never evolved enough to become a trend, until now. On a lot of runways, biker inspired garments were spotted. This means: leather jackets, leather pants or even leather dresses. If you don't want to go for a too raw look you can always wear one leather garment and style with a somewhat more 'normal'. For example: leather pants and a lace top or biker boots! Burberry Prorsum is BIG in this trend!

Burberry Prorsum Spring 2011

Burberry Prorsum Spring 2011

Burberry Prorsum Spring 2011

Never wear colours that clash. That is the rule we got told years ago, but now we can't do it enough. Colour blocking is a huge trend on the runway this season. It works because the geometry of the shapes creates a visual that can be used for camouflage or calling attention to the better body parts. Be careful! Because wearing a colour blocked outfit is not as easy as it looks! Some tips.

1. Make sure your colour combinations are right. The colour blocks that work are pink and purple, orange and blue, red and pink, blue and red and green and pink.
2. Don't use the same fabric in your whole outfit. Choose fabrics such as silk and satin to make your look more sophisticated.
3. To be a real colour blocker, a bright pair of jeans is essential. At the moment, they can be found everywhere, from Gucci to Zara. Not a daredevil? Don't colour block but team the bright jeans with a grey top.
4. Another easy way to colour block is wearing garments with vivid coloured stripes which clash. Style them with nude shades.
5. Not into clashing colours? You can still block till you drop! Just wear one vibrant colour from top to bottom. Or just team bright pants with a simple tee. You can also just accessorize with some eye-popping bright accessories. A clutch, shoes, a belt or even earrings can block your look!

Gucci Spring 2011 • Jil Sander Spring 2011

Prada Spring 2011 • Diane von Furstenburg Spring 2011

Ivana Helsinki Spring 2011 • Jil Sander Spring 2011

Although colours were huge on the catwalk, every designer still showed some white in one way or another. Because you just can't go wrong with the traditional white... And the designers know it! So, dress pure and summery and go for the all white look.

Derek Lam Spring 2011 • Calvin Klein Spring 2011

Michael Kors Spring 2011 • Alexander McQueen Spring 2011

The whole sea of blue can be worn this spring and summer. The intense blues are serious business this season. Silks and satins are seen everywhere. A more subtle blue can be combined with black if you want to take it easy first or you can accessorize with blue stuff, like bags or belts.

Roland Mouret Spring 2011 • Jason Wu Spring 2011

Akra Spring 2011 • Diane von Furstenburg Spring 2011

Michael Kors Spring 2011 • Yves Saint Laurent Spring 2011

Creamy naturals and nudes are still big this season. Figure-hugging garments in second skin shades look fresh with a high gloss finish, make you look so feminine and the natural nude shades are an elegant alternative to this season's bolds and brights. Add some interest with different textures: feathery chiffon, tulle or glowy silk.

Gucci Spring 2011 • Stéphane Rolland Summer 2011

Elie Tahari Spring 2011 • Lanvin Spring 2011

Lace is big this season, it is being used as never before. It's popping up everywhere and not only in lingerie and evening wear but also in daily clothing. Not to mention in shoes and bags. In lace you can dress romantic and girly but in an edgy way and not too girly. Lace can be part of a garment or lace can be a garment. For example, you can add a layer of lace over a dress, or you can make a layered lace dress. And so, we come to lace skirts and dresses in a dare to wear style.

Erdem Spring 2011 • Valentino Spring 2011

Isabel Marant Spring Summer 2011 • Alberta Ferretti Spring 2011

The sheer fabrics are back this season, in a very refined style. The material is often used for long skirts and flirty dresses. Sheer garments come in all colours; from red to black, from green to white. A range of tulle, voile and chiffon will be headlining looks this spring. This look works because designers included sheer elements to other fabrics; for eveningwear but also for sportswear. You can wear this look by wearing a sheer layer on top of another piece. This way you won't show too much skin.

BCBG Max Azria Spring 2011 • Alberta Ferretti Spring 2011

Proenza Schouler Spring 2011 • Chloe Spring 2011

Prints are nothing new, but this season designers give a new spin to the prints. But how do you wear them without looking like you just wrapped yourself in one of your grandmother's curtain? Mix and match them in a trendy way.

Fruits & Florals are a big inspiration for all designers this season. And because of that, we can now treeat ourselves to surprises of oranges, lemons, oranges and beautiful flowers! Let the garden party begin!

Stella McCartney Spring • Akris Spring 2011

Dolce and Gabbana Spring Summer 2011 • Stella McCartney Spring 2011

John Galliano Spring 2011 • Dolce and Gabbana Spring Summer 2011

Stripes aren't going anywhere yet. You can wear anything striped; from tops to shoes and from skirts to bags.  In the '70s, you had horizontal stripes, vertical stripes, dots, frills all combined. Now, that's possible again. Combine all these factors to create a fresh look. For the calmer types, use only one striped garment in your outfit; you'll look very marine-chic!

Isabel Marant Spring 2011 • Max Mara Spring 2011

Moschino Spring 2011 • Fendi Spring 2011

Animal prints are hot this season. From leopard to zebra, everything is possible. Prints in beautiful colours and shades. Mix up dark solid colours with bright animal prints and accessorize gold and big. One of my faves!

Givenchy Spring 2011 • Bluemarine Spring 2011

Bluemarine Spring 2011 • Louis Vuitton Spring 2011

Bluemarine Spring 2011 • Loewe Spring 2011

The tribal print inevitably emerges as we move closer to summer. Designers constantly bring up new trends and this is definitely one of them! Wear them in rich silks and accessorize with rich jewellery and woven bags.

Alexander McQueen Spring 2011 • Proenza Schouler Spring 2011

Oscar de la Renta Spring 2011 • Givenchy Spring 2011

What do you like? Which trend is in your closet already?

xoxo