Calling all beach bums! 

I've been drawn to the sand and the ocean ever since I grew up on the coast of Maryland. 

When I was little, I strived to be Kate Bosworth in Blue Crush and had an obsession with Bethany Hamilton's book Soul Surfer, which I later used to write my 7th grade biographical research paper.

Although I have a surf board, it hasn't seen the light of day or touched the water more than 5 times. 

(This summer it's time to fix that!)

Browsing through Fashionista.com for my latest fashion news I was pleasantly surprised that I found something that takes me back to my roots. The dark colors of New York City make me stand out in a sea of black as this Eastern Shore girl rocks nothing but Billabong, Roxy and Volcom.

Nike 6.0 filmed an all-women surf movie called Leave A Message, which will be released on May 24.

http://fashionista.com/2011/04/beach-beauty-get-inspired-by-nike-6-0s-new-surfer-girl-film/

Here's to Summer - Sunkissed skin, bikinis, and a whole lot of adventures!

#9 New Fashion Show Formats

Lights, Music, Runway, Clothing, Models, GO! 

Get ready to strut your stuff! 

Some designers are straying away from a traditional runway show format to show off their designs for the upcoming seasons.

4-D:

Ralph Lauren is always pushing the boundaries and maintaining his spot as one of the most successful and classic fashion designers of our time. In the Fall, his “4-D” light show projected onto the façade of the new flagship store on Madison Avenue. To make it 4-D they sprayed the air with a Ralph Lauren fragrance. Just the touch!

http://4d.ralphlauren.com/ 

Multimedia format:

 Yves Saint Laurent chose to showcase their Men's Fall/Winter 2008-2009 Collection like a music video shown on an LCD screen.

  

http://www.ysl.com/

Chanel has a multimedia site featuring the Chanel Contemporary Art Container, a mobile exhibition space, which tours different cities.  

http://www.chanel-mobileart.com/

Still Models: 

Just last week Calvin Klein collaborated with architect Jürgen Mayer H to present his Summer 2011 Collection in Berlin, Germany. Instead of strutting their stuff down a catwalk, the models posed for more than 2 hours in the same position showing off Klein's collection, and Mayer's architectural masterpiece. 

http://maisonchaplin.blogspot.com/2010/07/calvin-klein-collaborates-with-jurgen.html

&

http://www.wallpaper.com/fashion/calvin-klein-collaborates-with-juumlrgen-mayer-h/4721 

Runway shows are elegant and have a sophisticated status of their own. 

But what approach would you take if you were debuting your new collection?

The possibilities are endless. :)

#8 Look Books

Mirror, Mirror on the wall - Who's the trendiest of them all?

Ever wanted a complete book filled with pictures of the hottest collections of the season.

Oh how easy it would be to have a style Bible and handbook laid out in front of us 

giving us a preview of the best of the best looks. 

Ahhh - Sounds like Heaven.

Have no fear, everyone's favorite low priced & trendy store is here!

H&M has a video look book of the hottest trends for their Spring/Summer 2011 lines.

http://www.hm.com/us/

But a lot of work goes in to these look books! 

Affinitas Intimates shows us the hard work that goes into getting the oh-so-glamorous product.

http://www.affinitasintimates.com/

Take a peak at an online street style lookbook at http://lookbook.nu/new for a little bit of inspiration.

 After all, who doesn't want to turn some heads while walking down 5th Avenue?

#7 Trunk Shows

An alternative to the glitz and glamour of fashion shows is the unique,

personalized experience that guests get during a trunk show.  

These shows present a preview of upcoming merchandise in the designer's new collection.

Flashback to Flash-Forward some taped trunk shows I have found are:

Marc Jacobs' Fall 2008 80's Inspired Collection

2010 Alexander McQueen Trunk Show 

2010 Marchesa Trunk Show

And the most recent - W's Spring 2011 Preview and Trunk Show

#6 Fashion Video

Rebecca Minkoff Fall 2010 Launch Video

Bada Boum!

Fall 2010 has come and gone but that doesn't 

mean that the creative efforts of the Rebecca Minkoff team has been forgotten! 

One of my favorite ways for a designer to show a new collection is through storytelling.

This flirtatious presentation emphasizes the femininity of short skirts, sexy tailored blazers and simple button downs - all timeless looks that the Rebecca Minkoff team has successfully carried on.

http://rebeccaminkoff.com/

#5 Color Trends

"The whole world, as we experience it visually, comes to us through the mystic realm of color."- Hans Hofmann

The first thing we notice when we look at something - Color ! 

It's no surprise that for the Spring 2012 season splashes of color will be seen popping up on the streets.

Stylesight and Fashion Snoops have us covered for upcoming color trends.  

The colors I'm most looking forward to...

Mineral Shades: A blend of gray, tan and beige tones create warm colors 

like nude & oatmeal alongside cool grays like lead.

Bright Pinks: Stylesight predicts that these feminine colors will be creating a surprising combo in menswear. Pink tones include mauve, fuchsia, pale petal, and tickle me pink. 

Purples: My personal fave ... Purple. 

Brights will be slightly toned down to create cool grapes and lavenders for a feminine feel.

Silver: Ready to disco next Spring? 

Silvers, steels and gunmetal will hit the streets in the daytime and nightlife until the break of dawn.

Nudes will have a tint of yellow added to them for a buttery touch. 

Red and orange will be added to the pink tones to create a cool Caribbean coral. 

Soft mints are going to hit the runway to remind busy shoppers that Spring has sprung! 

Purple will turn blue into a soft shade of periwinkle.

But purple can't stray too far from it's roots because grapes will have a strong presence.

Season after season colors change to fit our tastes. Here we can see that light pinks and petal shades of Spring 2011 will quickly turn to magentas and neons for the Fall season and then tone it back down for a refreshing lilac and fuchsia.

The brights purples of this Spring will turn smoky for the Fall season and adapt into light, airy pastel tones.

My closet is full of bright colors. 

Ditch the black, gray and dark greens for a touch of color for the upcoming 2011 and 2012 Spring seasons! 

After all, April showers bring May flowers

 & 

we don't want anyone raining on our parade of new shades!

#4 Reoccuring Colors on the Street

Once upon a time in a far away land called New York City 

fashion took the streets, businesses, and shops by storm!

And this happy ending is all about COLOR! 

On the Street: This Upper West Sider sports a black legging with a loose white tank, 

black blazer, over sized scarf and Louis Vuitton bag. 

Perfect for a chilly, dreary NY day! 

At the Mall: This shopper wears a pair of dark wash jeans, black riding boots, a white button up and a loose scarf. Winter is definitely not going anywhere fast as everyone is still bundling up in neutrals.

In the Office:  In a NY office you can see a dark pair of jeans, black tank top, over sized gray cardigan and a ruby red necklace for the perfect splash of color!

At the Mall: Another mall goer looks like shes ready for Spring

in her light pink scarf, dark purple top, cream cardigan, jeans and black flats. 

The reoccurring theme here in the Big Apple? 

Black, black and more black! 

Classic, timeless, and versatile.

This color will never go out of style and will be seen as the most reoccurring color on the streets for years to come.

#3 Fashion Trend from New York Street

Choo-Choo! All Aboard! 

http://www.thetrainnewyork.com/en 

 This weekend at The Train: International Fashion Trade Show & the NOW Showcase there were plenty of fashion forward buyers, press, and designers.

 http://nowshowcase.com/

I caught them as they walked in the door to see what 

savvy NY Street Style the guests had in store for us!  

The first two guests were wearing Joann Berman - "The Reigning Queen of Reconstruction." 

She has been driving force in the art and fashion sustainable world since the 1970s.

http://www.joannberman.com/

The next guest, sporting her own line showed her signature style off in Titania Inglis. 

http://titaniainglis.com/ 

A key item that all three ladies were wearing --- combat boots! Whether they be feminine with a heel, or flat and edgy, these kicks have taken New York by storm.

No matter who you wear, or how you wear it, street style is all about being yourself! So get out there, be courageous, and take some fashion risks!

#2 Key Item for Spring 2012

With all of the amazing pieces, patterns, themes and colors that Spring 2012 has in store it was hard to narrow my choice for the key item of the season down to just one! 

Fashion, Fashion. Where for art thou Fashion? 

Move over Juliet, there's a new girl in town! 

Always a fan of romantic, flowing chiffons, and pale, soft colored dresses I of course chose a loose fitting dress and top as my key items for Spring 2012. Giving credit where credit is due, Fashion Snoops assisted my decision making.

Soft pastel yellows, mints, blues and pinks will be hitting the streets next Spring. Hopefully with the debut of these romantic tones, 2012 will be the year to prove to us women that chivalry is not dead!

Patterns of feathers, florals, and washed watercolors will be printed on the fabulous flowing fabrics of my chosen dress and top as designers and factories dye, cut, sew, and create a new look for the Spring 2012 season! 

As romantic as a picnic on a warm Spring day, the dress and top that I chose as a key item to have can be shown off while you carry your picnic basket over the hill and down into the meadow on a sunny afternoon. 

 After just spending $110 on clothes today, I have moved on from the ever so young at heart sickness - "Bieber fever" - to a dangerous and even more deadly shopping fever. It's February and apparel for my favorite season is hanging on the racks. Now thats a little excessive ladies. Keep yourself from breaking the bank and your Romeo from going ballistic over the credit card bill...

Until Spring 2012 comes along!

In romantic chiffons and sexy charmeuse fabrics your Romeo will be softly wooing you below your balcony in no time! "But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!" So get prepared for Spring 2012 Juliet because Prince Charming will be approaching your castle any minute now. ;)

#1 Fashion Blogs from the Web

These four blogs are my daily addiction! 

I check them everyday for inspiration, fashion news and celeb entertainment.

The Blonde Salad 

Italian fashion diva Chiara Ferragni is my go-to girl for daily outfit inspiration! Her Italian flare and constant traveling gives followers a taste of Europe's fresh fashion sense. Easily relatable, Chiara shows daily pictures of her outfits, family, friends, boyfriend [ who is pretty easy on the eyes ;-) ] and everyday life. Definitely a must see blog if I do say so myself! 

http://www.theblondesalad.com/

The Cut

New York Magazine's fashion blog, The Cut, always keeps me up to date on the most recent industry news. A daily addiction, I can't help but check for the next scandal, a new collection, or even why Kim Kardashian is upset about being a bit too exposed in a W "spread" . . . pun intended !  

http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/

Refinery 29 

From fashion trends and street style to drinking, dining and culture Refinery 29 spills on it all (but hopefully not on my new Elizabeth and James dress)! Great online deals, store guides, trend watching, music, parties and hot new products can all be found in one place! Can you stay super stylish this season? Hope you're up for it! Refinery 29 will keep you up to date.

http://www.refinery29.com/

The Zoe Report

A little indulgence never hurt anyone (err..maybe just our credit cards). Stylist for the celebs, and fashionista herself, this new mommy-to-be sure does know how to dress in the line of luxury. Rachel's accessory, apparel, beauty and lifestyle picks flaunt themselves right off of our Mac screens and into our NYC apartments. These tight Chloe leather pants, this fiery red Marchesa dress and these amazzzing Christian Louboutin Pignalli Point Toe Pumps are causing that leftover Christmas money to burn a hole in my pocket.