Shot of colour for spring is all your family needs

By Joanne Sasvari, Canwest News ServiceMarch 14, 2009

From: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Life/Shot+colour+spring+your+family+needs/1389692/story.html

When it comes to fashion, instead of thinking "must-have" this spring, you might be thinking, "Must I?"

Judging by dismal retail reports, you're not alone. Sales are down just about everywhere. Instead of shopping at the mall, we're making do with what's already in our closets, organizing clothes swaps and even learning how to sew a garment.

We are at last starting to pay attention to Gail Vaz-Oxlade, host of Slice TV's Til Debt Do Us Part, when she says, "You have to distinguish between your needs and your wants. You don't need a clothing budget, except for your children."

Still, it is the season of renewal, and it's only natural to want something fresh and fun to wear. Luckily for your shrinking fashion dollar, updating your look has never been easier -- and it needn't be expensive.

It could be as simple as injecting a shot of colour into your wardrobe.

For men, women, teens and children, colour is the big story everywhere. And by colour, we mean every colour on the wheel, especially what Rita Lee, vice-president of merchandising for Melanie Lyne stores, calls "all these beautiful happy colours," including vivid blues, bright pinks and hot citrus hues.

And don't think you have to stick with a single colour; prints are back in almost every conceivable pattern including florals, abstracts, geometrics, stripes and python.

"Colour is going to be a big thing, and the easiest way of achieving that is in a top," Lee says. "Just to add a new top, I don't think it's going to break your budget."

Even hard-to-please, trend-conscious teenagers will love the selection out there right now, which includes everything from T-shirts to cardigans, boyfriend shirts, bow-tied blouses, flowing kimono tops and billowy blousons.

"This is a good season to invest in a few pleated silk or satin novelty tops," says Tara Wickwire, Gap Inc. spokesperson.

"Architectural detailing is a big trend for the season, yet modern at the same time."

The really good news is that, aside from all those bright, trendy tops, fashion for the foreseeable future is all about timeless classics in basic neutrals.

The pieces your family should have include trench coats, safari jackets, blazers, khakis, jeans; and just for the girls, cropped pants, ballet flats, slim skirts and wide-legged trousers. If you're missing any of these pieces, this is a good time to stock up, as they will work for seasons to come -- and chances are they're marked down right now.

As we move into spring, you can keep things up to date by starting with a base of last season's black and charcoal pieces "then transition into the lighter shades of sand, grey and white," Lee says. "It gives you lots of options and you can stretch your fashion dollar a lot more than you can imagine."

For summer, white is the freshest neutral in everything from denim to dresses. And if there is one staple everyone needs, it's a white shirt.

"The white shirt works 24/7," says stylist Adrienne Shoom of Joe Fresh Style. "On its own or under a jacket or cardigan, a crisp white shirt always looks modern."

Another essential classic is the cardigan, especially in the slouchy boyfriend style, for both men and women.

"The cardigan is a spring must-have," Shoom says. "It's the perfect layering piece. Throw it on over a day dress or wear it belted with your favourite pair of jeans."

For girls and women, this spring is all about the dress, whether it's a bright little T-shirt dress, a flowing maxi or a fitted party frock.

"A dress is very easy dressing, especially in hotter weather," Lee says.

These straightforward pieces create the perfect backdrop for the season's stellar selection of accessories.

Here again, it's all about colour, "whether in jewelry, in handbags, scarves or wraps," says Melanie Lyne's accessory buyer, Anita Ormos.

Instant updates include "clutches and satchels in vivid brights and cool neutrals," as well as oversized sunglasses and statement-making jewelry such as large hoops or shoulder duster earrings, bold pendants, bib or chunky bead necklaces, and stacks of bangles and bracelets.

"The more the better," Ormos says.

While obvious excess is out, a really killer signature piece can make any outfit. You might even want to invest a bit more money in a unique work of art, like the gorgeous handmade pieces by Vancouver design company Lemon Park, which incorporates chunky beads and semi-precious stones in their stunning Rocks line.

"You can wear one of the pieces with an elegant evening outfit, which is the obvious choice, but they also make a T-shirt and a pair of favourite old jeans look stunning," says Lemon Park designer Tania Gleave.

A great accessory, a great top, a signature piece of fashion jewelry -- so simple, yet not at all basic.

As style mavens the world over have always known, the only true "must-have" is your own personal sense of style.

10 WISE WAYS TO SPEND FASHION DOLLAR

If you and your family want to be fashionable without being frivolous, the best way to do that is to build a base of classics, then punch them up with bright colours and dramatic accessories.

FOR EVERYONE:

- 1. Belted trench coat

- 2. "Cool" neutral basics in black, grey or sand

- 3. Cardigan for layering

- 4. Great-fitting pants in black, grey, khaki or white

- 5. White shirt, jeans, jacket, dress or accessories

- 6. Colourful accessories (scarf, bag, ballet flats for her; ties, sneakers and pocket squares for him)

- 7. Brightly coloured tops

JUST FOR HER:

- 8. Top or dress in a fun print

- 9. Oversized square sunglasses

- 10. Fashion jewelry such as giant hoop earrings or chunky necklaces