Spring is Springing…

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a bargain; but after a few weeks of trawling through endless ‘sale’ racks of tired-looking party-wear and boring woolly jumpers, there are two words which emerge from the faded sequins like the sartorial equivalent of a Phoenix rising from the ashes: New Collection.

The announcement of fresh, new season clothes causes my heart to sing with joy and suddenly, the promise of long, light evenings and dazzling blue skies is within grasp of my pastel-painted fingertips. Since the S/S10 shows last September, anyone with more than a passing interest in fashion will have an idea of what we will be wearing this spring – but actually having the clothes in tangible touching distance is like putting the final piece into the couture jigsaw. Here are my top 3 favourite trends for this year:

New Nudes

No, I don’t mean going out in your birthday suit. ‘New Nudes’ refers to the deliciously fresh and versatile colour palette which includes shades of oyster, beige, blush, cream, stone, fawn, alabaster, taupe… the variations are endless. The beauty of this particular trend is its versatility, as nude shades look just as great on floaty, fairytale frocks as they do on tougher, military-style pieces. Accessories are fabulous in flesh-tones, too, with a shot of nude in the form of a belt or a handbag instantly updating a black outfit. Shades of nude are going to be HUGE – better make friends with the dry cleaner.

Lingerie

This trend refers to undies as outies and the fact that bra tops and big pants seem to be making their way into high street collections as we speak. Probably best not to copy this one directly off the catwalk (unless you’re Lady GaGa or Madonna circa 1988), but the trend can be diluted and integrated into everyday wardrobes. A 50s-style corset top looks fabulous worn under a sharp suit, and vintage-inspired slips can be worn as tops now and dresses in the warmer months. Possibly the best thing about this trend is that it’s once again OK to show a bit of bra strap under a spaghetti strap or a vest top (you don’t need me to tell you that a greying, fraying bra strap is unacceptable); who said fashion couldn’t be practical?

Mid-height Heels

Being a disciple of the vertiginous heel, I have shocked myself by buying into this trend. I would normally suppress a snigger at anything less than 4 inches, but some of the shoes appearing at the moment are actually rather lovely with not even a hint of frumpy about them. How about a mid-heel court in a nude shade? Two trends in one purchase PLUS the leg-lengthening properties of a skin-toned shoe. Perfect. And don’t even get me started on the fact that I might actually own a pair of shoes I’m able to walk in…

Here are a few little pre-spring treats to indulge in:

Topshop

Nudes

MyWardrobe

Nude

Lingerie

Mid-Heel Shoes

Net A Porter

Nude

Lingerie

Mid-Heel Shoes