Pictures from Cultures in Between

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Top Row (left to right): Marc Jacobs, Raf Simons, Tim Hamilton, Phillip Lim, Rag & Bone
Bottom Row (left to right): Louis Vuitton, Annhagen, Robert Geller, Yves Saint Laurent

The Trend: Pop is not a Trend

What: This season, ditch the neon colors and grab the underrated: mustard yellows, purples, greens and blues.  These colors are available in everything from outerwear to pants.

With: Wear one key “pop” color; two if you’re bold.  Highlight them by wearing various shades of black and gray.  Also try layering different materials for depth and interest.

Top Row (left to right): Endovanera, Yves Saint Laurent, Dolce and Gabbana, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Perry Ellis Signature

Bottom Row (left to right): Unconditional, KTZ, Robert Geller, Richard Lindqvist

The Trend: Inside These Pants

What: Switch out the jeans and traditional trousers.  This season is all about mixing it up.  With a new collision of materials, silhouettes, and a splash of color, nothing is off limits.  Be on the look out for tapered sweats, excessive pleating, and relaxed loose fits.

With: Focus on your overall silhouette.  If going with a super relaxed bottom, bring the top half in and make it slim.  If you’re working with tapered bottoms, the options are endless depending on your individual style.  Keep it slim, but not as narrow as your bottom or wear exaggerated portions; skinny bottom, oversized top.

After determining what fits best, bottoms are perhaps the easiest part of the wardrobe.  My personal list of must haves include a pair of leggings, wool shorts, shorts (long & short), trousers (relaxed & slim fit), and jeans (relaxed/slim & slim fit).

Leggings are great for lounging around the house or layering with shorts.  Spring 2009 collections utilize this look a lot.  If you want to do the leggings/shorts look, I recommend loose fitting shorts and an unusual material like wool.

For shorts, below the knee is a no brainer, but what do you do for shorts worn above the knee?  Personally, I like to balance out the shortness of my shorts with an oversized tee or button down.  They are not oversized enough to drape like a dress, but oversized enough to divert the eye from “Wow, those are short!” to the overall silhouette from head down.

For trousers, I highly recommend getting a pair from Phillip Lim.  The workmanship is excellent.  When choosing a color, make sure to compliment the waistcoats and blazers in your wardrobe.

If you wear jeans everyday, spend a lot of money on your jeans, but if you don’t, I like the cheap route with Cheap Monday.  I love their gray wash.  It goes with everything.  Make sure to own at least one pair of jeans in both a slim and relaxed silhouette.  On a hot day and many other occasions, slim jeans are not pleasant.  There are a lot of jeans with a relaxed fit, but Opening Ceremony make a nice pair that still taper.  I have not seen any online stockists recently, so you’ll have to visit the store or phone one of the locations.

Overall, make sure you have versatility.

Missed day one’s look at tops? Click here.