Summer Fashion 2012 - A Season of Brights

I was surprised to notice my last blog was October 2011.   After nearly a year of some disrupting yet not life threatening health issues, I’m thrilled to be back with an opinion on fashion among other things.

In this season of brights, from traditional primary and secondary hues straight from the color wheel to 90’s inspired neon brights featured on handbags, shoes, tops and jeans, all the way to fingers and toes, I was exhausted by color, only a few days after the official start of summer. Beginning with this exceptionally warm spring, punctuated with a trip to Bangkok and Singapore, and the beautiful island of Anguilla, I’ve been sporting hot pink, shorts, kelly green skinny jeans, colorful dresses and even a red & white graphic print jumpsuit since March this year.  It was daring and fun, at first.

For those of you who know me well, I’m most comfortable in my neutrals, and by mid-July, I am struggling not to rush the next season and follow one of my stronger fashion rules, wear what you own.  With a vacation to Maui looming, (don’t hate me cuz I’m crazy, travel fortunate,) I’m begrudgingly packing my brights, one last time.  I’m chomping at the bit to retire the colorful pieces to storage boxes out of sight by mid- August.  I’m even planning my nail color for when I return from vacation:  I long to shift to a natural nail color, Naked by Deborah Lippmann, [check out her website for unique nail polish colors.]

Forgive me Chicago friends, but the south has ruined me.  Once a fan of all things summer, savoring every precious moment, I hate to say, I’m over it.  In Chicago, July and August are the very best, most fun months, and in my past, no matter how hot, well bring it on!  Yet now, ten years in Atlanta, I understand why my husband prefers fall (which formerly made me sad, knowing winter was around the corner. )  It’s been hot here for a long time.  Weekend afternoons are stifling (no water as in lakes or ocean,) and after our morning 6 mile walk, we often sit in.  But I digress, I’m lamenting about summer fashion.

Now I hear many of you fashionistas saying, Cindi, what about white and taupe for summer neutrals, and yes, of course I can go there for my summer palette.  (And yes Heather, we had this conversation a few years ago.)  It’s just that at the onset of the season, I got caught up in the excitement of experimenting with the overwhelming trend.  I tried it, enjoyed some of it for a while, but definitely felt “uncomfortable in my own skin,” in many of my bright fashionable ensembles.  So the moral of the story, not only don’t go overboard with a new trend, but think it through.  Over and over again I tell people, you don’t have to follow every trend.  Dig deep and know what suits your lifestyle and your mood.  The easiest way to test a trend is in a single category.  Maybe it’s a bright handbag or shoe.  Bright jeans paired with white or black.  A neutral hued dress with a pop of colorful print might have longevity over an all over bright print.  And for me, I’m just over it.

It’s no surprise to see colorful ensembles in Hotlanta where the country club set lives in Lily Pulitzer, but it appears that even the formerly black-clad NYC hispters in SoHo, Chelsea and the Meat Packing district have all embraced summer fun with brights, [I was stunned at the array of red, white and/or blue outfits spotted on July 4th,] as well as the rest of the world.

If you love color and thrive wearing it, good for you, because it’s going to stick around.  Paraphrasing a Vogue journalist introducing pre-fall fashion this month:  If you long for cooler temps and returning to your tonal uniform, this fall season is not for you.  Look for lots of bold color (at least toned down to jewel tones for Fall,) and graphic prints to continue popularity throughout 2013.