Summer ’06 Fashions and a Preview of Fall’s Looks

Spring arrived this year with greens, pinks, and blues; sea-inspired nautical wear; and a revival of 50’s and 60’s fashions, including a tribute to the 60’s short shorts-now favored in denim. And do you remember this year’s newest trend “skinny” jeans? Well, they are here to stay for summer too. Summer ’06 is touting these same styles from Spring but with a little more sophistication and shorter hemlines.

And what about the one fashion staple that’s about as old as sliced bread? And every bit as necessary, I might add. Of course, I’m speaking of pumps-God’s gift to short legs, un-toned calves, and a drab outfit. They are showing up everywhere, with or without a peek-a-boo toe, in classic black or adding a splash of color to a neutral or earth toned ensemble.

Color is key for summer and the “it” colors of the season are: red, blue, and gold.

Gold is illuminating accessories in a big way: gold shoes, gold purses, gold jewelry, oh my. And the popular straw handbag or straw hat look complements any gold accessory wonderfully.

Red and blue are often seen in sailor style fashions, usually incorporating stripes of some sort (a very “in” pattern this summer). So it’s no surprise, with nautical wear still in full swing, that reds and blues are here to make summer outfits pop. But don’t expect to have to go Popeye or take up sailing to sport these colors, a little red or blue can class up any style for any occasion.

But everything for Summer isn’t about sophistication, some looks are just for sex appeal. For a sexy look try a short dress with a pair of heeled sandals, or if you’re real gutsy-a pair of short shorts, extremely high heels (to show off those calves), a cute shirt, and your favorite gold jewelry pieces.

What’s In
Ballet Flats
Sandals (look for t-strap wedge heels with turquoise beading)
Straw Bags
Tracy Ross Shoes
White Dress Shirts
Short Shorts
Bermuda Shorts
Short, Tailored Shorts
Floral Sundresses
Shirt Dresses
Skinny Jeans (Sass and Bide and J Brand have been seen on celebrities)

Colors and Patterns
Stripes (especially in nautical wear)
Gold (gold is the color for jewelry and accessories)
Floral Prints
Turquoise

Jewelry
Semi-chunky pieces will be seen during the hot months:
� multi-strand necklaces
� wide bangle and cuff bracelets
� nautical charm bracelets

Celebrity Favored Designers
St. John (Angelina Jolie has been seen wearing St. John’s fashions)
Sass and Bide (Jeans)
J Brand (Jeans)
Oliver Peoples eyewear (Seen on Isaiah Washington, Grey’s Anatomy’s Dr. Burke)

Great Jewelry Designers
Laura Bohinc
Erikson Beamon
Both of these are available on Net-A-Porter

What’s Coming For Fall
The June issue of Harper’s Bazaar predicts that the 80’s will be the decade du jours for fall. And why not? We just moved through the 50’s and 60’s this past year, it seems only right. But there will still be some classic styles reminiscent of the 60’s for those who don’t wish to return to the decade famous for taffeta, animal prints, and Aqua Net.

But fashion is nothing if not varied; these looks are combined and mixed with fur and plenty of warm layers. When handled tastefully fall’s fashion preview is sort of a multi-layered Nordic huntress meets Mary Tyler Moore.

80’s Looks
âÂ?¢ Leggings (Sienna Miller, Lindsay Lohan, and Mary-Kate Olsen have all publicly donned this 80’s fashion “do” for over a year now.)
� Animal Skin Bags
� Animal Prints

Classic Looks
� Bell Shaped Coats
âÂ?¢ Bubble Skirts and Dresses (also seen in Spring ’06)
� Black and White (First seen last winter during award show season, on stars such as Sandra Oh and Reese Witherspoon. This look will still be subtly present.