Okay, just because I have to stick to a certain goal doesn't mean I'm not allowed to look at what's hip this coming year. I mean, I can't help it if I'm still in love with shopping and anything to do with fashion, right?
The 5 Key Pieces to Keep for the New Year
The wide leg pant. While heavy wool or lined pairs might not be ideal for the heat, wide
legged pants in lightweight fabrics or denim can easily make the
transition to spring. Lighten up dark colored pants for the warmer
months by pairing them with light colours up top – and swap the boots
for wedges or high heeled sandals.
The tuxedo jacket. An easy option for heading out after hours, it’s is a classic that goes
well beyond the A/W 2011 season. For spring white or cream takes are a
dream with everything from dresses to shorts – but fall’s classic black
dinner jacket is also a keeper.
The leather harness. It can be fetishist and hard, but it doesn’t have to be. For spring
layer your leather accessories over floating fabrics, light colors and
relaxed tailoring.
The high slit dress. While the runways for both seasons have seen plenty of evening wear
takes, you can also work a casual slit into your wardrobe come spring.
Pair a slit skirt with a cotton tank for an effortless summer take.
The 60s Peter Pan collar. From the black and white strictness of Louis Vuitton to the fresh, candy
colours of spring: a sweet sixties look is still lifted by the addition
of a round peter pan collar.
A gist of what's shaking up in the fashion world for the year 2012:
- 1960s and 1920s fashion are back. Check this out for more 60s and this for 20s tips, in case you have forgotten. Icon for the 60s -- Twiggy and Chanel during the 20s.
- Apron dress
- Swimwear
- Pastel colors are in
LONG HAIR
Long and bouncy. Described as a
gorgeous blow-out the bouncy blow dry gives
long hair a groomed, elegant yet relaxed finish. Inspired, in part, by
the 70s fashion revival but working across most of 2012′s looks.
Homemade curls. Both nostalgic and modern, this girlish and quirky hairstyle features
many an element of other 2012 hairstyle trends: it has a parting and
obvious product definition. Soft and eye-catching, homemade curls give off a laid back air as one of 2012′s long hairstyle trends.
French twist. Given that classic fashion revivals define 2012, it should come as no
surprised to find that classic hairstyles also go a long way to defining
the year.
Looped under ponytail. Less of a bun and more of a ponytail that’s been folded and looped
under, this hairstyle offers up a mood somewhere between easy and
casual, and tightly equestrian. It provided the perfect compliment to
Carolina Herrera’s spring runway; as it can to your own outfits.
Side pinned waves. Flowing, bouncy waves accessorized by a side-pinned barrette create
something of a girlish charm. While long hair works fantastically well
for this look – as seen on the spring runway of Sonia Rykiel – this
hairstyle can also work for short or mid hair lengths. A collision of
forties glamor and seventies relaxed cool.
MID-LENGTH
Retro faux bob. As perfect as a Stepford wife, as ice cool as Betty Draper, as vintage
as yesteryear and as modern as tomorrow, 2012′s faux bob hairstyle gives
the year a structured, pristine, ‘done’ hairstyle that borrows much
from the 60s fashion revival.
Wet-look chignon. Don’t be afraid to get your hair wet in 2012 – or at least give the
impression that it’s wet. Amongst a long list of wet look 2012
hairstyles, this wet look chingon offers up plenty of versatility along with a relaxed feel.
Piled up and pinned. If there’s a middle ground between being stylishly done and carelessly
undone, this 2012 women’s hairstyle occupies it. Elegant to a tee, it
doesn’t require precision or complex tools (bobby pins are your friend –
and lots of them) but it does require a little finesse to pull off that
undone-done look of effortless chic.
Double french twist. On the spring / summer 2012 runway of Diane von Furstenberg, models
emerged with a back-combed crown that swirled back into two mirrored
French twists. The effect? A 1960s style bouffant hairstyle that crowns
any outfit with an elegant vintage vibe. We call it the double French twist,
Chignon with side waves. As seasons change, hairstyles are given new twists. This year the always
dependable chignon gets reinvented. In this take, it gets a sweeping
side part with soft waves on one side, creating a unique effect that
varies with the angle you view it from.
OTHER TRENDS FOR 2012
Accessory:
- head scarf/ hair wrap - With a new year comes new hair trends, and with new hair trends come a
lust for new accessories. In 2012 the head scarf gets revived in a
number of ways, from the retro-chic of vintage styles to the exotic
appeal of the head wrap.
- doctor's bag/Gladstone bag
Make-up (
check this out for more info)
- Matte complexion - the irony of this trend is that to create a timeless look, you need
to step away from the trends. This balanced-out skin tone is an
inspiration from the 80s and 90s, where a shiny or glossy face was
nowhere to be seen. Napoleon suggests opting for muted colors, be it
for eye shadow or nail lacquer
- Contoured Cheeks - during damp wintery days, a minimalist beauty look is usually the
fastest way to look crowd-friendly. The secret behind this no-makeup
drama is inspired by spring’s take on a sun-kissed look. Napoleon’s
secret – “The wonder of contouring is complexion perfection at its
best!” He says nude and muted tones are coming back for spring 2012, but
that’ll also work for fall due to its versatility
- Bared Eye Mascara - ditch every other eye tool in your make-up drawer, as to master this trend, all you need is an eyelash curler and mascara.
This 60s-Twiggy-inspired, bare-eyed mascara look has taken the
celebrity-filled red carpet by its horns and it’s only fair that you
include that in your daily ritual too. This trend is all about the
lashes, but the secret is to keep them natural; let the eyeliner or eye
shadow go on a much-deserved break
- Metallic Colors - to update your look from summer to fall, include accents of warmer hues
in your everyday make-up routine. If plums, violets and olive scare you,
then opt for metallic shades. A little dust of silver under the eye or a
sparkly topcoat of nail lacquer will not make you look like a teenager.
Napoleon suggests, “Don’t be scared to add sparkle during the day. If
it makes you feel on-trend and fashionable, brave against the boring and
dull crowd on the street"
- Brows are bold but feminine - not sleekly thin or roughly thick, for the next couple of seasons, brows
are strict but groomed. This involves a lot of filling, perhaps even
growing them out to get optimum results for next year. For now, stay
clear from pointed or bushy looks. Napoleon takes runway inspiration for
this season from Oscar de la Renta and Donna Karan for this trend
- Nude vs classic red - this cold war between nude and red lips is a never-ending saga. The
bright stained lips have had enough publicity, and Napoleon says this
fall, the pout needs a warm nude shade. “Pop of color on a dreary
winter day is classic, but we can change things around. Everyone will be
making a statement with their eyes while toning down the lips,” says
Napoleon.
Remember, don't let fashion eat you. Make sure you still follow your own style because it's the best look for you!
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| Me at one year and a few months, already a fashionista HAHA |
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