My Favorite Spring Trends

Ah yes, spring is in the air. Some days the coming spring that is in the air is mingled with snow, but it is coming, sooner or later. With a new season comes new fashion of course! This year's spring trends have me really excited for warmer weather on the way. So, here are my favorite trends for spring 2017!

The New Dress Shirt
The classic dress shirt has been reinvented and taken to new levels this season. Traditionally a basic (boring, if you ask me) worn under suits, the Gordon Gekko classic has become a fashion must have. Rather than a straight forward borrowed from the boys style, the new dress shirt often features a classic blue and white stripe, but with a feminine twist.
Last year's off the shoulder trend continues and is now being incorporated into the shirt trend. Exaggerated sleeves are also a big trend and tie details either at the waist or on the cuffs.





A cute striped off the shoulder style from Zara.




A classic dress shirt from Nordstrom is updated with tied waist and contrasting cuffs.





Blogger Blair Eadie wearing an adorable striped top with exaggerated bows on the shoulders from Shopbop.




The ultimate shirt, this style has everything: off the shoulder, stripes, flared bell sleeves, and a tied waist. Why not go all out and just get all the shirt trends in one?


Pearls
Pearls are always a classic that never go out of style. This spring though, they are trending in a major way. Chanel has helped to cement pearls as a timeless part of any woman's wardrobe, but sometimes the classic strand of pearls brings to mind some more grandmotherly connotations than one would like. For spring 2017 pearls are having a major moment that leaves granny out of the mix. Or, if you are lucky like me brings her back into the mix when you can wear her old pearls that you inherited! The newest way that pearls are being incorporated into spring's fashions are with embellishments. Pearls on shoes, bags, dresses, jeans...anything and everything really.






Stuart Weitzman's Morepearls sandal is a perfect way to bring some pearls into your life. The black suede with white pearls is very Chanel-esque as well as being a versatile choice for your wardrobe. I got these myself in a soft pinky nude!







I am absolutely loving pearl embellished denim! A mix of ladylike pearls and edgy denim is the perfect juxtaposition. This will work best if the denim is a lighter wash and for jeans, if the fit is a bit slouchier. I love how this pair are cuffed and ripped, keeping the pearls from making the look a bit too precious. While I am not usually one for DIY fashion projects (I would rather leave that to the pros), this is really making me consider trying my hand at some pearl bedazzling! Word of advice though: please only sew on your pearls, no glue gunning, this will not look cute.










A beautiful beaded clutch from Zara.



The Statement Earring

Statement earrings are back and bigger than ever! Both literally and figuratively. For this trend look no further that Samantha Jones of Sex and the City for your inspiration. Really anything goes with this trend as long as it's big! You can choose to hit to birds with one stone and nail both the statement earring trend and the pearl trend in one. I have also seen a lot of tasseled earrings, as well as more geometric style. Keep in mind that you should not try a statement necklace and earrings together, as this will just be too much.





Tassel earrings from Banana Republic.





Quite the statement from the Balmain x H&M collection.









Some beauties from J.Crew


All of the styles that I included are costume jewelry at moderate price points, because unless you are Samantha Jones and plan to make this a signature of your look, you might not want to make a big investment. As for me, I have recently started wearing an old pair of enormous ones that I could never let go of, so maybe from now on I will release my inner Samantha and just rock those massive shoulder dusters regardless of how the trends shift. Bottom line is if you love one of these trends rock it! And if you own that trend sometimes you can make it work long after the fad has passed. This is that moment when a trend becomes style. So, with Samantha and her enduring earring style as our muse let's go forth and be stylish,

The 89th Academy Awards

My favorite Oscar dress of all time is Cate Blachett wearing Armani Prive at last year's awards. So this year I wondered (but strongly doubted) if anyone could beat this stunning look, pulled off by my fashion favorite, Cate the Great. I have to say that in my opinion, the answer is a resounding no. Below is Cate in her breathtaking red carpet gown from the 2016 Oscars.



Nobody at this years ceremony even came close to looking this flawless, but I will give my rundown on the 89th Academy Awards, and you can tell me if you think anyone can touch Cate the Great.








Jessica Biel in Kaufman Franco
She is giving me strong Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra vibes and I LOVE it. Usually, I find Jessica Biel to be pretty basic on the red carpet, but she really brought it this year by {hiring a new stylist} dressing up as an actual Oscar. Some may say that the necklace is too much but personally, I think it's just enough.





Scarlett Johansson in Alaia
While I have to give her credit for wearing a studded belt on the red carpet, it still did not manage to hold this look together. I don't mind the print, although it is a little casual for the Oscars, but other than that this whole looks is a big mess. The amount of excess fabric around her chest is slightly alarming to me. Was she perhaps keeping some snacks in there? It really makes me think of the type of dress that misguided stylists put "big" girls in, and then say "belt it to give her a waist." This approach doesn't flatter fuller figures, and it certainly does nothing good for poor Scarlett.




Taraji P. Henson in Alberta Ferretti
This is red carpet perfection. Velvet is such a big trend, and this is the way to do it. The neckline is so beautiful, and the necklace is a perfect choice. Hair and makeup are both on point. She definitely gets my vote for one of the best dressed of the evening.




Halle Berry in Atelier Versace
Halle's hair was definitely a topic of conversation, and while I am definitely not a fan, her dress is for more offensive to my senses. For starters, similar variations of this style have been seen on many red carpets for the past 10 years. I do appreciate the rose gold fringe on the train, but the bodice looks like she got tangled up in a pair of pantyhose while she was getting ready. This look goes on my worst dressed list.




Emma Stone in Givenchy Haute Couture
This is not my favorite look that I have seen Emma in. I do love the top half of her dress and I think that if the design continued and gave way to a bit of a dramatic train rather than the layers of fringe, I would have loved it. Instead, I am getting a bit of a tacky lampshade vibe, which I doubt was what she was aiming to be remembered as when she took home her first Oscar statue.





Emma Roberts in vintage Armani Prive
Armani Prive is definitely a red carpet favorite of mine, and this does not disappoint. I love the combination of black and white with a red lip. The only thing I would change is that the "boob triangles" should be slightly wider to be more in proportion with the cumberbund.




Charlize Theron in Dior
For a woman who probably needs to put in some effort to look bad, I would say she was trying pretty hard with this look. Normally Charlize is a red carpet favorite of mine, but somehow her supermodel good looks are practically vanquished with this frightful frock. Most people are trying to look tall and thin, but the genetically blessed Charlize already is both of these things. This mess of a dress makes her appear to be shorter and wider, truly not something anyone would want from a couture gown.







Hailee Steinfeld in Ralph and Russo
This is definitely one of my favorite looks of the evening. I am a sucker for appliqued flowers, so this one really does it for me. The pale shades of the gown compliment her skin perfectly and while I would have preferred slightly softer makeup, the overall effect is quite stunning. The very romantic feel of this gown is kept modern with the high neckline. I had to include a picture of this dress from the back, because talk about party in the front and an even bigger party in the back!




Elizabeth Banks in Elie Saab Couture
I am slightly torn, but I think that this absolutely glorious confection just inches out Hailee Steinfeld for best dressed of the night. Despite the fact that this look only made it to the after party and not the main event, I would argue that a dress this good IS the main event. I mean, there's appliqued flowers, gold beading, a belt, and jewel encrusted exaggerated shoulders! What more could one possible want in a gown?

2017 Golden Globe Awards

Sarah Jessica Parker in Vera Wang
I feel that SJP has slowly morphed from a style icon into your crazy aunt. She was known as the ultimate fashionista for her portrayal of Carrie Bradshaw, but I think by now we can all say that Carrie's style was pretty much a mess. This dress looks like a cast off from one of Vera Wang's bridal collections. Like "no bride will wear this, let's give to an actress for the red carpet. She'll think it's so fashion forward, haha!" The Heidi hairstyle isn't helping matters.






Keri Russell

This is a lot of look happening here. The ruffles, the mixed animal prints, the bat-wing sleeves, and the choker all combine to equal an assault on the senses. This look is giving me strong Real Housewives of New Jersey vibes.

Evan Rachel Wood in Altuzarra
If you are going to skip the gown and wear a tuxedo, wear one like this. The tailoring is impeccable, which is absolutely the key to pulling off a look like this. I am not a big fan of this hairstyle, though. Something more modern would work better with this look.



Blake Lively in Atelier Versace
I love the glamorous combination of black velvet and gold. Blake Lively is definitely a red carpet favorite of mine, who rarely misses the mark, and this look is no exception. Normally, I am not a big fan of pockets in gowns, but I actually really like these ones, since they are clearly more for fashion than function. I look forward to seeing what other looks she brings to the various red carpets this awards season.










Janelle Monae in Armani
This is one hot mess. At this point I really think that the high-low hem looks a bit dated, and the crazy Dalmatian print reminds of a dress I loved when I was five. This ensemble is really not fit for a grown woman. It looks like a bad Cruella DeVille Halloween costume. However, the shoes are definitely on point!




Drew Barrymore in Monique Lhuillier
This look is the perfection combination of glamorous and bohemian. Perfect for the Queen of Boho herself! I love the off the shoulder style with the pleated sleeve cascading down her arm. The deep V works here because her boobs are not all squished up and in your face. The loose hair perfectly compliments the gown and I love that she finished the look with a deep burgundy nail polish. The whole ensemble looks as though it has come together so effortlessly.




Nicole Kidman in Alexander McQueen
Normally I love McQueen on the red carpet, but I cannot get around these confounding puffy sleeves. To me they look like an after thought that was slapped on at the last minute. The whole dress would be better off if the entire sleeves were removed. The silver colour is really flattering against her alabaster skin, and I love the combination of the glittering sequins with the soft feathers on the train. Unfortunately, I really feel that the sleeves ruin the whole look.





Jessica Chastain in Prada
Normally I find Prada to be mess on the red carpet, but I actually really like this one. The colour is simply stunning her, and perfectly compliments her red hair. I love the pink embellishments that are scattered down one side of the gown, adding just the right amount of sparkle. She is wearing one of my favorite style of necklaces, the bolo-inspired necklace, which I love. The fit of the dress is almost perfect, but it really needed to be let out in the bust and have a couple of extra inches of fabric. I know that the plunging neckline is very trendy right now, but the boobs are going into a very trashy territory for me, and I think that on the red carpet things should be kept classy and boobs should not be squished.






Emma Stone in Valentino
This is my favorite look of the night. Often nude shades can wash out pale skinned ladies, but the stunning embroidered stars that cascade down the length of the gown provide enough contrast. The shape is beautiful and the slowing train is perfect. I like the deep V here as it elongates her body and her boobs are not completely on display. Overall, a perfect look to take home a Golden Globe in!