Celine & Burberry Make Statements with Color

Graying skies and the shift to boots & chunky sweaters are all reminders that winter is fast approaching. It may be hard to even imagine what to wear when the flowers bloom again, but with the wave of Spring ’12 runway shows coming to a close, we wanted to share with you one of our favorite trends for the upcoming season: pleats.

Chloe & Prada's Cool Blues

Pleats are not some new fashion phenomena, but rather a reoccurring trend we’ve seen over the years. Once strictly for school girl uniform’s and Dad’s Dockers, pleats for spring lend a fun, flirty feeling to any outfit.

Seen on almost every major runway, from Celine, Chloe, Burberry and Prada, designers chose to present pleats in mini and below-the-knee skirts, as well as utilize bright colors, rather than prints. Color blocking, a trend we’ve seen for the past couple seasons, also continued into spring.

Aquilano Ricmondi & Bottega Venetta Does the Sophisticated Pleat

We’re loving the idea that longer skirts are proving to be a mainstay for 2012,  which is why you can get a jump start on this trend and work it into your wardrobe for fall.  Since pleats are a classic design feature, you can pretty much find pleats anywhere. The trick for keeping it with fall is to choose colors like burgundy, deeper oranges, and rich green. Pair it with a cute sweater or pile on the layers.

Below are some options you can buy now:

Left to Right, Top to Bottom:

Asos Gray Midi Skirt $62.90, Asos.com / Pleated Maxi Skirt $90, Topshop.com /Robert Rodriquez Side Pleated Skirt $265, Zappos.com / Madewell Great Lawn Sweater Skirt $118, Madewell.com / The Addison Story Belt Skirt $158, Acrinomy.com / D & G Silk Organza Knee Length Skirt $138, Bluefly.com

When Karl Lagerfeld unveiled the Chanel Fall 2010 faux fur collection, I knew that faux fur would dominate this season. I personally love fur and Karl reminded us that the vegan version of the fur coat does not have to look tacky and child-like. While I knew that I was not going to be in a full faux fur body suit, I couldn’t wait to delve into this trend and rock some of the more subtle pieces.

Left to right, top to bottom: Jeffrey Campbell leg warmers, Rachel Roy scarf, Kate Spade handbag, Bop Basic hat & Dolce Vita Vest.

From hats to leg warmers and everything in between, hints of fur can be a (cheap) instant update to fall wardrobes.

Eyes To The Sky: When Are We Not MAD For PLAID? Fall 2010: 1. Rag & Bone 2. Alexandre Herchovitch 3. Comme des Garçons 4. Christian Dior 5. L.A.M.B. 6. Ralph Lauren 7. Bensoni 8. Davidelfin

Ok, so I know it’s probably hard to start even thinking about Fall. I mean, really, in some parts we’re still in Fall(ish) mode…rain, rain, go away!!! Regardless, it’s not called “trend forcasting” for nothing. Sooooooo, let’s look ahead, once again, to Fall and what to keep an eye out for. Side note: The beauty of buying second-hand is you can be building your seasonal wardrobes all year round, no need to wait for the new collection to hit the stores, win-win!

Eyes To The Sky: When Are We Not MAD For PLAID? Fall 2010: 1. 3.1 Phillip Lim 2. J.Crew 3. Tommy Hilfiger 4. Tao 5. Louis Vuitton 6. Christian Dior 7. Kenzo 8. Ruffian

Back to the topic at hand. I have always loved the fashion magazines “Mad for Plaid” editorials in the 80′s/90′s…and almost every season there after. Plaid is Fall. Unless done in pastel madras cotton, then we’ve got a whole other trend entirely. It’s always “there” but in certain doses. This Fall ’10 it hits hard and big. Big plaid, large over-sized plaid and quirky combinations of mixed and matched sizes and colors…which speaks to me in a major way. Let plaid be your calling card for Fall…let old man winter know you have arrived.

M.I.S.S. Eyes to the Sky: Spring 2010 Trends

M.I.S.S. teamed up with Pool Tradeshow to highlight some of the product shown at Pool that are great examples of spring trends that are on the streets.  The spread was in the Pool Magazine that was distributed at the show in Las Vegas but I just got my copy and wanted to share!  Take a look to see some pieces that will keep you on trend throughout the season!

M.I.S.S. x Pool Magazine: Spring 2010 Trends

Eyes To The Sky: With Or Without Shoes...It's All About The Socks. 1. Jill Stuart 2. Prada 3. Rag & Bone 4. Christian Dior 5. Michael Kors

I love Fall as much as the next gal, you get to break out your cozy clothes, fluffy sweaters, loads of layers and don’t forget the boots!! But sometimes you get tired of the layers and the long sleeves and pants. Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean we have to give up our shorts and skirts. Done proper, you can wear said items in the chillier months and sure tights are fun but let’s not forget about socks. Popping up on the runways for Fall are some of the coziest looking leg wear…like sweaters for your legs…and not legwarmers (although legwarmers can give the same effect when tucked into a boot, so don’t just save them for your workouts!)

If you’re a crafty gal knit up some of your own or perhaps Grandma could help. Whether you made them, have them made or grab a pair at retail, these leg coverings are sure to add something to your winter look. You can stay chic and warm without going full-on “wookie wear” ála Chanel Fall ’10. Love you Karl!