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Fashion Brief
Spring/Summer 2013
What's Up … Cuddled in the cold, makes this the perfect time to look forward to lighter weight, lighter-colored fashions already making their presence shout out in stores. Exactly what specific hues, what style innovations and what predominant trends can be expected is, indeed, somewhat of an analytical betting exercise. Clues come from what proved ‘hot’ and what proved ‘not’ at couture runway shows in New York, London, Milan and Paris. Certainly ready-to-wear interpretations are inspired by them. By now spring retailer buying orders have been placed and spring merchandise shipments are awaited, some being already delivered. We, the customer, are the critical ‘last’ in the 2013 spring/summer fashion cycle to discover what there is, decide if we like it and will we buy it. We sit in a very important position … true, somewhat at the mercy of designers, manufacturers and buyers, but we represent where ‘the buck stops.’ Our action, through buying willingness or rejection, determines fashion’s success for the season. Now is the time for us to leap into action as choices become plentiful.
There is much to be excited about this Spring Summer 2013 fashion season. In fact, Elle magazine heralded in its Runway section, “Color steals the spring fashion stage!” With greatly diluted reappearance, the deep, dark rich colors predominating last season’s color palette are drastically paled. Ranging from the lightest of pastels to mid-tone brights to neons … including white and black as dominant neutrals … there is a refreshing, somewhat more playful feel to the change in hues this fashion season. It makes sense, seems logical and is a ‘spirit lifter.’ Of course, people with lighter coloring wear lighter colors most naturally, even in totality. People with darker coloring need to create the contrast of darker colors paired with the lights to wear them most flatteringly. When lights prevail, white often becomes a highly popular, featured neutral. Although presenting more ‘upkeep’ labor, white says clean, fresh, as well as having an ability to energize other colors. Black also energizes other colors but in a dark way. In Fashion Group International’s Spring/Summer 2013 Ready To Wear Collections Trend Overview, Marylou Luther’s view, “… white opened many shows (that means designers really believe in it), black remained a surprising presence, given the season, and red lit the fire of designers on both sides of the Atlantic. In between, the ascendant shades are green, blue, yellow, orange and rust, all nuanced in many tints and hues.” As you look at color in magazines, fashion ads as well as new merchandise already being displayed, it is obvious mints, aquas, turquoises, baby blues, pinks and peaches, soft yellows, pale lavenders as well as sands, beiges and softened grays are big players. These tinted, paled hues provide the perfect pool for many of us to dive into. Yet, on the hue flip side, it is possible to find dynamic reds as Marylou Luther further observed. Conclusion from all sources … color is ‘the story’ in Spring/Summer 2013 fashion. Neutrals, yes … but more favored, more prevalent, far more vocal are colorful hues.
When it comes to style in the ready-to-wear market, casual but chic dominates. Excellent news as these are, after all, the clothes we put on every day for work and play. W magazine’s cover headlines their Spring Fashion Preview picks falling into three categories: Graphic Accessories, Divine Day Dresses and Sporty Chic. FGI’s Marylou Luther, “One of the surest signs of change ahead is the new comfort factor. Ease has replaced squeeze. Waistline-skimming shifts outnumber curve-following sheaths, A-line dresses are kind to hips, jackets are roomier, skirts fan out and pajamas (meaning relaxed styling and sizing) now compete with narrow-minded pants.” Further she suggests “It’s as if the 40-something designers now guarding the industry have decided to make clothes for women not for “fashion.” Along this same take, Elle Runway Report highlights soft-structured elliptical shapes, Gucci’s long, lean pants suits generally (with fluid trousers), voluminous jackets, boxy sweatshirts. Good news fashion alert … what begins at the couture level is likely destined to filter down to the ready-to-wear realm! Translation … likely to appear in stores we frequently shop, comfortable styles and cuts. Who can object to that?
Fashion is not a simple, impulse idea leaping from a designer’s brain onto the runway. The process, quite logically, requires inspiration and stimulation, then lots of work! Everyday culture … music we listen to, books and magazines we read, movies we see, television we watch, where we travel, what we see on the web … all contribute to a designer’s innovation and interpretation of life right now. Classic style may be the balance while everything else springs from current and/or historical reflection plus future projection. Or, as FGI’s Marylou Luther suggests, “The way we were has inspired designers to transform ideas from the past into the way we will be …” Style influencing Spring Summer 2013 have been noted in Elle’s Fashion Meets Culture and Trends as All Things English, Sophisticated Chic, Joyful Nostalgia, Back to the Future, Siren Call, Palais Royal, for example. Understanding what’s-hot-now styling gives us the knowledge to recreate, from what we already own or by what we might add, renewed and reinvented outfits to keep our wardrobes current looking.
Pieces shown as key trends for Spring Summer 2013 include blouses, and particularly tunics, shorts in varying lengths, relaxed or slouchy pant styles in addition to skinny’s, tuxedos and pantsuits, fuller skirts, culottes, shift dresses, shirtdresses, full-skirt dresses, cropped jackets, trench coats. In the details category do not overlook exaggeratedly scaled ruffles! Fabrications making pieces distinct include cut work, embroidery, lace, mesh, transparency, jacquard, matelasse, stripes, checks, inventive and/or minimalistic geometric patterns, digitized prints, conversation prints featuring nature scenes or people, hand-shirred, hand-shredded, beaded, leathers … the list seems to go on and on. Not only are patterns and textures important, but so is fabric manipulation … namely, ever more inventive ways of twisting, folding and draping. Those processes, by the way, can be a clever way to disguise less than perfect figure features!
It is not breaking news accessories are a sensible way to change the look of, or update, an outfit. Truly a savvy way of making the clothes you have look new and ‘now.’. Spring/Summer 2013 offers all types and kinds, sizes and styles from refined and ladylike to extra-large and geometrically dramatic. So have at it! Let accessories make a positive difference in your fashion life. Preferred shoe styling includes a wide range for Spring/Summer 2013 including a resurgence of ‘mid-high’ heels which is music to the ears of those stiletto-challenged. Marylou Luther from the runway shows targeted sneaker- and Birkenstock-inspired sandals, flats, wedges, gladiators. Highlighting her top trends was the white shoes plus white handbag combo. How easy is that! Metallics, she, among countless others, rate ‘TOPS’ in the warm weather mix for shoes. Further, count upon pastel hues becoming a prevalent new statement for handbags! What a great one-step Spring/Summer 2013 update such a bag might be! For fashionistas extreme, don’t overlook ‘sandal boots’ highlighted by InStyle magazine. Bold eyecatchers they are … gladiator style with an exaggeratedly futuristic vibe, mid-calf, to-the-knee or even above-knee and worn bare-footed! Talk about making a statement, as is quickly evident on Harper’s Bazaar February cover!
From the research, the analyses, the interpretations, the speculation, plus endless fashion publication pictures, slide synopses of the runway shows, it seems Spring Summer 2013 will prove to be an exciting, innovative and energizing fashion season broad enough to accommodate, in some way, the tastes and preferences of most everyone. Take stock now, both the time and the new season’s fashion scene are right for revising and reinvigorating. Lighten your heart, brighten your spirit by refreshing your warmer-weather wardrobe. Certainly there are plentiful ‘something specials’ perfect and waiting for you! You can spend a lot or spend remarkably little. And, quite honestly, the search can be as much fun as the finding! Bet your bottom dollar, compliments are sure to be your reward!
It‘s so simple! Reported in The Week magazine, even a fake grin can make you feel better! Researchers at the University of Kansas assigned study volunteers varying facial expression tasks … one keeping expressions neutral, one causing them to smile only with their mouths or one engaging the facial muscles people use when producing a genuine grin. Heart rates were monitored during stressful tasks. The subjects who produced a full smile had the lowest heart rates, followed by those who smiled with just their mouths. Both of those groups also reported simply feeling better than those whose faces remained blank. The research suggests the act of smiling --- even divorced from feelings of joy – can help us relax, the study author reports. She suggests the next time you are stuck in traffic or are experiencing some other type of stress, force yourself to grin. It might actually help your heart health as well as make you feel better! Source: The Week Magazine
Truth be told, Native Americans are most often left well out of the loop in the fashion magazine industry. Kelly Homes, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, changed that as founder of Native Max online magazine. Her motivation was to create her own fashion magazine geared toward Native American men and women as well as non-Native Americans who want to learn about native culture. Check out online subscription enrollment at www.nativemax.com. Magazine staff members come from all over North America including the Navajo Nation in Arizona as well as the Otomi and Yaqui nations in Mexico. It’s about time! Congrats, Kelly!
Private Online Flash Sales may prove ideal for fashion adventure seekers. Everyone loves a bargain, so if you find online shopping rewarding and fun, check these sites out. Not purely for fashion but for a broader range of bargains, www.LuxeYard.com, www.US.VentePrivee.com, www.Modnique.com plus www.C21Stores.com created by the NYC-based department store Century 21. For kids and mom-friendly clothing, www.Zulily.com and www.TheMiniSocial.com. Always check return policies before buying. Source for sites: Consumer Reports
Travel or Fashion which inspires the other? If New York City in February calls out to you, a certain ‘don’t miss’ would be Shoe Obsession, an exhibition at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Should you prefer NYC a bit later in Spring … do ginormous ice cream cones, burgers and slices of cake appeal to you? Don’t like your lips, rather, fly in to attend the Museum of Modern Art’s The Street and the Store, honoring legendary Pop-art pioneer sculptor Claes Oldenburg in April. If you stay until May, you won’t miss Punk: Chaos to Couture at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute. This exhibition focuses on the connection between iconic bands like the Ramones and such pioneering designers as Vivienne Westwood. Also this spring, how about a jaunt to London for the Victoria and Albert Museum’s David Bowie Is, a retrospective looking at the rocker’s impact on music and fashion. And, while you are there, what about sneaking a peek, or spending a day, at Downton Abbey? Imaginatively, according to the television script, its location is Yorkshire. Actually, to see the real deal, you will be heading to Hampshire visiting Highclere Castle where exterior shots as well as most interior shots are filmed. The resoundingly popular series’ affects upon clothing and jewelry design as well as interior design is nothing to overlook!
NTF on-the-road Color Consultations + Make It Work seminars If you, or someone you know, is out-of-range to work easily with Nancy Taylor Farel in Boulder, she will travel at your request. Contact nancytaylorfarel@comcast.net or Nancy at 303.499.0956 for details.
Make It Work seminars provide the information and illustration necessary to use your Personal Color Portfolio to its fullest. Full seminars last 4.5 hours. Or, there is a 2-part option. The first half seminar will be offered one month, the second half will be scheduled the following month. All color clients are welcome to attend any session as often as he/she chooses. All seminars begin promptly at 1 pm. It takes is an email or phone call to Nancy to book your place.
Please arrive by 12:45 pm and remember to bring your colors!
Boulder Spring/Summer 2013 seminar dates are Sundays
February 10 – full seminar
March 10 – 1st half April 21 – 2nd half
May 19 – full seminar
June 9 – 1st half July 21 – 2nd half
Helen Keller and Tucker Humphrey make shopping for spring fashion easy and fun! They represent the traveling Etcetera line and will be showing the Spring Collection 2013 Friday, February 22 through Wednesday, February 27. An appointment is necessary to enjoy private exploring and shopping. Book a time by calling 303.551.4737 or 303.253.2888 or online thincetc@gmail.com. Click to preview at www.etcetera.com/collections/spring2013.
Plan to just drop in when Nancy Taylor Farel is at Barbara & Company at 1505 Pearl in Boulder! This 2013 Spring’s date to mark on your calendar as a ‘NOT TO MISS’ is Saturday, April 13 from 10 am – 6 pm! No matter what the weather, this event is always red hot! So many unique lines to explore, styles to try, ‘something specials’ to find makes our time together in the shop consistently extra special. Surely the friendliest stop along the Pearl Street Mall, the superb staff and Nancy look forward to enhancing what you have or helping you discover what is both new and superlatively wonderful. Count on Barbara & Company for distinctly different choices. For further information 303.443.2565.
True … a good-looking, neutral eyeglass frame has the versatility to go with everything. What could be better than that? However, if adding pizzazz to your eyewear appeals to your sense of adventure, why not? This event is the time and place to accomplish either! Aspen Eyewear consistently offers all the options, from traditionally conservative to avant guarde! Good thing, too, because not only looking fab but seeing well is the combo sought when you book this event. Nancy Taylor Farel is experienced at helping update your look. Call for a one-on-one appointment! Flattering Frames Guaranteed on April 26 (Friday) or April 27 (Saturday) with Nancy Taylor Farel plus the stellar support of the Aspen Eyewear vision team. (Can’t make those dates? Call Nancy for a special booking.) Consistently chosen Boulder’s best for good reason, enjoy a 20% total purchase discount exclusive to NTF appointments on these 2 event days! Call Nancy 303.499.0956 or Aspen Eyewear 303.447.0210 for appointment booking. Event cost is $40 paid to Nancy.
Early birds catch the best of Spring Summer 2013 fashion at Boulder’s stellar Nordstrom Rack on Saturday, May 4th at 8 am. What a welcome event as we certainly have been Shivering in the Cold, Looking toward Spring!!! Nancy Taylor Farel presents her best picks to be fashionably ready for the quickly approaching, sun-drenched season. Plan to update what you have or dive into what’s temptingly new. Enjoy private shopping before store opening. Count on help from Nancy plus the always energetic and knowledgeable Rack Sales Team following Nancy’s presentation. REGISTRATION NECESSARY by calling 720.887.3588, x 1201 for the May 4th pre-opening store event. Please leave your name and phone number. See you there, bright and early!!!!
What a hit!!! Nancy Taylor Farel’s long-established Makeup Magic has found a welcoming new home at Sephora in the FlatIron Crossing Shopping Center! Rave reviews were expressed by everyone participating in the inaugural event! “I truly LOVED it!” “I look younger and more refreshed!” “I can do it myself!” “I felt welcomed and valued!” “I didn’t feel pressured to buy, and particularly not buy everything all at once.” “There were no time crunches … no hurries!” Each of us truly enhanced our product knowledge as well as application skills! Do you realize Sephora features well over 60 brands and advertises as its mission “to find the perfect product for you!” Best of all during these NTF event days, a rotating, select team of makeup artists spends the one-on-one individual time needed for a fabulous outcome! By the way, no one works on commission. Back by popular demand, Nancy will partner with the professional staff again! Appointment times booked on the hour May 10 (Friday) and May 11 (Saturday). Call Nancy to book your appointment 303.499.0956. And, count upon her to be standing right by your side. Event cost is $25, prepaid to Nancy prior to the event
Eye exams by Michael Bollenbacher OD absolutely cannot be beat! And, the convenience of his office being within Aspen Eyewear makes updating your total vision needs convenient and easy. Dr B requires a pre-booked exam appointment. Make yours by calling 303.444.1405. See better than you have before!!! Plan ahead to be ready with a current prescription when you choose your frames.
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