Art and color highlight Spring 2008
The only thing you must know about dressing for spring 2008 is that you can do no wrong with color in your closet.
Step out of your basic black or drab earth tones and pop out of wallflower mode in hot pink, turquoise or royal blue. When white or ecru appear, they're merely canvases for splashes of violet, maroon and sunflower.
Say hello to bright yellow, emerald green, magenta and jewel tones, to be worn liberally, head to toe. Those afraid of mixing colors need worry no more about pairing a dress in royal purple with a pumpkin-orange handbag or heels. It's all good.
I know, I know, that color combo would have been a big fashion faux pas when I was attending Waipahu High School, but let go of your old hang-ups. Let go of all your color fears and your ideas of how jarring primary and complementary colors can seem outside of art classes. Try on a few dresses and maybe you'll find you look better in yellow and chartreuse than you think.
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Arndt wears a Versace dress ($2,440) paired with a Chloe clutch ($1,700). Kate Schuette wears a vivid yellow Versace tank ($475) with a Versace nylon jacket ($295) and Ralph Lauren skirt ($755). All clothing provided by Neiman Marcus.
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Being on trend is so easy this year that in the midst of introducing the new season in its stores through the "Color -- Spring" previews, Neiman Marcus has identified only three other trends for women:
» Femininity: We haven't veered away from last year's love affair with the dress, now seen with floral prints and womanly silhouettes, from sophisticated shifts to those that cinch the waist and softly flare out to the hemline.
» Global: No one can ignore that travel -- via airline or Internet -- has broadened our knowledge of the world and other artistic and cultural traditions. Those are brought into wearable form through accessories crafted from wood, shells and other natural materials, or embellished with tribal-inspired beadwork.
» Artistry: This ties into the global and do-it-yourself trend of artists turning to fashion as a canvas for expression, with prints bearing the look of abstract art paintings or watercolor washes, turning city sidewalks into visual galleries.
For men there's a new suit in town, the two-button gray suit, and white for spring, plus must-haves that include ID bracelets, boat shoes and status polos bearing insignias of the designers. It's no longer purely Ralph Lauren territory.
Armani Collezioni
Informal modeling of the women's Spring 2008 ready-to-wear collection:
» Time: Noon to 2 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday
» Place: Neiman Marcus, all levels
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In addition to color, Spring 2008 welcomes an artistic touch, with prints reflecting bold brush strokes and other painterly details.
Clothing provided by Neiman Marcus
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kate Schuette wears a DKNY graphic print dress with a touch of coral ($595) worn with an Eric Javits hat ($290).
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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Global inspirations are reflected in a delicate Stella McCartney blouse ($1,095) with a cascade of South American-style fabric ornaments worn by Jennifer Shelton. The Marni platform wedges are $760.
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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Men's wardrobes get an update with status polos, like this one by Dolce & Gabbana ($475) worn by David Volz, who's also wearing a Juicy Couture pant ($210) and Makins hat ($325). His silver I.D. bracelets are by David Yurman ($450) and John Hardy ($995, with black sapphires).
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