For the Love of Fashion!

After a long and dreadful winter, the snow is finally almost gone (at least here in Michigan), the days are a little a less dreary, and even 32 degrees feels warmer.  I'm ready to take a break from my fall/winter 2010/11 wardrobe (it's temporary, we'll get back together next fall.).  You see, my relationship to clothing (including, but not limited to shoes, purses, belts, apparel, jewelry, and etc.) is like a love affair: When I first see that perfect new find, my heart starts beating and my eyes twinkle with excitement.  It doesn't matter how much it costs, because you can't put a price on true love!  I begin fanaticizing how, where, with what, and when I can wear my new found love.  If I can afford to take it home, the world becomes a better place- perfect and beautiful (at least for a few hours anyway.); and as long as I'm comparing shopping to love (I know- it's kind of sick.), the same is true when I can't have that "special" something.  I yearn to hold it, wear it, and be with it.  After a period of time, this emotion eventually cools down and my heart makes room for a new flame*. *I'm sheepishly admitting that I can relate to the character "Rebecca Bloomwood" (played by Isla Fisher) in the movie, "Confessions of a Shopaholic." So what am I "into" this week?  Crisp, clean lines and COLOR, COLOR, COLOR!!!! It's no coincidence that it's one of the hottest styles this season.  I’m a fashion designer, so I can tell you why:  1. It’s clean-up time!  As we all know, overly embellished (almost baroque), deconstructed looks were the big thing for a while.  That’s finally become completely exhausted and fashion has taken on more of a minimalist approach. 2. Less is more.. affordable.  People need more economical choices these days, but don’t necessarily want to skip out on looking and feeling luxurious.  Designers have offered strong prints, bold colors, and modern shapes this season in order to make luxury more accessible.  It’s as Coco Chanel said, “Luxury lies not in richness and ornateness, but in the absence of vulgarity.”  When times get tough, “less is more” becomes the rule in fashion.   3. We want our mojo back!  Many of us have been feeling low for a while; some of us have lost our jobs, our homes, and our world has been in a crisis.  It's depressing.  The last thing we all need is more clutter, confusion, and dreariness.  I'll cheer it again: Simple lines and COLOR, COLOR, COLOR!!!!  So check it out!  Here are Emilia's picks for the week: Albino Spring 2011 RTW Collection Albino is a prime example of color blocking- the spring collection was all about that. I don't know about you, but I WANT THAT SKIRT! Albino Spring 2011 RTW Collection  Colored belts are everywhere drawing attention the waist. RTW Sping 2011 Antonio Marras. This is one of his simpler looks this season. He's alwasy so creative and knows how to embrace the beauty of a woman. Let's face it, is there any other color that screams, "WOMAN!" more than red? Cacharel RTW Spring 2011  Isn't it a dream? I want to be on the set of "Sex and the City" right now and wear this to a diner! Akris Spring 2011 RTW collection Bright, funky colors on a classic silhouette make a bold, yet classy statement.