When it comes to color this season, you're in the captain's seat.
Some sort of palette dominates the spring fashion lines each year -- neutrals and sandblasted looks were hot last year -- but this spring, it's tough to pinpoint one specific group of hues as the trend.
Every color is on trend.
Yellow washes out your skin tone? Wear aqua. Think orange clashes with your hair color? Try purple.
If you only want to wear a little bit of color, try a bright piece of jewelry or an eye-catching pair of heels. Opt for a soft floral pattern or a mix of pastels if you're shy about bold prints.
Feeling a little adventurous? Embrace the colorblocking trend and wear all of your favorite solid-color pieces together. Wild? Absolutely!
About this style shoot:
Models: Lou Hollis and Shelly Marks, Docherty Agency
Location: Greater Cleveland Aquarium, 2000 Sycamore St., Cleveland, 216-862-8803.
Thank you to Kayla Ott, the aquarium's public relations manager, and to the security staffs at the aquarium and Powerhouse facility. Special thanks to the staff at Nautica Cafe -- located above the aquarium -- for allowing us a backstage area and for keeping us fueled up on tasty salads, sandwiches, pizzas and plenty of caffeine.
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Spring has tossed overboard those dark, gray days of winter and put you at the helm. So, come on. Let's have a little fun.
Spring 2012 fashion trends:
Pleats: You'll find pretty pleats on shorts, pants, skirts, dresses and even blouses this spring.
Ruffles: Add a little flirty, feminine charm to your wardrobe. You'll see ruffles on dresses, skirts, tops and more. But don't overdo it. Pick only one piece that features the detail or risk looking like a 1980s prom queen.
Orange: The folks at Pantone named tangerine the color of the year, and designers everywhere have taken note. Items in juicy orange shades are ripe for the picking.
Color denim: If there's one must-have item this spring, it's a pair of color denim jeans. Play it safe and top yours with a simple black-and-white top, or go for broke with a mix of your favorite hues.
Polka dots: This peppy pattern has staying power. It popped up on our trend watch last spring and is still wildly popular.
Colorblocking: We showed you colorblocked looks -- items with several areas of solid color -- last spring, and they're still hot for 2012. The Gianni Bini stacked sandals you'll see in these pages are among our favorite examples.