The colors of spring break

As spring break gets closer, I wonder what I will wear. I have a few engagements planned, but none that excite me enough to spend money. Though I won't go shopping before spring break, I am happy I finally have a style reference for shopping during spring break. \nThis season, some intersting new fashion trends have developed. Some of these are repeats of old trends with a bright twist. Others are continuations of the most fashionable winter looks. \nOver the course of winter, there has been a battle over the color and style for the spring wardrobe. You could see it being played out in magazines such as Elle, Marie Claire, In Style and Vogue. The ads in the magazines were suggesting something totally different than the style advice. \nYou can see Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren ads with models decked out in ultra-bright oranges, yellows and greens. Then, a few pages later, there would be an article about spring's ultra-femme look that suggests wearing skirts in pastel pink, cardigans in white and soft yellow and white pants. \n"Brighten up with spring's freshest palettes of pastels," read the subhead of a Marie Claire article "101 Ideas."\n"What was going to rule style for spring?" I asked myself. Forecasting for this spring was nearly impossible. The only thing I was sure about was chandelier earrings. My shopping was minimal in case something crazy happened, like what happened-- this past winter. \nOn the fall 2003 runways, we saw the mod look and the minimalist look, but that got old quick. After the spring 2004 runway shows, something incredible happened. The looks from the runway began to surface on the streets. Lace became a must for the winter wardrobe, along with wearing pink camisoles as shirts. No longer was it in to wear black boots; instead the furry Uggs of Australia were popping up everywhere -- including IU. The soft ultra femme look had taken over. \n"This season's designers looked to nature -- from the garden to the desert and the beach -- and came away with a true spring palette that is feminine, passionate, rejuvenating and energizing. With bold saturated colors that would do Lilly Pulitzer proud ..." the Pantone fashion color report for spring 2004 read. \nBut wait ... that was the spring 2004 color report, not fall 2003. I will admit after the drab fall 2003 shows, I was waiting for something else to happen. I didn't expect the change to be such a vast difference from what was on the runways. Usually the runway trends or versions of them trickle down into department stores, but not this time. \nOn the cover of the December 2003 issue of Elle, you can see Drew Barrymore wearing a a pink cardigan over a nude camisole with lace trim paired with a bright blue tank underneath. Women on campus were wearing lace tops underneath cardigans in January. The color/style scheme for 2004 was forming. It was a mix of soft, saturated color against a neutral palette. \n"Kick start your khaki classics with easy, breezy whites and a twist of spring's juiciest hues -- fresh lime," the Marie Claire article "10 Items, 10 Ways" said. \nI must say I am very happy the Tommy Hilfiger look didn't take over. In my opinion, the mix of color and ultra femme style is well balanced. The style is soft with an added boost of color for confidence. \nI don't know where I will be going, or who I will see over spring break, but the ultra-femme look does suit me. I mean, I look damn good in pink and lace. Of course, I will add a scarf to anything, but what about shoes? Supposedly, Uggs will still be in for spring, since they are backed up on orders until April. Call me crazy, but I think my sanity will be questioned if I walk around in 60-degree weather with a skirt and a pair of furry boots. And to think all this time I was hoping for a revival of suede.