Spring has sprung! Finally!!

That's right, ladies! It's time to break out your fave tank and throw on your chicest pair of shades! Springtime is among us once again!

This is the greatest season in fashion because the first trends for the new year [of fashion] are finally out on display for all to see. How will you keep up? Don't worry! That's where we come in. ;) Prepared just for you, we have the top five hautest trends for Spring 2013.

5. Black and White

*photo from pintrest

So I know what you may be thinking: "Black and white for spring?!" And my answer to you is YES, BLACK AND WHITE FOR SPRING! Black and white for summer, for fall, and winter!! That's what makes this trend so haute (year-round haute!) Sort of like an "investment piece." An investment piece is what you purchase that can truly be worn over and over, season after season. It's just so classic, and yet so very, very, chic. 

How do you wear it? WITH COLOR, OF COURSE! My go-to color for Spring is mint. But my suggestion color to try this spring is definitely emerald. Emerald was featured in the SS13 collections of Tracy Reese, Nanette Lepore and Marimekko. Try a fierce clutch or awesome statement necklace. My personal favorite accessory for the season, however, has to be nail polish. Go for the black and white look with an awesome emerald color on the nails for a modern take on the classic chic.

4. Baring the midriff, and high-waist pants.

*photo from pinterest

This trend is so sexy, and so NOT slutty. The high-waist bottoms are perfect for accentuating the legs, and giving the illusion that you're taller than you really are (this is awesome news for the 5'5" & under 

crew, such as myself.) This look can easily work for night or day, such an awesome transition trend. If
you're going out, try a solid color crop-top paired with a high-waist sequenced skirt or pant (for the
girlier type) or go for leather (if you're feeling bad.) Maybe you're going out to lunch with your
fabulous girlfriends, my suggestion would be a graphic or printed top paired with some vintage high-
waist denim. Make it fit you & your personality, it's such an haute trend for any occasion. It's also a
great way to show off your sexy shape. Baring your midriff is like giving yourself a new waistline, the
high-waist pants are just that perfect accent to make you feel and truly look like a super model. 

3. Prints

*photo from http://patternbank.com

all outfits are Peter Pilotto S/S 2013

Prints are absolutely ev-er-y-wheeeerrreee this season! Bright, colorful, wild, floral, blocky... you 
name it, it's so in. The thing I love the most about this trend is the diversity in it. So many different wonderful prints to choose from, how can you possibly pick one?! My suggestion? Wear more than one 
(by more than one, I mean two... three is seriously pushing it.) Mix-match prints is super bold, & it can 
give you that high fashion look you crave. Note: just because the prints are different, it does not mean 
they will look good together. IT CAN GO HORRIBLY WRONG EXTREMELY FAST IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL! lol! Make sure your colors flow together and the prints compliment one another. Remember!  "MIX-MATCH", not "not matching at all." Try some floral leggings or denim with a striped top (my preference is vertically-striped because it will elongate the torso, but if you're confident enough I would definitely choose horizontal, too.) Pick the prints that match you & wear a solid color heel and work, girl.


2. Leather

Jason Wu, Mandy Coon, and Alexander Wang at Spring 2013 New York Fashion Week.
Photo: Getty Images

You're probably sitting there, telling me that leather is nothing new. & you are absolutely right. It's been around forever so that means it will BE around forever. (remember those "investment pieces I was talking about before? *hint hint*) Leather is that classic bad-ass, rock-n-roller, punk way of being absolutely fabulous. Plus, it's an instant confidence booster! An easy way to get into this trend is probably just buying a little leather dress to start off. And no, I'm not saying it has to be black leather either! Check out these colorful leathers spotted in fashion week:

 Reem Acra, rag & bone, and Derek Lam at Spring 2013 New York Fashion Week.

Photo: Getty Images

See what I mean?! How freakin' haute!!! (SN: this look will actually be fabulous with my pick for the number one trend!) My office suggestion? A sexy chiffon blouse paired with a leather pencil skirt, matched with some very strappy heels. My suggestion for the night out? THAT JASON WU DRESS PAIRED WITH THOSE VERY SAME HEELS. lol, can you guys tell I'm biased in some ways? As always, I say choose what's you!

1. COLOR! (and patterns!)

Of course! What else would the TOP trend for SPRING be?!

The flowers will be blooming soon; you should be, too! Colors and patterns are a great way to show your personality, and to make a bold statement this season. MIX IT UP, GIRLS!! Wear black with brown! Match floral with cheetah! Calm down, calm down! I know it's a scary thought. You're breaking all the rules, right? But, see, that's the great thing about fashion: there are no rules! Take a risk this season, do what makes you feel your best. Nothing is more beautiful on a woman than confidence! My suggestion? Wear it however you want. Try using this trend along with one of the other top trends of the season, and you are sure to be the hautest thing not on a runway.

Keep or Toss: Wedge Sneakers

Tom-boy fashionistas everywhere rejoiced this past year after Isabel Marant debuted the first wedged sneaker. In case (for whatever reason) you do not happen to know what a "wedged sneaker" is, it is simply a shoe appearing to be a sneaker but it actually has a wedge in the heel. Surprisingly simple, right? And yet, this simple shoe has taken over the fashion industry in just a short amount of time. Since its debut, this trend has been spotted everywhere (literally, everywhere) from Isabel Marant all the way to Skechers. 

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Even the classic sneaker brands like Nike and Reebok are getting in on the action!

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Although the trend may be one of the biggest things happening in fashion this year, it's not all positive attention. Some reviews of the shoe read, "What's the point?" Others called the shoe "flat-out ugly!"

So we're curious, how do you feel about the trend? Is the wedged sneaker a keeper, or should we just toss it?

Michelle O. Makes Jackie O. Proud!!

How fly is our First Lady? Hm, try Vogue-magazine-fly (again!)

Michelle Obama graces the cover of Vogue magazine once again, but this time she's solo (for a little while.) Mrs. President talks about her and her husband's main focus in the April 2013 issue (on stands March 26th,) which is their family. She addresses allegations of her and President Obama not socializing enough in Washington stating, "Our job is, first and foremost, to make sure our family is whole. You know, we have small kids; they're growing every day. But I think we were both pretty straightforward when we said, `Our No. 1 priority is making sure that our family is whole." Mrs. O says the pressures of the White House are very, very real. Barack and Michelle just simply prefer to spend any free time with their daughters. 

Michelle may be on the cover alone, but she is accompanied by her husband in the article. The adorable couple takes turns telling what they have learned from (and about) one another during their "twenty-some-odd" year relationship. They also talk about keeping their marriage strong and how they don't let their political rise to fame affect their relationship. Michelle's mother lives in the White House with the couple, and Michelle admits to her mother being one major reason the First Couple has remained so strong. The First Lady says,  “My mother doesn’t do interviews. but let me tell you: She is not long on pretense. She’s the first one to remind us who we are. And it’s been very helpful having her living with us. . . . We can check reality against her sensibilities."

President Obama admits that Michelle upgraded him, "like Beyonce in that song!" (How adorable is that?!)

Balenciaga LIVES through Alexander Wang

At just 29, Alexander Wang is the fastest rising star in fashion. Notoriously known for building his own global multimillion-dollar business in less than a decade, Wang is now not only taking on his design house but the house of one of the greatest, Balenciaga. The fashion world may have been a bit skeptical at first about an American designer taking the role of creative director (to quote Diane von Furstenberg, "he's going to need some mentoring in Paris,") however, Wang has held his own and has definitely made Cristóbal Balenciaga proud with his debut in Paris Fashion Week last Thursday. 

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“'For this particular collection I really wanted to start with the product and have the product speak for itself,' Wang told The Daily Beast backstage. 'I took this idea of a wardrobe, aligned it with what I thought were the codes and the DNA of the [Balenciaga] house, and pushed that into these modern staples: the peacoat, the shirt, the pencil skirt, the sweater, the pullover.'" (Alice Cavanagh, The Daily Beast) 

What I love most about Wang's debut was his respect for Cristóbal and for Balenciaga traditions.  Wang showed many signatures of the house, such as Balenciaga's love of geometric shapes (notice the necklines, they're triangle!) He also stuck with the iconic Balenciaga petal-shaped hems, he just flipped them to give a high-low affect. Also you saw plenty of backless styles, which is totally classic Balenciaga.

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“The first thing I did was spend time in the archives,” said Wang, who seemed both exuberant and a little overwhelmed when we spoke with him. “I haven’t gone through everything yet, because it’s so expansive, but this was a starting point. Cristóbal’s philosophy was always dynamic movement—all the skirts, the jackets swung forward. Then, I thought about contrasting that with something quite static and monolithic, like marble statues.” (Alice Cavanagh, The Daily Beast)

(They really look like marble statues, don't they?!)

As much as you see Balenciaga, you can see Alexander Wang. He may have stuck with tradition, but he also made it clear that these were still new designs, his designs. In just the 34 looks presented you saw Balenciaga with a twist, the new house of Balenciaga, Alexander Wang's house of Balenciaga.

Cobalt | Color of the Season

**Trend Alert**

We all knew earlier this year during fashion week that cobalt was 'a' hot color for the fall/winter season. But no one told us it would be THE hot color of the season! Totally unfair warning walking into retail stores, while out shopping black friday even, that this color is springing off the racks. Although I must add that cobalt looks ah-mazing with the winter hues of oxblood and chocolate brown. Vouge states, "When the autumn shows rolled out in February, it was clear designers hadn't quite cast off thoughts of their upcoming summer holidays". Of course Vouge knew, they're Vouge! lol Thank goodness for Vouge though right? 

  We've got popping color and loads of sequence it's like a party in your winter wardrobe and we're excited about it. Love Fashion?  We do too! Send all fashion questions and concerns to info@pinkindigo.com . Also don't forget to connect with us on Twitter, Face book, and Pinterest for the latest and #Chicstylishyou with the trendsetters!

Cobalt | Color of the Season by mypinkindigo featuring alice olivia dress

Shine Bright- Holiday Party Style

This holiday season is all about glitz and glam, and sequins are back and in a big way.  We’re not talking ‘80’s- style prom dress sequins, but a subtle and elegant dash of glitter that gives just the right amount of edge to any outfit. In fact, adding some sparkle to your look is not only one of 2012′s hottest trends — it’s also one of the easiest.  If you don’t already have your go -to sequin accessory, you need to get one before the holiday party circuit starts. Here, we’ve rounded up some of our glittery, most versatile pieces on the site. 

Keep Calm and S.P.A.R.K.L.E!

www.PinkIndigo.com 

Holiday Sequin by mypinkindigo featuring sequin scarves

Layers with Style

As the leaves fall from the trees and the temp takes a spiral layering becomes inevitable. Good news is there are many ways you can layer stylishly without the bulk and we're here to show you how.

Layers of Style by mypinkindigo featuring wolford pantyhose

Olive Wrapped Military Jacket [RJ4189-Olive] - $85.00 : Buy Trendy...

Bulky Outerwear: 

This belt plays a gigantic role in this outfit. Some times the cold makes it quite challenging to keep a feminine figure. Without the jacket you create a waistline using the skinny belt. Also with the jacket on you still keep your feminine figure with the tied belt. Style Tip: Jackets with ties like this one or peplum detail makes it almost impossible for you to look boxy in outerwear.

How To Style: 

I see two major looks in this. Simple black dress, black tights, and dark or olive booties. For those who like to dip your feet in the 'fashionably fabulous' pool, add acolor pop with the mint skinny belt and the jacket matching the booties to ties it all together. That way you can easily shed layers! This outfit could pass for late night movie date or a girls night. 

This look is so chic, comfortable,and versatile. Including pieces many of you already own like the little black dress, black tights, booties, and a bold skinny belt in some way or another. The fabulous extras can be found online @ Pinkindigo.com Submit your questions to info@pinkindigo.com to get all the answers to your style how-to's for your style, your body, and your budget!