Colors Sprouts This Spring
Flirty skirts for women, pink shirts for men and lots of hints of green for both sexes. This season, old looks will be revived and new ones will be invented.

USA (By Linda Pligas, Hispanic Magazine) Spring 2005 - It’s the 1950s all over again: Fashionable women are sporting flirty, full skirts and hip-hugging Capri pants in an assortment of pastel colors. “From flip-flops and T-shirts to fabulous shoes and whimsical tops, these items we can’t live without,” says Marcie Pérez, Hispanic spokesperson for Marshalls department stores. “Skirts have a flowing feel, which offer comfort and flatter the body. For work or play, skirts will have embellishments, flower appliqués, and the ethnic touches to really take your wardrobe from day to night with ease.”

Bermuda shorts are another blast from the past; they return this spring either worn casually with flats or dressed up with heels.

Other favorite styles this primavera include the Athenian look. Fashion designer José Dias, owner of Robertson Blvd in West Hollywood, says, “The Grecian drapey look will also be reminiscent of the ’70s disco, but a little bit more subdued—not as flashy.”

Handmade crochet apparel is also a hot commodity. Dias calls the look “Latin-inspired folklore.”

Vibrant African-inspired prints are also strong, according to Victoria López Castro, who owns a Miami boutique that specializes in cocktail dresses as well as evening and bridal gowns. She also adds that tunics “in a gauze-like fabric, preferably beaded,” will make a comeback: “It can be short or worn long like a caftan.”

Feminine bows delicately tied around the waist, shoulder or under the bust will also squeeze some arty flair into this season’s clothing. Also count on sexy strapless and halter dresses to bring on an early heat wave.

Green: The New Pink

Last year the color pink blossomed. This ultra-girly pastel was a favorite hue found in everything from dresses to men’s shirts. Now the color of money is influencing spring fashion. “Green is going to be a big color this year,” Dias predicts. He adds that all shades of green, everything from a mint to an emerald, will be in high demand by both sexes.

Gold is another color that should not be missed. “A great pair of gold sandals or a skirt that glistens with a trim of gold will be key items to look for,” Pérez says.
For Dias, gold will not only be a valuable color in this season’s fabrics, he also loves the way gold accessories complement spring apparel.

For those preferring more casual jewelry, López Castro thinks “coral is the stone of the season.” She explains that coral is today what last year’s turquoise was. She likes to wear an array of coral necklaces of various lengths together.

Other earthly (and relatively inexpensive) stones gracing the wrists and collars of well-dressed ladies include sea shells and wood (chunky wooden beads are very stylish). Another mother-nature accessory will also be added to this season’s must-have list: feathers. Dias explains this unusual touch: “We had flowers last year, this year it’s feathers.”

Bright colored-fabrics in turquoise, coral, yellow and pink will also stand out this season.

Coral jewelry will complement another favorite spring staple: neutrals. “Earth tones—like beiges and sands—kind of blend in with your skin color so you look naked, but you aren’t,” Dias giggly says.

The Soft Side of Spring

Pink was the color of choice for fashionable (and daring) men last year. Pink ties and shirts were worn with elegance and looked fabulous combined with classic shades of black and brown.

This year men will continue to think pink, says celebrity designer Charlie Lapson, who is currently working on the new Telemundo show Nuevas Voces de América (produced by Gloria and Emilio Estefan).

Today and yesteryear’s favorite pastel shade will also welcome another delicate newcomer: lavender.

Other popular shades for men include: deep brown, tan and khaki. And black won’t lag far behind. In fact, Lapson likes the combination of an old-fashioned black suit paired with a lavender shirt.

Boys may be showcasing their softer side, but make no mistake, they still want to play hard.

“The casual side is becoming very athletic-inspired,” Lapson explains. “Rugby shirts are very strong and there are a lot of novelty treatments referring to soccer teams and baseball teams, such as patches, numbers, lots of zipper details, and hooded sweatshirts.”

It’s all part of a new wave of making men’s clothing less serious and more playful, Lapson says.

Jeans are still coming in strong, and this season Lapson notes that the ever-changing but faithful standby is being altered again. “They are still coming in with rips and tears on them, not as much as in previous years, they’re cleaning up a little bit, but [there are] a lot of washed-out treatments around the leg and the knee.”

Green Is In, But Why Spend It?

Just because green is the color of the season, that doesn’t mean one has to spend a lot of it to get a fabulous updated closet. Lapson suggests that men purchase two new shirts this spring, preferably—in pink and/or lavender—and a few T-shirts that can be added to their existing wardrobe.

Pérez has this advice for ladies: “Look for tops and skirts that you can match up with items you already have in your closet. This is a good way to change an old boring wardrobe into something fabulous. Also, try buying accessories in the colors that are hot this season; this will allow you to spend less and get the fresh, new look you are looking for.”