Who said flowers are the only colorful print for springtime? Well, who ever said this forgot to tell designers like Marc Jacobs and Carolina Herrera, because for their spring 2012 collections “BIRDS” are the newest and brightest prints for spring.

Working with the bright, highly vibrant and sometimes pastel colors for spring, designers have taken many approaches to the new print and have showcased the print in both a very literal and abstract way.

Here Carolina Herrera has taken a literal approach to her prints but done so in a very modest way. The dispersion of the actual birds are done ever so subtle and draw the eye with the use of bright colors and the gradual multiplication of the pattern.

The Spring 2012 Marc by Marc Jacobs collection also showed some ornithological features. Jacobs took more of an abstract approach when incorporating birds into his new collection. At first glance, flower petals, but then after a closer look you can see that the print is in fact birds.

Other designers are embracing the bird trend as well. Because you know what they say, “birds of a feather, flock together!”

Written By: Clay Sasfai

It is time to step it up Masonistas!  It’s a New Year after all, and we need break out of our style rut and get fresh by mixing patterns.  Yeah, you read right, prints on prints.  And for some of you super fashionable gals-in-the-know, it’s time to add prints on prints on prints on prints.  This trend has been showing up everywhere from fashion blogs to the Spring runways, feelin’ all 2012 mod and inspired.

Sometimes you have to push yourself to forget the old rules in order to achieve a new aesthetic.  Dressing can be an art form, and mixing prints has taken on a life of its own. It’s an educated style, but an easier lesson than you might think. When we accomplish it, it quite simply rocks.  You can’t deny the fearless girl who takes chances and dresses with confidence.  That’s exactly what this trend celebrates, and we can’t get enough.

There aren’t any rules to this fun mix {truly} but if you still feel a little hesitant, start simply with a few guidelines.  Keep in mind these are NOT rules – just a beginner’s cheat sheet to help you get started…

1) Begin by choosing patterns that share a neutral background, like brown, black, white, or gray.  Graduate to the same color story – meaning the patterns have a color or two in common, but not necessarily the background.  For example, if you’re mixing a navy stripe shirt with a floral Spring skirt, it’s a no-brainer if a similar blue is part of the floral print. For some advanced extra credit: abandon the color scheme completely and do complimentary colors instead – like turquoise and navy or yellow and gray.  Just avoid the clash (I’m looking at you Red and Green).  We want to be stylish, not LOUD.

2) Combine organic prints with structured prints – like swirls with stripes.  In our humble opinions, stripes are a basic neutral almost.  They are familiar to the eye and can therefore work with anything from floral to polka dots to leopard prints to military prints.

3) Vary the scale of the prints.  Mix a small neat print with a bold one – micro gingham with bold flowers; tiny polka dots with big oversized stripes; or even stripes on stripes as long as they are not the same size.

4) Own it! You have to wear this trend with attitude.  You can wear as many prints as you like just as long as you’ll be confident with what you’re wearing. Everyone can remember a time where we fidgeted all night because our outfit choice left us feeling less than secure. Let’s not repeat that here.  Be brave! Or….. throw on your biggest and darkest sunnies and do a quick dry run in your mixed prints to Starbucks and back!  Share your pictures and let us know how it goes!

Written by: Christin Archambault