Worried that wearing black and blue together will leave you battered and bruised by the fashion po-po?  Fashion laws are made to be broken and really, are there any rules in fashion anymore?  No white after Labour Day?  I love winter white.  No short skirts after 30?  Have you seen my legs?  I'm showing these off until I'm at least 70.  Hee!  Crocs to work?  Okay, fine, wearing crocs anywhere should absolutely be outlawed.  In the case of this killer look from Dries Van Noten, black and blue is quite obviously a fashion 'do' when done right.  I love the surprising contrast between the two shades and think they make a perfect segway between the seasons of snow-tires and snow-cones.  Real Life Runway Tip:  The best way to get the most out of this colour combo is by ensuring that the black is jet and the blue is vibrant.  A dull blue will take all of the oomph out of this fashion upper-cut.  Want to look even more stunning?  Go for blackest black mascara (Maybelline Great Lash Mascara has a perfect budget-friendly version) and smudgy black eyeliner to complete your look. 

She Sells Seashells

Chanel and Louis Vuitton, Resort 2010 - photos courtesy style.com

The nautical trend was ubiquitous this season, particularly for the resort collections where Karl Lagerfeld, Sonia Rykiel and Marc Jacobs clearly had buoys on their minds.  Many of the runway takes were quite literal but unless you want to look like you're actually about to board a yacht, a piece here or there will do.  Horizontal stripes, navy accents and flashes of gold (faux or real) say that you're ready for your ship to come in.  Real Life Runway Tip:  Horizontal stripes always get a bad rap but did you know that narrow stripes actually create a 'ladder effect', tricking the eye to look up and down rather than focusing on your width?  If you want to be really strategic about it, put narrow stripes in areas you want to downplay and wide stripes in areas you'd like to accentuate and you'll be ready for some smooth sailing.  There are just so many good sailor puns!

Here are a some of my fave Riviera-worthy finds:

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Molly in Pink

 

I'm not sure if chiffon is flammable but you must admit, Molly Ringwald knew how to rock a pink bridesmaid dress like no other. 

Remember the last scene in Pretty in Pink (or was it 16 Candles?) where Molly Ringwald has finally snagged her Jake and they're sitting cross-legged on top of the dining room table, birthday cake flames flickering dangerously between them as they lean in for potentially THE most awkward kiss ever.  Tell me you didn't wish it was you.  I am loving all of the pretty pinks that popped up all over the runways this season and though indeed a very girly colour, pink is undeniably irresistible.  Even if you don't fancy yourself a 'pink person', I dare you to try it out this spring.  After all, it just might help you score that perfect Jake.  Real Life Runway Tip:  What I love about this look from Tommy Hilfiger is the grounding effect of the black blazer.  It adds that perfect hint of sophistication to all of the cotton-candy sweetness.  The shoes are a sidenote but neutral is your best bet for visually elongating your gams.

The Life Aquatic

Brigitte, Coco, and Audrey in the can't-escape-trend du jour, stripes.  Does anyone else feel like hitting le Club 55 for some rosé and moules right about now?