Women’s Spring Fashions and Style Tips

 “I’m really into orange eye shadow — a little bit in the crease. It brightens you up and it feels modern again. It’s really good for blue eyes. I’m so sick of the smoky eye that I could scream.”

“Pale skin is back in. That tanned look is going to become passé.”

“There are two camps: neutral and color. The neutral speaks for itself. The color is about hot pinks and hot corals — tangerine colors. You can put a pink or a tangerine gloss over your usual lip color or you can go full-out.”

— Todd Skog, Makeup artist/owner, Todd’s Room, Birmingham

“I like the juxtaposition of organic patterns with geometric ones, or mixing geometric ones with themselves, like stripes with argyle.”

“Pantone’s ‘Cockatoo,’ a modern aqua, is my top choice for a softer color.”

“For transition, the key is layers. A soft cardigan with your new spring/summer dress can work, so can the right boots. And don’t just layer for temperature, do it to really add dimension and interest to your outfit.”

“I like hats for gentlemen and ladies. A lot of the runway shows are drawing upon 1920s influences, which I think is overdue.”

— Rachel Lutz, Owner, The Peacock Room, Detroit

“[Hair] is fresh, simple, and not contrived — a sort of classic American glamour ranging
from polished ponytails and simple braids to bouncy blowouts, nothing too perfect or impeccable: deconstructed waves, undone knots, and twists. A very technical, framed, soft-layered haircut
will accomplish this and make it easy to care for and wear.”

— Bashar Kallabat, owner-stylist, HB Salon, Somerset Collection, Troy

Warm-weather essential: “Brightly colored shoes — they just make me happy when I look down at them.”

On her fashion list for spring: “The Burberry multi-colored woven or beaded clutch; the tribal look is a nice contrast to some of the pastels that are being shown.”

“I love the idea of mixing the feminine of florals with the masculine of stripes, as Céline does with their beautiful floral jacket and wide striped pants.”

“Leather jackets are great for transition, as are blazers, which I think you will see a lot of this year over everything.”

— Adele Acheson, West Bloomfield Township

Warm-weather essentials: “A vintage sundress, a pair of denim Bermuda shorts, huarache sandals, and Ray-Bans. I live in a combination of these all spring and summer long.”

“I’m so excited to see so many blouses for spring. A silk blouse with some interesting design elements, like creative pleats or a structured sleeve, flatters nearly every figure and can adapt to spring’s unpredictable temperatures with a blazer or cardigan. I’ve been seeing some brilliant shades of coral and orange that mimic the sunshine and new tulip blooms all at once. The same blouse can be tucked into a pencil skirt or worn out with a pair of skinny jeans and flats.”

“I tend to lose the socks. I’m still wearing the same cigarette pants I’ve worn all winter, only now I don’t have to wear socks with my Tod’s loafers. That peek of bare ankle screams warm weather and sunshine.”

— Gabrielle Poshadlo, Patron Communications/Public Relations Manager, Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Warm-weather essentials: “Long cotton tube dresses, to provide the air and elegance to flow freely, and a classic black/white racer-back tank top to pair with shorts or a gauze-like skirt.”

“Typically, I tend to mix bold African prints with solid fabrics that play up one of the tones in the piece. This allows me to maintain my culturally eclectic style and sophistication simultaneously — without appearing overdone.”

— Tombi Stewart, teacher/fashion model, Detroit