Are you ready for your speed-guide to the directions fashion is heading in this spring? Here's all you need to know,  pithy version:
Synopsis: 70's casual glam meets 80's excess meets 90's irreverance
Staying: sport/athleisure, florals, blue denim, ruffles, the trench, oversized silhouettes, strong shoulders, white - both accessories and monochrome
Picking up steam: maximalism - embellishments of many ilks, frills, fringe. Sequins. The 80's (strong shoulders, statement sleeves, embellished everything, oversized silhouettes). Pastels, especially lilac. Yellow is making a comeback. Also clean, strong colors. Not 80's neons, but intense. Plastic-wear. Pearls.
Coloring the above: plaids and checks, logos. Slouchy, low-key 90's attitude (think off-duty Selena Gomez).

Zendaya’s Oscars look really lit up my world! It was a stunning execution of a piece in a distinctive and unusual color. That got me wondering why it is so unusual. Why don’t we see more brown in fashion? The world raves over black and beige, but rich, gorgeous brown takes a back seat. And it doesn’t seem to me that it should. It’s a color of luxury, decadence and nature: chocolate candy and cocoa, coffee, mink fur, maple syrup, tree bark, antique wood. It’s the lush, warm variant of black, made for anchoring jewel tone looks and grounding fiery bright shades and has the intriguing quality of being both opulent and a comfort color.  I gravitate toward iterations created with gold, burgundy and amber hues, as I find them much easier to pair up than cooler taupe tones with a lot of gray or black in them. Try chocolate, mahogany and coffee tones with crimson, garnet, coral, peach, mango yellow, amber and ivory for complementary looks, or contrast the warmth with cool cobalt (Wendy at Wendy’s Lookbook does it beautifully here), forest green or vibrant eggplant. Play up the earthy side of these hues with 70s-referencing or bohemian-tinged pieces, or slant your look to the sophisticated side with preppy-leaning combinations. Accessorize it with pearls – their soft glow melds perfectly with the earthy, elegant vibe – or gold metal pieces. Definitely also give your rose gold pieces a chance to play here too – blush and chocolate is in incredible pairing! Brown is also dynamite with leopard print. While black enhances the cool tones of the spots, brown pulls forward the warm glow of the backdrop. Don’t forget about doing accessories in the shade, either. Brown leather boots are ultra-classic and chic, especially paired with simple classics (think ivory cable sweater and blue denim, or a tweed hunting jacket and leggings).  Crushing on brown yet? Maybe it's time to have your own Zendaya moment! ;)

Today, I wanted to share a few quick comments on noteworthy Spring/Summer 2018 collections:
Givenchy:  Clare Keller is promising, but not honed yet
Luisa Beccaria: gorgeous, light-infused collection
Dior: joltingly not good. An unfortunate showing for the iconic brand.
Haider Ackerman: the brand’s hallmark minimalism, done in an intriguing way
Mugler: some brilliant moments
Elie Saab: a nice update of the brand’s trademark beauty
Elisabetta Franchi: uneven, but the good is stunning
Armani: the freshness of color hits the brand’s trademark flawless tailoring
Dolce & Gabbana: an engaging collection, not mindblowing, but definitely appealing
Moschino: punk princess. Jeremy Scott always has at least one conversation piece. Last year, it was the chandelier dress. This year, it’s the Calla Lily dress.
Louis Vuitton: I’ve never fully understood the celeb love for this brand. This year doesn’t enlighten me.