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When it comes to scouting new trends, the obvious place to start is the runway.  While copying ideas directly from the catwalk can be a bit far-fetched (hello, giant flower headpieces and feathered booties), they’re the best sources of fashion inspiration.  Finding your own way to interpret the latest runway trends is the trick to looking perfectly of-the-moment without sacrificing personal style.

That being said, one of the most glamorous trends this season is also the easiest to wear!  Bright, saturated colors in simple shapes create instant drama, and with the right accessories and attitude, the look is clean, effortless and youthful.

The photo below highlights one of the biggest color trends this season: ORANGE.  In hues from pale tangerine to bright poppy, orange is fresh, bold, and oddly classic – all at the same time.

As young college students, we have lots of room to experiment with this vibrant color!  It’s easy to make a statement with a geometric persimmon dress or chunky orange wedge, but if you want something a little more understated, try a sweet sheer top with orange-juice-tinted stripes.

Other colors to look out for this season are yellow, teal, lime, and white (yes, it counts).  If you’re up for a particularly bold look, try combining any (or all) of these hues together! Below is an example from the Gucci Spring 2011 collection — note that by mixing cool colors together, the looks are vibrant, yet not over-the-top.  Unfussy shapes and hues from the same color family work together to keep the outfits polished and sophisticated.

If that’s still too much look for you, try mixing 1 bright color with a subtle pattern.  Clean stripes or girly liberty-print are both the perfect foils to electric shades – they soften and refine the look without competing for attention.  Try a lime skirt with a navy stripe tee, like the Alice + Olivia Spring 2011 look below!

Simple accessories like thin scarves and dainty necklaces keep the look balanced and allow you to try your hand at mixing colors subtly. Spring pastels like seafoam, lilac, and lemon look sweet and unexpected paired with brighter hues like cobalt, lime and orange.  And don’t forget about those nails! The rainbow of bold, matte polishes from Essie make adding a punch of color to your outfit almost too easy!

Image Sources: style.com, essie.com

By Jennifer Davis

It seems like winter is here and is here to stay. With the frigid cold temperatures, leaving the house seems like a daunting task. The wind is whipping in your face, the chill spreads and all you want to do is stay indoors, but when you have to take the inevitable trip outdoors I am sure you will want to stay warm but still look cute. The best way to do this is through warm weather accessories. From hats, gloves and scarves, there is an endless array of cozy accessories to choose from.

As 60 percent of heat is lost from your head, when the temperatures drop, it is important to make sure you have a cute hat or headband to combat the chill. Now, I am one of those people that look terrible in a knit cap, but there are other alternatives. If a hat is not your style, try a knit headband. Anthropologie’s “Wintermallows Headwrap” is a stylish alternative. The flowers on the side add a cute touch and make it much more than an average headband.

Scarves always add an extra layer of protection from the cold. Circle scarves seem to be the must have scarf of the season. They are easy to wear and always seem to look cute even when you are not trying. Both Madewell and J.Crew have some great circle scarves that are sure to strike anyone’s fancy.

You cannot round out winter accessories without a great pair of gloves. You can never go wrong with a classic pair of knit gloves, but if you are looking for something a little funkier, try button flap mittens. You get the warmth of the mittens and versatility of gloves, what could be better?

However, you cannot brave the cold without a nice warm coat. The always classic pea coat is a personal favorite of mine. It never goes out of style and it always looks good. You can’t go wrong. With all of these accessories there is no reason to fear the cold, so go forth, bundle up and look great.

Images courtesy of anthropologie.com, jcrew.com and madewell.com

By Jennifer Davis

With one week until Thanksgiving the Holiday countdown begins. This is a stressful time of endless parties, family gatherings, dinners and meeting up with old friends. During these times, you always want to look your best. However, sometimes the madness of the holidays can bring you down. That means that you need to simplify what you’re wearing, but still look great. The easiest way to do this is by grabbing your nearest party dress. This season, Urban Outfitters has come up with a catchy and clever way to give us youthful consumers just what we need to sparkle this holiday season.

On their website they have presented the “12 Days of Dresses.” The 12 Days of Dresses is a play on the popular Christmas song, “The 12 Days of Christmas.” There is a Partridge Dress, Dove Dress, French Dress, Bird Dress, Golden Ring Dress, Gosling Dress, Swan Dress, Milkmaid Dress, Ladies Dancing Dress, Lords Leaping Dress, Pipers Dress and Drummers Dress. This is such a unique concept. When you go to the website, the shopping experience is made even better because the models come to life when you scroll over them.

All of these dresses, like most of clothes at Urban Outfitters, are reasonably priced and are perfect for the season. With a range of styles that are sure to suit everyone. Most of the dresses have sparkles or embellishments that will allow you to shine at any holiday party.

One of my favorites from 12 days of dresses collection is the “Bird Dress.” It is a simple black dress, but the embellished neckline adds pizzazz. It’s an updated version of the Little Black Dress, which means you can’t go wrong.

Another dress that I fell in love with is the “Lords Leap Dress.” Nothing says the holiday season like some sparkle, and this dress has aplenty. This simple black sheath is made of a special fabric: the sequins are two-ways. You can move your across the fabric and change it from black to silver and back again.

Check out the rest of the collection at Urban Outfitters, and happy pre-holiday shopping!

Photos Courtesy of Urban Outfitters and Instyle.com