You’ve heard it before, you’ll hear it again: This spring is all about color. And I’m not talking about your average spring pinks, blues and yellows – imagine all of turned up to maximum volume. From shocking neon pink to sunny yellow, you can’t go wrong with a bright, punchy ensemble.
However, you don’t want to look like walking signage. Though I’ll admit I’m a major fan of bright and neon colors, wearing a lot of bold hues together runs the risk of going overboard. (There’s nothing worse than looking like trend slave.)
Plus, when it comes to our daily college routine of studying, sleeping, and hanging out with friends, wearing head-to-toe neon is slightly impractical. No need to blind your professor with fluorescent jewelry at your 9:00 a.m. Spanish class.
You may recall I wrote about my love of neon not so long ago, but I’m giving it a brand new twist. To give neon pieces a chic, understated spin that doesn’t scream “trendy!” just add warm neutrals like beige and khaki.
Don’t write it off just yet; though you may have retired your old khakis back in junior high, neutrals work wonders to simultaneously emphasize and soften bright neon hues. A bright pink handbag stands out against a beige lace dress, yet the soft neutral helps tone down the loud, ultra-trendy magenta. Some designers are embracing this idea and creating clothes and accessories that already combine neon and neutrals (see the Clare Vivier clutch below) but you’ll find it’s remarkably easy to put together your own neon + neutral ensembles by mixing trendy pieces with clothing you already own.
{Clockwise from top left: Clare Viver clutches, Joie suede dress, Shourouk bracelet, Marc by Marc Jacobs bag, Marc by Marc Jacobs earrings, Steve Madden boots, Nixon watch, NARS nail polish}
