Prints Anyone? ...Oh Wait!

Hola,

What's new my fashionistas?

So... now that you've seen the title of this blog, can you guess what I've decided to chat about this week? If you guessed "printed fabric," you are correct. I figured since color was last week's theme, why not elaborate a bit on solid colors versus print and what is most popular. So let's go...

While I believe that solid colors are by far more popular than print, printed fabrics always seem to find their way onto our fashion runways. Some are quite beautiful and eye-catching. There is no denying that some designers use print in a lovely way. It all depends on your personal tastes and what type you prefer. Some of the more common prints are floral, polka dots, stripes, animal, plaid, geometric, paisley, hounds tooth and conversation print which is most often used on t-shirts. They can be bold, bright and busy or more subdued. Again, it all depends on your taste.

As for myself, I prefer solid colors. I actually went through my closet before writing this blog just to see what I had going on, and I admit I'm guilty of going pretty much "print-less." I have a pair of Hollister plaid shorts which I adore, and a few other prints but not too many. I do like a pretty, tasteful animal print, a hounds tooth coat or short dress is also very pretty. Hmm, I just may invest in a printed coat this winter ;).

Now then, if you are going to go the print route, I would ask you to keep it to just one article of clothing. Everything else you wear should be solid and subtle. Let the print speak for itself and stand out on its own. Mixing prints is hardly ever a good idea except on the runway or if you find prints that really work together which is very possible. Here are some "how to wear" suggestions by yours truly:

• Animal print goes perfect with black or dark brown, depending on which color is used on the fabric. Both of these solid colors will give the print an elegant look and will allow the print to shine.
• Floral goes well with neutrals (black, white, brown, gray), depending on the type and the colors on the design. You can also choose one of the stand out colors on the print and wear that shade as your solid color.
• Hounds Tooth looks great on a skirt, blazer or coat. I usually prefer this material for winter which makes it easy to pair with a dark solid color. Very lovely!
• Stripes and Plaid again, depending on the design you can match accordingly. A well designed plaid pant can be really cute (i.e.: my cute Hollister plaid shorts).

When I choose print, I usually go with a top, dress or skirt. It's kind of tricky finding a really cute pair of pants with a nice floral design, polka dots or animal print. I feel like it would be too much; too busy. I would, however, suggest a striped pair of pants in a subtle design with a gray, navy or black background. You cannot go wrong especially if you need to dress for business.

As far as body type, some printed fabrics can be tricky. Horizontal stripes are not a good choice if you are on the curvier or stocky side. Same goes with prints that are extremely busy (too much floral, polka dots). These prints can work against my curvier fashionistas. Definitely go with animal, a delicate hounds tooth or a very subtle geometric print. Remember you can tone these down by wearing a solid black. All in all, there are great choices for everybody but you just have to choose the right ones. Go ahead and try, work it!

So there you have it my loves. My take on print... Going back to my title and the reason I added "oh wait" is because I would prefer that you not go overboard or jump right in. Think it through first. I repeat, prints are very tricky but as long as they are worn correctly, anyone can wear them. Stop and make a wise decision when shopping. Make sure you have purchased or have a solid color in your closet that you can pair the item with. If you take these ideas into consideration, you will be one sexy, confident and fabulously dressed woman in print! I promise.

So what do you think? Are you a fan of any or all prints? How do you wear them? Do you agree with my point of view? Have you ever mixed prints and if so, did it work? Let us all know. Comment below and let's chat. Go... #engage!

Until we meet again! Hasta luego.

Gracias,

AnnaCris <3

ps: Thank you to the lovely "Gretchen" for her input. ;)

It's A "Colorful" Season

Hola,

How are all my fashionistas doing today?

So I've chosen my first official fashion blog to chat with you about "color." The obvious choice would have been to discuss the upcoming "clothing trends" for spring/summer, but I'm not an obvious person so "color" it is! :)

I personally think color is very important in a wardrobe. It's among the first choices we make with any ensemble. When we're shopping, we choose what color matches with what, what shade will draw attention, make us look sexy, elegant, classy and beautiful, what works best with our skin tone, etc. Some of us even color coordinate our closets. So yes, color is a major factor in the world of fashion. I believe that there is nothing more refreshing than a splash of something bright and eye catching in an outfit. While I am a fan of the basic neutral tones (whites, browns, tans, grays), I can't exclude lovely hues of yellows, blues, greens and yes, even orange from my closet. These shades go very well with your basic neutral tones as well as with the ever popular black.

For the spring/summer season of 2013, the prediction is looking quite colorful. The most popular fashion runways were a delicacy of delicious brilliant, dusky blues, emerald greens, poppy reds, gorgeous violets, vivid oranges and sunny yellows. The beauty of these colors is that they can be mixed and matched. Yellows, oranges and greens go very well with blues. You can also wear any of these shades with "white" which goes well with just about everything, and is a great option especially during the hot summer days when you want to stay cool. Other neutral tones can be played up with any of these gorgeous colors as well. Have fun and play with your outfit to see what works best together; you will be pleasantly surprised at the unlikely matches. Go with whatever makes you comfortable and happy. Just think of how lovely spring and summer will look if all of us beautiful women decided to add any or all of these lovely, bright colors to our wardrobes. It would be simply delightful! Go ahead... Give it a try.

Check out this cute summery, design by yours truly in green and yellow. This design will be a part of the dress collection that I plan to develop in the coming months so please stay tuned. This is the perfect example for you to see that unlikely colors can work well together:

With that being said, I'm not suggesting that you completely disregard darker tones such as black for the spring/summer months. However, if you are going to wear black, I would recommend keeping it at a minimum. Perhaps a cardigan or a jacket over a bright dress (you can always take it off during the day). Wear a black pair of slacks, a skirt or a dark pair of jeans (indigo is fabulous), but add a "splash" with a bright top. I know black is pretty much the "go to" shade for most women and is considered safe, but this season I would ask you to try something new and take a risk. These colors will stand out in a beautiful way, and they can make you feel so sexy and confident plus give you a "light and airy" feel during those breezy spring days and hazy days of summer. So go on and work it!

As for myself, I have to confess that yellow is one of my favorite colors. It is definitely a nice "splash" for most of my outfits, plus I really like how it compliments my skin tone. During the summer, I love wearing different shades of yellow either with a pair of jeans, a white skirt or pant. This works for me. Find what works for you, and have some fun.

So... what are YOUR favorite bright colors for this spring/summer? Are you excited to put away the dark hues of winter and bring on the lovely shades of the season? Comment below and let me know what colors you are most looking forward to adding to your wardrobe and how you will match them up. If you have to go on a little "shopping spree" before you comment, I encourage you to do so and then please come back and share ;). Otherwise, let's chat below and give each other fabulous ideas. Go... #engage!

Until next time!

Gracias,

Annacris <3

Allow Me To Introduce Myself

Hola!

Welcome to AnnaCris' blog,

My parents gave me the lovely name Anna Cristina Perez. I am of Hispanic origin; I grew up in New York City and am a fashion designer/blogger and an aspiring entrepreneur. For years I've wanted to unleash the creativity inside of me and launch my own business. I've always known that I was meant to be a fashion designer and the time has come to light the spark and get this moving. I studied fashion and love everything about it. I'm a quiet person in general but when I write, I feel this freedom to let go and speak my mind so why not mesh the two, and create something fun! My goal with this blog is to focus on fashion, but also write about lifestyles, travels, business, etc. I'd also like to make YOU a part of the blog by creating "what if"  scenarios (could be fashion related or anything in general), and asking you to engage - something fun and different. I may occasionally include a Spanish based blog, a video blog or just add some "Spanglish" to my writings (it's a Latin thing). I will post once or twice a week to start, and may expand to more depending on feedback.

My fashion tastes include just about everything. I love a cute little dress, a great fitting pair of jeans, mile high heels (especially boots) and wonderful accessories. I love the process of building an outfit right down to an awesome piece of jewelry. So if you're looking for cool fashion ideas, this is a place to visit. Some of my favorite designers are Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, Isabel Marant and Carlos Miele to name a few.

When I blog about other topics, they will be based on my experiences, however, please feel free to share your own. Once I launch my fashion website, I will also include blogging about the startup process, my struggles and successes so that my audience can find a resource should they be interested in entrepreneurship. By the same token, if you are already a business owner, please do not hesitate to share your experiences and any tips you feel will be helpful.

So I hope what you've read so far will peak your curiosity for the next blog. I strongly encourage you to comment, participate and offer ideas on topics you'd like to hear about.

I hope this is the beginning of us becoming fast friends and having many fun and exciting conversations. Thank you for stopping by.

Gracias!
AnnaCris