Spring/Summer 2012 Fashion

I'm the kind of person who flips through fashion magazines, sipping an orange soda and flagging the spreads that appeal to me. I can't afford the beautiful clothes I see—I can't even afford the "real-way" versions of them—but it's a fun escape from my real life. When I'm done, I go back and look the pages I dog-eared, and what at first seems like a random collection of clothes starts to fit into neat little categories. I get two unique pleasures from this: the kind you get when you figure out what makes you a little different from other people, from placing yourself; and the kind you get when you imagine a better (or maybe just more glamorous) version of yourself. There's a practical benefit, too; later, when you're out shopping and you see dozens of things you like, it can help you narrow it down.

This spring, all my favorite items fit loosely into four categories, posted below. Not surprisingly, a lot of them remind me of other countries or time periods. I think what appeals to me about them is the idea of being transported into a story, maybe about living in another country or era or wandering around an exotic region of the world. Who knows what might happen to you if you're there? Obviously, the story doesn't become my real life, but it makes my real life feel more exciting.

Dramatic
I've noticed a lot of lace lately. The Big designers, like Valentino, Oscar de la Renta, and Chanel, all have versions of lacy white dresses. If I wore these clothes, I'd feel like I lived in a little apartment in Florence. I can see myself running down to the corner cafe for my espressos and scooting around town on a Vespa. The black outfit doesn't exactly fit in, but it's still got that romantic, dramatic flair. I  would probably only go as far as wearing a lacy or crocheted top or skirt with a casual counterpart.

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Colorful
These looks don't remind me of anything or anywhere in particular; I'm just drawn to the bright colors. I'm not a big pastel person, so maybe I like these as counterparts to pale yellow, baby blue, and cotton-candy pink. I'd probably just wear a solid colored dress or a pair of bright pants with either a white top or a top in a complementary shade, although I know some people would go way more bold.

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Printed
I always like prints, and I know I'm not alone. The prints I like right now are either nature-inspired or small and abstract. I have had this vision in my mind for awhile of a tight black dress with tiny fuchsia roses. The modern shape would counteract the old-fashioned feel of the roses. I would never wear a tight dress, though.... The same idea applies to an old-fashioned shape, like a prim day dress. The shape looks cool with a big, crazy print, which brings me around to what these clothes remind me of: 1940s day dresses. 

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Bohemian
In the spring and summer, it's hard not to like boho-inspired clothes. They make me think of frolicking around Eastern Europe with nothing to do but move from town to town, drinking, eating, and sleeping on the beach or a flower-covered hillside. Sounds nice, doesn't it? I can imagine wearing lots of jewelry and flat sandals with these clothes. Etro and Roberto Cavalli have the high-end of this look covered.

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What I really wear this spring and summer will be a lot different than what I've posted here, but sometimes it's nice to visit another world for a little while.