Oh, how we all love winter in the Midwest! Snow showers, cold weather, and bundling up are the norm for us this time of year. While we love our layering and cozy sweaters a lot, now is when we start to think of the nicer weather to come; and with it the new fashion ideas for spring. While not all the ideas presented at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week are necessarily new, they are an accumulation of food for fashion thought nonetheless. I have chosen a few photographs that I took during the runway shows that illustrate some of the looks that we could all love for spring and summer in 2014.

Artistic interpretations of prints take a more subtle turn with quiet geometric prints for men and women. Sporty sweaters like this crew neck from Lacoste, will speak volumes about your style without shouting it from the rooftops. Colors are muted and on the pastel side of the spectrum.  These kinds of prints work well with white and other soft neutrals.

Manpower for girls isn’t new but these fresh takes from designer Tracy Reese are. Graphic print blazers are paired with loose fitting tops and shorts for spring this year.  Adding to the cool factor are the jaunty scarf and the dapper hat.  This is pattern mixing at its best, where the color comes from the golden tones and the black and white of the checks and dots mix together well. The subtle paisley of the shorts look almost neutral here. Did I mention hats for ladies will be around to stay for a while?

Bright and tropical was the vibe at the Desigual runway show. Playful patterns in bold hues of corals and oranges, mingled with greens to celebrate the spring and summer to come.  Notice that the print does a balancing act between the cool tones of the green and the warmth of the oranges and corals. This is exactly what I mean when I speak of complementary, but not matching tones in a print or in an outfit.  When trying this look, lay your items out and stand a few feet away. They should “pop” in a good way but not “clash” in a bad way. Learning to know this important difference is what will send you to the top of the fashion ladder this season!

Monochromatic ensembles are tricky business, but can work like this all coral look from Lacoste for spring and summer 2014. The key when doing a look like this is to bring out the contrast in lengths as they did here with the short tennis dress paired with a longer unstructured coat. They kept the shoes neutral and the jewelry non-existent. This color of coral/peach is a knockout on brunettes like the gal pictured here, and is a universally flattering shade for almost everyone else depending on the garment.

A designer for men and women, Trina Turk shows us with a tableau of fun ensembles that are all over the place style-wise. Checks, floral, solids, short shorts, bell bottoms, maxi’s, knee length, and of course the all-important hats, are very cheerful and illustrate that there are little to no rules when it comes to looking great this season! 

Keep checking back in the next few weeks as I share some of the other totally watch-worthy trends from the spring and summer 2014 collections at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Ideas are what it’s all about when it comes to pulling it all together, so why not start your warm weather shopping now at Goodwill, where emulating designer looks aren’t out of reach - and your purchases help lend a hand to those less fortunate through our many programs.