Saturation Point

I mentioned the other day that I’ve been loving the “palette structure” that has defined so many of the Spring/Summer 2011 collections from my favorite labels, including Lanvin, Celine, and Chloe.  By that I meant that so many of them featured predominantly neutral palettes livened up by pops of hot pink, coral, orange, and what fashion editors are now dubbing “honeysuckle,” which Pantone has designated “the color of 2011.”  And then there were those — like Jil Sander and Nina Ricci — who went all.out.BRIGHTS.  I’m loving both approaches — the appeal of fully saturated color is fresh.period.

{looks from this little magpie’s favorite lines: Lanvin, left, and Chloe, right}

{Valentino and YSL}

{full on color pops from Jil Sander and Nina Ricci}

Even though it’s snowy outside, I can’t help but embrace the springtime colors.  First, I’d l.o.v.e. this happy orange wrap dress (who else but Diane Von Furstenberg — $365, Barney’s):

I’d pair with a festive beaded necklace ($160, Loren Hope) and some nude pointy-toed slingbacks (very Stella McCartney — on super sale for $57, Lori’s Shoes) for a perfect workerbee outfit:

Inspiration behind the look (as if I need more than the runway trend)?  Mark Rothko’s “White Cloud Over Purple” — you can buy an inexpensive print for only $19 at Amazon!)

I’m also loving the retro styling on this inexpensive Dorothy Perkins frock ($50, Dorothy Perkins):

Go full-on bright with some fuchsia suede Louboutins ($695, Net-A-Porter) and then tone it all down with a blush-colored scarf (Chan Luu, $180, Les Pomettes) and a nude-colored quilted bag (Marc Jacobs, $744, Matches):

(For a strikingly similar, bargain version of the quilted bag above, check out this $26 ASOS find.)  P.S. I d.i.e. over the rich fuchsia shade of the Louboutins above — suh-woon.  I fell in love with the color when I saw it on this KILLER MaxMara dress — O.M.G.:

With that dream-worthy color in mind, I’m also loving this similarly-hued, artful silken blouse ($198, SeatonSurf), which I’d pair with dark skinnies and some nude flats (Fendi, $520, Barney’s):

This woven leather tote ($110, Lori’s Shoes) would coordinate perfectly —

— while a pair of sparkling enorma-studs ($55, Kendra Scott) and a pink-accented necklace ($168, Wendy Mink) liven things up:

Another perfect “casual day” outfit (ideal for shopping)?  This covet-listed shirt-dress ($280, ShopBird), which I’d pair with some serious jewel-age ($450, WendyMink):

I’d top it off with some polished gold earrings ($60, Jenny-Bird), a roomy BRIGHT tote (I’m not usually huge on logos like this one, but something about its design is vintage-chic to me — $310, Zappos), and some cut-out flats ($126, Thera M):

Ooh la la.  And how chic would you look in this rich purple dress (Whit, $435, ShopBird), accented by sparkling costume clips ($70, Charm and Chain):

I’d finish with a printed scarf ($295, Les Pomettes) and some vanilla-colored pointy-toed pumps ($140, Tony Bianco):

I’d finish with a corresponding Melie Bianco tote ($96, Lori’s Shoes):

Alternately, how darling would this blush-toned dress (DVF, $485, Matches) look with some BRIGHT coral pumps ($79, Vince Camuto)?

I’d funk it up with this statement-making agate necklace ($220, Dear Fieldbinder)

Or maybe I’d go Valentine’s Day chic, with a peachy-pink blouse top (Marni, $270, Browns) and a BRIGHT reddish-pink skirt (on sale for $98, Singer22):

I’d finish with (big surprise) neutrals, like this nude leather “waterfall” clutch ($60, ASOS) and a pair of nude patent wedges (Marc by Marc Jacobs, $330, Net-A-Porter):

Slick.  You can also feel slick while letting the designers do the color pairing on your behalf, as with this Issa dress (on sale for $280, JosephM — and as a reminder, this designer is pretty hip right now, since Kate Middleton wore one of the label’s lines when announcing her engagement to Prince William):

Insta-modernize with some enorma-studs ($65, Charm and Chain), a funky little laser-cut-petaled clutch (Sondra Roberts, $98, Nordstrom), and these affordable Charles David platforms (only $125! — PiperLime):

And finally — for those of us only interested in “popping” with color (rather than fully saturating ourselves in it)– how about this yummy drape-front sweater ($335, Seaton Surf) over a white blouse ($118, Madewell), paired with your skinnies and some chic cork flats ($165, PrettyBallerinas):

Add these right-on-trend cat-eyes (Chloe, $103, TheOutnet), a  funky necklace (Suzanna Dai, $365, Charm and Chain), and a festive oversized tote ($498, Instilo), and you’re set:

I don’t know about you, but I’m loving the prospect of spring right now…