Color Trend: Going Nude This Spring

Have you notice that you’ve begun to look at your winter wardrobe with a bewitching evil eye ( I think I actually yelled at my winter coat the other morning!)- and lusting for a few new things that will be perfect for the fairer weather that you are sure just has to be lurking around the corner.

Well than the spring fever bug my have just cast it’s spell on you.  Now all you need to know is the colors that will instantly update your wardrobe- the ones that will have the most bang for the buck and how to wear them.

So like the title suggest ( you knew I was talking color- right ) I begin this week looking at my favorite trendy colors  as we bunny hop into spring/summer 2009- the first being the ever exciting, yet sometime challenging colors called ‘nude’.

runway looks from Rodarte, Prada and Max Azira from Style.com

It’s pretty much a given that every spring lighter colors evolve back into the limelight. What makes the colors so exciting this time around is how they are being reworked in shimmery, flowy  ( and even quite wrinkled- thanks Prada ) fabrics.

No longer designated to staple classics, like pants and trenches… khaki, stone and ecru along with fleshy pinks and champagne creams are making their way onto sophisticated day and edgy evening wear.

This photo from Luckymag.com shows some glam starlets from this year’s Oscars ceremony- hum, do you think their stylists had an eye on this past falls runway?  You always can gauge the strength of a spring trend by how many stars begin wearing it during the winter’s award season… looks like this one’s a keeper.

But anyone who loves these sexy pale tones can tell you- it ain’t easy always getting it right.  Depending on your hair, eye and skin color certain pales will flatter while others have you looking all washed up.  I think the best way to remedy that ( since I can’t see you all through my computer) is to tell you before you buy test a few different version up to your face to determine which one looks best ( preferably in a mirror with the best day-lighting possible, if this is not available ask a friend or sales person their opinion ).

Remember too that often times its the layering and varying of texture of these colors that make them most exciting. The starlet’s dresses above all had a sparkly finish- that’s way they all look so good in a monochromatic version of these shades… this is something to remember because a shimmery effect ( like a metallic ) can help nudes from going ‘drab’ when they are not surrounded by other colors.

I think these two images from JCrew.com are great examples of balancing nude colors… notice how the girl on the left has on a pinker- tone nude.  The grayish/silver shirt, rosy makeup and darker khaki shorts balances out her coloring… while the girl on the right’s beautiful darker skin tone is super pretty in a nude that has a peachier finish.  Her gold jewelry, pure white jeans and coral colored makeup balance her out. Neither look washed out- right!

If you do find yourself feeling a bit ‘drained’ in a nude top or bottom you already own and love ( guilty as charged ) simply adding a dash of a color you know you look great in can help… thank goodness brightly colored scarves, jumbo necklaces and chunky earrings are so in fashion right now- they can be a lifesaver in cases like this.  Or consider buying a new ‘nude’ ( perhaps one with a shimmery finish )to layer with it…. this may help breath some new life into that existing piece that is hanging in your closet and just dying to be worn!

Slightly stained lips and cheeks were all over fashion week and the right shades look oh-so- fresh for spring.  Again let your coloring help you to decide.

For day fair complexions tend to look prettiest in pink…. adding a heavy lined lid and a dusting of a shimmery high lightening powder takes this almost ‘nude’ face into evening.

Darker skin basks in the glow of sheer orange and corals- how cute are her freckles peeking through her light handed makeup!

While at night a frosty, iridescent shimmer is my absolute favorite for everyone!  Notice her practically nude eyelashes- yes this is a trend too.. I think it looks so modern ( but seriously doubt I will ever be brave enough to ever attempt on purpose).

If you noticed in all of the pictures the models cheek bone are clearly defined and are almost the same color as their lips…. this to me is key…as it gives you the freedom to wear a nude inspired face with light, bright and dark colors clothes.

Some good tricks of the trade.. Kevyn Aucoin’s flesh toned lip pencil ($24), sculpting powder ($42- it’s the one mega-makeup-artist Pat McGrath used on the runway this season)  and liquid Cyber Gloss ($27) for a sheer colored lip with a little added sparkle-are all safe bet and can be picked up your local Sephora.

Nude color sandals and heels are a must for anyone wanting to elongate their legs this summer… the same rules apply so pick a shade that best compliments your legs natural coloring…. Oh Pucci, why do you taunt me so? ( $580 from Piperlime.com- I’m a size 8 in case anyone cares ).

Now what’s on my list to update on the cheap.. a nude lip pencil and a nude lip color for sure… and I will be trying that sculpting powder, as well… would love to say a nude colored exotic skin clutch and a satin-y and sexy grecian wrap dress and a … oh, who am I kidding -it’s just so not happening … so realistically I’m liking:

A new spring tote- the color and shape of this one from The Gap ( $34.50) is super cute and I think would make an unexpected foil to the brighter shades that already exist in my wardrobe.

a pair of nude sandals- these Micheal Kor’s pair from Intermixonline.com ( $298) are worth every penny because they can multitask throughout my daytime wardrobe….it’s hard to see in this pix but the cording on the platform is jute with a metallic silver threading- so I’m guessing they have a nice little sparkle in the sun!

And most definitely… nude colored nail polish for my tootsies like this lovely shade ‘Cocoa’ from Creative Nail Design- I’m in love with the idea of nude colored nails for the warmer months and this opaque version from CND is sure to be one of the hottest colors of the season- plus at less than $10 bucks a bottle it’s by far the easiest ( and ‘budget friendliest’) ways to be colorfully on trend all summer long!

And just so you know- I’ll be giving away the entire CND’s spring/summer2009 collection to a lucky winner soon- more on this to come tomorrow!

lipstick swatches from covergirl.com

lip gloss swatch from Kevyn Aucoin collection from Sephora.com