With the beautiful weather and the carefree schedules, summer is the time to experiment and play with your style. And while the new trends for 2012 are hot, there's no need to break that collegiette budget of yours by running out to buy every fad off the runway. Here's your guide on what and how to rock these up-to-the-moment trends, what to revive from 2011 and what to donate to the thrift shops this year, creating a mix of trendy must-haves and classic summer staples. A well rounded summer wardrobe and fatter wallet are in your future.
Neons and Pastels
HC contributing writer and Boston University student Kelsey Mulvey is right on trend: "Say goodbye to your neutrals because this summer is all about pastels and brights!"
When Miu Miu, Versace and Jason Wu debuted neon frocks in their 2011 spring collections, the show-stopping colors made headlines in the fashion mags, but weren't yet adapted for casual streetwear. This year, the neon trend is popping up everywhere again. The brights provide a loud "notice-me" look without saying a word and are perfect for accentuating a summer tan.
With all this noise, there’s little space for those timid neutrals from last year's wardrobe. If you're not so sure about diving into neons for fear of looking like you're a rave gone bad, opt for balancing the contrast of neons with soft pastels. Pair a skinny neon belt, neon cross-body bag or neon rimmed shades with last year's light cardigans or flowy dresses. Major retailers are hopping on the trend. Check Target or Delia's for cheap accessories to make your outfit pop.
Wayfarers and Round Rims
Sleek wayfarer shades never go out of style. Although they've been on the back burner the past few years with celebs like Nicole Richie wearing huge, face-covering glasses, the classic silhouette has made a glorious comeback so stick the bug-eyes on the back burner this season. Amada Seyfried and Katy Perry each put their signature spin on the shades and you can too. The go-to brand for wayfarers is Ray-Ban but for creative variations that won't break the bank, Urban Outfitters has crazy frames for you to choose from for about $14 a piece.
And as if to pay homage to John Lennon himself, the round rim frame has been revived for a look of modern day mod. Beyonce has been spotted wearing these frames doing everything from running errands with baby Blue to accompanying Jay to a New York Knicks game, proving the frames can be versatile and effortlessly cool.
Don't worry about playing the guessing game of whether this silhouette will work with your face shape. Whether you have an oval, square, heart or rounded jaw line, the circular frames will balance the contours of your face. To kill two trends with one stone, try these tribal print round rims from H&M for only $9.95.
Colorful and Printed Denim
With emphasis on bright and youthful hues, it's safe to say that the destroyed and acid washed look of last year's denim should be shelved in favor of colorful and printed jeans, either in pastel hues or funky prints. Tangerine, yellow and mint are some the biggest colors of the season, which go perfectly with the feminine lacy tops that were popular last year.
This pastel yellow pair of jeans by Life in Progress for Forever 21 for $27.80 cuts just above the ankle, making them versatile enough to dress down with comfy printed flats or dress up with date night wedges.
For more of a walk on the wild side, try the trend of printed denim. This trend allows you to rock prints in an unexpected place, which go perfect with last year's trend of peek-a-boo crochet tops for a mix of textures. These floral printed denim shorts from Forever 21 are a deal at $19.80.
