Spring Trends: Hiddden Hues

The great thing about a new season is uncovering all the new trends that emerge as more and more shoes arrive. Among our daily deliveries we've seen the merger of two distinct trends into one complimentary style. Neutral colors are plentiful as blacks, taupes and beiges arrive in a variety of materials. But pops of brilliant, saturated colors have also cropped up ... inside the neutrals!

This spring designers have taken advantage of the lining, the bottom of the sole and numerous other out-of-the-way areas to add a touch of personality and vivre to the quotidian basic. Jeffrey Campbell's Attic sports a bright aqua beneath its blacks and browns. Pour La Victoire's Bianca does the same with acid yellows and baby blues.

Like the caves at Lascaux, this artistry is intentionally hidden. But when just a peep is revealed it speaks volumes about your personality. (Unlike the caves, aurochs, buffalo and horses are not depicted on these shoes. Sorry.) It also gives you extra lattitude to style your wardrobe -- a second tier of colors to work with.

These shoes are fun, bright and upbeat -- the perfect introduction to spring!

Unstructured Hats

We are loving a surprise new look from San Diego Hat Company: the jersey railroader. Constructed like a basic engineer's cap with a medium brim, oval band and flat crown, SDHC takes it to a fashionable place by using a thin cotton jersey which is then folded and ruched into a complex form.

We think it's just the thing for warmer weather after all those heavy winter clothes. Unstructured, casual, lightweight and basic, this hat is the perfect topper for those breezy spring days that can't (we hope) be too far away. Scrunch it up, pull it down low, wear it off to the side. This chic and easy lid is simple warm weather style.

Layered Necklace Giveaway Winners!

We've finished our first round of giveaways in anticipation for spring and the enthusiastic response we've received is as exciting as the stuff we're giving away. We have some winners, but first a short recap:

Lori recently returned from a late-spring, early-fall show and found some really fantastic shoes. More importantly, she brought back with her some incredibly cute and versatile jewelry which we're giving away in our new Spring Countdown.

Each week leading up to the Vernal Equinox, we'll be giving away another piece Lori found in New York. Contest one, five layered necklace giveaways, is followed by four key-to-my-heart earrings, then three, then two, then one of upcoming secret surprises! Make sure you check back regularly to the giveaway page and this blog for winner notifications.

This week's winners:
Sarah S. from Asheville, NC
Tawanna N. from Rantoul, IL
Jordana R. from Chicago, IL
Kendra H. from Washington, D.C.
Aileen M. from Hoffman Estates, IL

Spring Trends, Take One

We've been fooling around with our iMovie here at Lori's and decided to add some video posts on the latest Spring trends. We're no De Mille, but we hope the embedded clip here is a good start. Have a look, have a laugh. We start with the obsession we've been harping on for weeks: architectural cutouts and structural inspirations! Ha ha ha ugh.

Word from New York

Spring is fast approaching and as Lori reports from New York on late spring and first deliveries for Fall 2009, and as the City gears up for the fall shows, we thought we'd give you a sneak peek at how the year's shaping up!

A smattering of boots continue through spring, but the big emphasis is on sandals with embellishments and lots of straps that are either architectural in detail or comprise many thinner pieces. Both serve the same function: to create an exciting peekaboo effect along the foot in warmer temps.

Fall 2009 will see a continuation of riding boots, so hold on to the ones you have (or snag some now at our ongoing sale). There is also a new pointer shape coming out which we are less excited about (and you probably will be too). We're seeing a slight turn away from the strictly tailored, OCD clean lines of last fall as zippers, roughed-up suedes and Bohemian traits (albeit with a man-tailored edge) crop up.

A stand-out for fall (and, really, when isn't it?) is Frye's boot collection. Consistently in demand since its founding during the Civil War, Frye's collection of boots are classic quality. Past years have delivered these timeless styles in contemporary colors and detailing. We're disappointed only that we have to wait until July to get them!