This month, banish those April showers blues and celebrate spring with a burst of citrus orange! From pale pastel to bold and bright, the spectrum of shades are as fresh and juicy as a spring salad — peach, coral, apricot, tangerine, carrot and cantaloupe — and we’re dying for one of each. Pluck out a piece in your favorite shade and start experimenting now because there’s no denying it: orange is the hottest statement color this season. And we’ve got the spring runways to prove it!
Like many bolder shades of the season, there is a shade of orange for every possible skin tone. Though many tend to follow the cardinal rule of pastels paired with paler skin while vibrant shades go with darker tones, never feel boxed into that routine. Break out of the mold by trying a universally flattering tone like a brisk, breezy peach. Tracy Reese got peachy on her spring runways with a sleeveless blazer that was equal parts playful and fun. The juxtaposition of the soft hue and hard angles makes it a piece to stand out in a crowd. Or color-blocked version from OASAP channels the same delicious hue and menswear-inspired style, but with the added practicality of a three-quarter length sleeve to give this fun piece a more work-worthy vibe.
One of the best testaments to the vast empire of orange was Nicholas K‘s spring runway show. Various fabrics and textures of the fiery hue were paired together for a glowing array of head to toe looks. One of the best pieces in the collection were the tailored orange pants that ran the gamut from sheen to matte. It’s surprisingly hard to find a good tailored orange pant so we appreciate any time it’s done well! After much deliberation, the best alternative to matching Nicholas K’s prowess were these coral-colored Chloe pants in a luxe crepe de chine. Cropped, cuffed and pleated they will quickly become your new best friend for both work and play.
What do you get when you pair two of the biggest current trends together? Orange cut out sandals! Designer Monika Chiang showed the right ways to incorporate orange accessories into your spring wardrobe. Keeping the bright pieces far apart from each other while pairing them with more muted or neutral shades allows the vibrancy of the orange to truly shine. We loved the fun and playful nature of Chiang’s chunky, cut-out sandals and needed to find a suitable pair for all he upcoming outdoor activities of the season. Kelsi Dagger‘s strappy suede numbers the same sense of head-turning panache with a sturdier and more comfortable wedge platform. We’re sold!
Finally, what would a warm weather wardrobe be without a pretty little pleated skirt? Douglas Hannant took bold orange and made it flirty and feminine in his spring 2013 collection with this vintage-inspired knee-length skirt. Channeling the unapologetic fashions of the Mad Men 60’s Hannant kept the look modern by pairing it with a perfectly rumpled white blouse and mint blue bag. Stella McCartney is equally masterful in clean lines and ladylike panache. Her Kelly Wool-twill skirt will look just as amazing with a button down blouse as it will with a graphic tank and denim jacket. Not only will these orange pieces turn heads all spring and summer, the best part is, they’ll last you through the harvest season of the fall! “Orange” you you ready to try the orange trend now?
1. Orange Blazer
Runway: Tracy Reese Spring 2013 RTW
Real Way: OASAP Color Block Chiffon Blazer, $75
2. Orange Pants
Runway: Nicholas K Spring 2013 RTW
Real Way: Chloé Cropped Silk Crepe de Chine Straight-leg Pants, now $334
3. Orange Heels
Runway: Monika Chiang Spring 2013 RTW
Real Way: Kelsi Dagger Nadeen – Orange Suede, now $89.99
4. Orange Skirt
Runway: Douglass Hannant Spring 2013 RTW
Real Way: Stella McCartney Kelly Wool-twill Skirt, now $244.99
Runway Images: WWD, NYMag
Image Layout: Second City Style
