Did anyone else notice the red and pink satin booties at the Kinder Aggugini spring 2012 show?

I wish I had more information on these beauties, but my research hasn’t turned up any valuable information. Ah well, we can still enjoy the visual treat, right? Happy Valentine’s Day!

Yesterday a friend asked if she’s too late to get in on the polka-dot trend. It’s true, they were much hotter last year, but designers still played with the peppy print on spring 2012 runways.

My favorite interpretation of the trend was black polka-dots on white or cream. Notice that in these looks from Lela Rose, Luca Luca, and Suno, the fabrics wisp and drape as opposed to structure and define:

From a design standpoint, polka-dots are a very easy print to create, so expect to see inexpensive versions everywhere!

Stop the razors, ladies! As I mentioned before, this trend is sticking around a while.

Skirts-over-pants at Victoria Beckham, Rag & Bone (second and fourth images), and Helmut Lang:

I feel bad for Emanuel Ungaro.

The 46-year old fashion house just announced that not only are they unable to deliver their spring collection to retailers, they won’t be presenting a fall collection at all.

I didn’t hate their spring collection; it was simple, well-edited. On the other hand, I wouldn’t wear most of it. It lacked… well, street cred. There were only three looks I loved and wanted to wear:

And only another three that had serious potential:

The sequin gown could have been so much more than this. Sequins are supposed to be fun, but this gown just looks sad. Maybe if the sequin pattern wasn’t so random—instead the sequins could have been treated like an ombré, as if they were falling from the bodice and collecting at the hem? And maybe if there were glimmers of color throughout, or a sweetheart neckline?

The second dress has this utilitarian/flirty thing going on, which I really like, but the bottom half, instead of draping nicely, needs a little something to save it from frumpiness. Maybe it should have been a pencil skirt.

The third dress is the most depressing because it could have been awesome. The embellishments at the top are insane! But it seems someone didn’t have the time to finish this one. It’s rocker chic at the top, bland and getting blander at the bottom. Ugh! So depressing.

Ungaro has been fumbling along since its founding designer retired in 2004. (Remember the disastrous Lindsay Lohan collaboration in 2009? Yeesh.) But even though I criticize their designs, I doubt that’s the main issue here. Maybe there’s some bad management (the company is notorious for its “revolving door”), and there’s definitely poor marketing: only about 1,400 people are fans of their Facebook page—as opposed to 131,000 fans of Salvatore Ferragamo, and almost six million fans of Gucci. Really, it all just seems like one big mess.

But I do feel bad for them. I feel bad for the brand that Ungaro himself built, nurtured, and sustained. I feel bad that a brand I grew up admiring may have already missed an entire generation. Most of all, I feel bad that I kind of wish they would float away quietly.

Or, perhaps better yet, have an amazing comeback. I wouldn’t feel bad about that at all.

Move over, rectangle frames! Move over, Ray-Bans! This year, get yourself a pair of round glasses. How very quaint and 1990s of you!

Seven Days of Spring Trends
Round Glasses

Shown at Rag & Bone, Giorgio Armani, and Nina Ricci:

And at Dries Van Noten, Bottega Veneta, and Stella McCartney:

This is one of those trends that I’m excited about, because it’s actually reasonable. I need glasses anyway—both eyeglasses and sunglasses—and I can easily invest in a new pair and keep them for a few years.

The only issue is that my face is round, so rectangular glasses suit me better. But I’m going to give the round glasses an honest try anyway. That’s all I wore in the ‘90s, so why not now? Right?

Oh, if I actually do it, will I have to change my blog header and avatar? Hm…

Alright, that makes seven out of seven spring trends! I’m sad it’s over. I could really do this every day. And there’s so much more to cover! Well, I’ll give it a few days or so and then pick back up where we left off.

Move over, statement necklace! Earrings are back in a big way. They’re beaded, bedazzled, colorful, geometric, beautiful or whimsical—it doesn’t really matter as long as they’re bold!

Seven Days of Spring Trends
Statement Earrings

Shown at Oscar de la Renta, Jil Sander, and Prada:

And at Missoni, Bottega Veneta, and Marni:

So now a let’s get personal. I love the idea of this trend, but I’m not sure I’ll get on board this time around. A few years ago I stopped wearing heavy earrings when I noticed that older women always donning them were victims of the stretched earlobe. I started buying small stud earrings instead, and now they’re my every-day adornment; wearing heavy earrings gives me stretched-earlobe-flash-forwards.

However if I were to get on board with this trend, I admit I’m pretty lusty over the Oscar de la Rentas.

Roaring ‘20s, flapper-style dresses have sprinkled runway shows for several years now, but they haven’t really taken off. Well, all that’s about to change. On spring 2012 runways, the historically 1920s drop-waist silhouette was everywhere. Yes, this trend is about to blow up!

Seven Days of Spring Trends
The Drop-Waist

Shown at Adam, Alberta Ferretti, and Gucci:

The drop-waist is essentially a horizontal line cut across the body and below the hips—a silhouette first seen in the 1920s. (As women’s rights were emerging, corsets were flinging!) Then, the drop-waist was big again in the 1960s, and again in the 1980s. Will this decade be next?

Etro, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and Theyskens’ Theory showed easy drop-waist separates:

Sonia Rykiel, Marc Jacobs, and Narciso Rodriguez’s drop-waist looks were sporty:

While Giambattista Valli, Zac Posen, and Roberto Cavalli showed versions that were fancy:

And Chloé, Céline, and Reed Krakoff finished off their drop-waist looks with belts:

Now, I know what you’re thinking. (Actually, I don’t—just humor me for a sec.) You’re thinking it’s not fair that this makes three spring trends that are harder for curvy girls to wear. Curvy girls, don’t deflate; there are plenty of trends that do work for you. For example, cinched waists and a-lines are still hot, and they’re not going anywhere. And wait until you see the new princess skirts that are dominating evening wear! I’m just focusing on a handful of new must-haves. You haven’t been eliminated, à la Heidi Klum.

With that, I leave you for today. Only two trends left to report—which ones will I choose? Come back tomorrow to find out.

Those of you who are fashionably-informed have probably been yawning at my last three spring trends. Pleats, peplums—you’ve read about it on your favorite style blogs already.

Well, here’s one you haven’t read about. I’ve actually looked and looked, and as far as I know, no one else is talking about this one.

Seven Days of Spring Trends
The Two-Strap Sandal

Shown at Lanvin, Peter Som, and Alberta Ferretti:

Notice that these shoes have a single strap around the ankle and a single strap around the toes. They can have a skinny high-heel, as shown at Givenchy, Giambattista Valli, and Pucci:

Or a wedge heel, as shown at Derek Lam, DKNY, and Carolina Herrera:

Or even a thicker strap at the ankle, as shown at Ports 1961 and Zero + Maria Cornejo:

Or be flat, i.e. fashionably appropriate for a busy mom of two young boys (eh-hem), like these amazing sandals from Jenni Kayne:

Yes… On other blogs you’ll read about the colors to buy (white or sorbet), the must-have details (shiny metallic), the best embellishments (florals), and the hottest motifs (tribal), but you read about this trend first on mojansami.com. Zing!

I’ve spent all morning trying to decide which spring trend to focus on today and finally decided on this one! Trends come and go and come back again—but I don’t remember this ever being a “must have” item in my lifetime.

Seven Days of Spring Trends
Peplums

Shown at Cushnie et Ochs, Cynthia Rowley, and Giorgio Armani:

And at Jason Wu, Thakoon, and Rodarte:

A peplum is a short flounce that starts at the waist and covers the hips. Although these runway looks may not work for the everyday, average American woman, look beyond the fancy fabrics and sky-high heels—can’t you see this in basic cotton over jeans with flat sandals?

Note that peplums accentuate the hips, so if you want to minimize your hips, this may not be the trend for you. However you can make it work by finding a peplum top that also broadens the shoulders and gives you more of an hourglass, rather than pear, shape.

Oh, and my favorite? The Rodarte top. I so want to wear that with my skinny jeans!

Alright, onto Day Two of spring trends! You’d probably never know it by looking at me, but I love when fashion turns toward prim and ladylike. This is no exception. Pleated skirts are back! And they are bristling with the sunny optimism of the 1950s.

Seven Days of Spring Trends
Pleated Skirts

Shown at Erdem, Prada, and Aquilano e Rimondi:

And at Chloé, Carmen Marc Valvo, and Céline:

Notice that the skirt lengths are conservative and the pleats full; and they’re often paired with something boxier on top. My favorite is the one from Aquilano—I love it head-to-toe, from dress to belt to shimmery shoes!

Aaand if you stay ahead of the trend by buying a pleated skirt now, you can wear it with one of the prim toppers you bought this fall.