Fresh Fridays with KARE 11

Senior lifestyle editor Jayne Haugen Olson was featured in a KARE 11 Extra report that aired Friday, May 4. Reporter Rena Sarigianopoulos wanted to know about the current fashion trends and how they should be interpreted and incorporated into women’s spring wardrobes—including what’s appropriate for women in their thirties, forties, and fifties. Here are the sources Mpls.St.Paul Magazine's lifestyle editors used for the segment.

Special thanks to Chambers Hotel for letting us use the Rock Star Suite for our taping.

Dresses
This season the biggest trend is a trapeze cut. Higher (empire) waistlines help create the key silhouette. Modern, graphic prints are popular, as are florals—seen in both feminine prints and more oversized graphic prints. Women are using layers (tanks and T-shirts) under strappier dresses to allow one dress to be comfortable for day and more active times, but also when worn solo, the dress as an evening sex appeal. Cropped jackets and cardigans are also key essentials to offer a dress more versatility. All dresses shown in the KARE 11 segment are from the Macy’s downtown Minneapolis location. The segment was shot in both the fourth-floor dress department, as well as the third-floor New Contemporary departments.

Jewelry
Jewelry this spring is ether very minimal or oversized costume. Think thick bangles piled high up the arm, fat cocktail rings, or layers of necklaces. Light-catching statement pieces in deep blue and bright gold and simpler cocktail rings in silver and pearl are just a few of the jewelry options that work for both days and evenings out. Products shown include:

Dark blue Lucite and crystal cocktail ring, $195.
Dark blue Lucite and crystal cuff bracelet, $235.
Large Iridescent gold ring by Alexis Bittar, $122.
Iridescent silver with gold pyramid hinge cuff by Alexis Bittar, $314.
Iridescent silver snake cuff by Alexis Bittar, $188.
All from StyledLife, Gaviidae Common, 555 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., 612-746-5400

Yellow cracked crystal and hammered plated gold cocktail ring by Ariella. $98. From Nordstrom, Mall of America, 952-883-2121

Painted silver flower ring by Clabea, $18.
Vintage-inspired sunburst ring by JudJac, $82.
Both from Patina, four metro locations including 1009 Franklin Ave., Mpls., 612-872-0880

Lucite and gold ring by CBC, $16. F rom Macy’s, Mpls., 612-375-2200

Handbags
From oversized weekend totes to evening clutches in eye-catching colors, handbag trends for spring are all across the board, the common thread being less baubles and trinkets than in the past few seasons. While sizes range from clutch to oversized weekend totes, the most popular fabrications are clear, white leather, and metallic.

Copper clutch with tortoise shell closure, $798, by Zufi Alexander.
Brushed metallic khaki, white leather, and straw Carla bag by Savoy, $275.
White leather trimmed clear tote by Lambertson Truex, $445. 
All from StyledLife, Gaviidae Common, 555 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., 612-746-5400

Multicolored straw handbag with woven canvas handles by Kate Spade, $295. From Macy’s, Mpls., 612-375-2200

Shoes
This season, it is as much about the colors and textures as it is about heel height. Patented leathers are available in a variety of candy colors, metallic is essential for evening, and natural fibers like straw are hanging on from last spring. The silhouettes range from wedge to platform to pump to flat and pretty much everything in between. 

Red satin wedge espadrille by ZIGIny, $69.
Iridescent faux-python ivory peep-toe pump by Enzo Angiolini, $89.
Gold leather, geometric cut peep-toe pump by Steven, $129.
Gold leather, 3/4-inch heeled thong sandal by Gucci, $410.
Navy and red patented leather wedge heeled sandal by Bettye Muller, $385
All from Nordstrom, Mall of America, 952-883-2121

Putty colored patented leather and straw wedge heel by BCBG Max Azria, $210. From Macy’s, Mpls., 612-375-2200

Cropped Lightweight Jacket
As hemlines shrink, so do jackets. The cropped look partners well with everything from jeans to shorts to smock dresses. If you’re busty up top, this is a trend you should skip. Opt instead for the blazer, the ultimate eighties cover-up that, sans shoulder pads, is making a comeback.

Powder blue, short-sleeved, cropped Coquette jacket by Nanette Lepore, $325.
Cropped batik bolero in natural and scarlet by Theory, $355.
Both from Macy’s, Mpls., 612-375-2200

Blazer in persimmon with rope belt by Yoana Baraschi, $378. From Stephanie’s, 758 Cleveland Ave. S., St. Paul, 651-690-3802

Striped linen “Kelly” jacket by Tocca, $375. From Arafina, Galleria, Edina, 952-925-1565