Cheryl Shops

When I first saw Prada's spring/summer 2011 collection last September, my first thought was, "seriously, WTF?" The banana prints, the bright colors, the mixed stripes...it all seemed just a bit much. The funny thing, though, is that Miuccia Prada is one of the great thinkers in fashion nowadays, and her collections always get the wheels turning in my head--there's a reason I frequently feature Prada as the inspiration for these seasonal shopping guides here on Cheryl Shops. That collection now stands out the most in my mind for spring/summer, and its brightly colored stripes are one of the trends I'm most excited about right now--funny how that happens.

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For those of you who like to go straight to the source, there's Prada's Striped Top Handle Tote, which, of many standout bags from this collection, is my favorite. The colors are bright, but could almost function as neutral--they're versatile enough to complement everything from a beige dress to an all-out, head-to-toe hot pink and kelly green colorblock look. It should be noted, however, that in spite of this bag's four-figure price tag, it is, in fact, canvas.

Even though this Clements Ribeiro top walked the runway days before the Prada collection, it shares a mixture of stripes and patterns--was Miuccia conferring with the design community? Regardless, since this top already has a lot going on, it almost begs to be paired with a printed skirt, or something equally off-kilter.

Another look that walked the London runways days before Prada's show is this quirky Mirror Dress by Louise Gray. It's a good piece to wear if you want to make a statement, but don't want to go through the hassle of coordinating separates. This one is also a bit fancier--instead of overlaid prints, it's embellished with mirrored appliqués.

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Marc by Marc Jacobs' Simone dress marries the bright-striped trend with the '70s look that's so popular (again) for spring. This is an easy way to wear the trend--it's pretty and breezy--without looking too fashion-victimy. After all, who doesn't love a sundress?


Kate Spade's Betty dress is equally easy to wear, but with an even more polished, pretty look. Granted, Prada is ladylike too, but this is much more approachable. Even if you work somewhere conservative like a law firm, you could wear this to work under a jacket, or on its own on the weekend. It just goes to show how many ways a trend can be interpreted.

This Jason Wu sweater reminds me a bit of the Prada bag above, and while it might not be super-bright, I think it would look awesome with a bright pink, purple, or green skirt. It's also a great transitional piece between seasons--I'd think you'd be able to wear it in all but the hottest summer (and coldest winter) temperatures.

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If you're not sure this trend is for you, there's always what I call throwaway fashion, like this inexpensive Cooperative Monaco skirt from Urban Outfitters. It comes in a neutral navy and white version, but I like the green mixture--it's definitely springlike. Again, I'd suggest wearing this with something crazy on top, like bright orange or pink, but there's always a simple tee too.

In fact, you could pair it with Topshops's striped tank, which, as far as this trend goes, is pretty basic, and thus a good layering piece. I'd wear mine with bright skirts, but if you're feeling crazy, why not wear it with a patterned skirt or pants as well?

What the above tank would really look cool with, however is this Balloon Maxi Skirt from ASOS. While not, admittedly, an easy shape to wear, it manages to be unique but with a relaxed, summery vibe--I have a feeling I'm going to live in this skirt all season long. Miuccia would be proud.