From left: Full Skirt Maxi Dress, Silk Shirtdress, Print Silk Dress.

On his spring 2012 runway, Yigal Azrouël did what he does best: he made the trends of the moment feel utterly accessible. The designer struck a perfect balance between elegant and sexy, merging boxy angles and feminine silhouettes in a collection that is simultaneously contemporary and timeless. The hemlines stayed modest, with suggestive slits sprinkled in at just the right moments, and the color palette was a clean mix of bold primaries and easy neutrals.

Shop Yigal Azrouël spring 2012.

--Amie

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A sneak peek at what’s to come, this week on Shopbop.

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Welcome to Find of the Day, a daily discovery straight from What’s New.

What it is: Lela Rose Sheath Dress
Why we love it: Universally flattering silhouette and a front zip that lets you expose as much or as little as you'd like.
Wear it with: A studded Anya Hindmarch clutch and soft grey Jil Sander sandals.

Shop day-to-night designer dresses.

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While the fashion gospel has strict rules on the seasonal debut of white, the recent crop of achromatic sandals, pumps, and wedges simply cannot wait till May. Glittering Jerome C. Rousseau pumps beg to be worn with a fuchsia Nanette Lepore dress, and bleached L.A.M.B. sandals call out to be paired with a 10 Crosby Derek Lam maxi dress. Summer is still two months away, but these alabaster stunners are too gorgeous to not wear now.

--Libby S.

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Welcome to Find of the Day, a daily discovery straight from What’s New.

What it is: DKNY Button Thru Romper
Why we love it: It’s a sporty take on the little black dress, a versatile wear-with-all piece that can be dressed up or down.
Wear it with: A white Thakoon blazer, chunky Elizabeth and James sandals, and a slim belt.
Wear it to: Work, brunch, date night—it can literally go anywhere.

Shop designer rompers.

 

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From left: button down & tulle skirt; Bora Bora dress; striped shorts & matching jacket.

Under new creative leadership—Chinese natives Ling Liu and Dawei Sun—French label Cacharel turned out a light, elegant collection in their signature cheerful style for spring 2012. Easy tailoring was matched with elegant origami folds, while the color palette felt exactly right: icy shades gave way to warm orange and deep blue, then faded back to watercolor neutrals. The abstract floral prints were standouts in this collection, particularly the tangerine and pale blue mix on the Bora Bora Dress, a welcome addition to any feminine wardrobe.

Shop Cacharel spring 2012.

--Amie

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Welcome to Find of the Day, a daily discovery straight from What’s New.

What it is: Rebecca Minkoff Bedford Sunglasses
Why we love it: White sunnies done in retro ’50s style. Plus, we’re pretty excited Rebecca Minkoff is now doing sunglasses.
Wear it with: A bold yellow Miguelina maxi dress and a floppy Rag & Bone hat.

Shop designer sunglasses.
Shop Rebecca Minkoff sunglasses.

 

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From left to right: The wedge sneaker, the boyish sneaker, and the beach sneaker.

I’m seeing fashion sneakers everywhere but I don’t know if I can pull them off. Any styling tips?

Fashion sneakers are one of the easiest ways to incorporate the sporty trend seen everywhere this spring. We picked out our top three ways to wear those stylish (and comfortable!) sneaks.

THE WEDGE SNEAKER
Attitude: Playful, feminine, and sporty.
Wear with: A pastel blazer inserts feminine appeal while silk shorts balance the sporty feel. Bold graphics on a tee match the boldness of the shoe and a pop of colorful jewelry ties it all together.
Avoid: Showing too much skin. Anything too short and tight and this look can quickly veer into Pretty Woman territory.

THE BOYISH SNEAKER
Attitude: Skate-inspired, tough, and easygoing.
Wear with: A casual skirt balances out the masculinity of the high top, and a striped tank plays up the graphics on the shoe. Spiked gold jewelry finishes the punkish look.
Avoid: An overdose of oversized. Fitted silhouettes keep this style from becoming too masculine.

THE BEACH SNEAKER
Attitude: Island-feel, beachy, undone.  
Wear with: A denim bra top under an open chambray shirt embodies the spirit of island ease. Flowing palazzo pants and antiqued jewelry top off the warm-weather ensemble. 
Avoid: Looking too young. A mature top and raw jewelry keep the sweet shoes from looking girlish.

--Loni and Rachel

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With a background that includes surfing the waves off the sunny beaches of Maui and modeling swimwear for some of fashion’s top publications, it’s really no wonder Tori Praver took to designing bikinis, one-pieces, and cover-ups. The Tori Praver Swimwear collection is conceived with a woman’s body in mind: pieces are cut to be both sexy and supportive and work as well for surfing as they do for sunbathing. We took a moment to ask Tori about her spring/summer 2012 collection.

Shopbop: Tell us a little about the spring/summer 2012 collection. What was your inspiration?
Tori Praver: I was really inspired by summer itself: the bright colors, the way it makes you feel excited about warm weather and the beach, laying out by the pool, sun, water. I wanted to incorporate as many colors as possible and get as creative as I could. That’s how I got the idea to work with colorblocking.

SB: We love the colorblocking in this collection. How did you land on the color pairings that you chose?
TP: I took my favorite colors from the resort 2012 collection and added some of my most favorite brights. I wanted to marry colors you wouldn’t immediately expect to see together. I wanted it to feel rich but also fun, allowing you to be creative and mix and match. For instance, pair a colorblock top with a solid bottom.

SB: Could you tell us a little more about the color palette you worked with?
TP: I used several bright colors like orange, pink, and yellow, but also a few deep colors like olive green, dark red, and black to make color combinations that would stand out.

SB: We adore the vintage feel of the Betty and Marilyn styles. What is it about that aesthetic that appeals to you?
TP: I love the ’60s. The characters and people of this era really stand out in my mind as style icons, from Gidget to Brigitte Bardot to Marilyn Monroe. When designing, I refer to these women and try to bring back the sexiness and confidence they portrayed.

Shop Tori Praver spring 2012.
Check out some of Tori’s designs in our Swimwear Lookbook.

Above, swimwear designer Tori Praver.

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Welcome to Find of the Day, a daily discovery straight from What’s New.

What it is: RED Valentino Daisy Platform Sandals
Why we love it: A pretty print on a classic silhouette. What’s not to love?
Wear it with: A short white dress for extra-girly appeal, or pegged skinny jeans, a loose LNA tee, and a cropped leather jacket for a ’50s vixen feel.

Shop designer sandals.

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From blazers to dresses and everything in between, lace is having a moment. The classic fabric lends itself equally to sophisticated styles and sexy silhouettes. We set stylists Amada and Rachel loose with a Rory Beca top to see how they’d make the trend their own.

Amanda:
I was immediately drawn to this top because of its versatility. Depending on my mood I can give it an edgy, sporty look or make it more quirky, vampy, and ladylike. I like to wear a sheer top with a similar-colored, pale underpinning, infusing a very sexy, delicate mystery. I added a neoprene skirt and denim vest for a casual look that’s weekend ready.

On Amanda:
*Rory Beca Lace Top
*Elizabeth and James Skirt
*Rag & Bone Vest (similar)

Rachel:
Lace embodies such a romantic and feminine aesthetic. When I wear it, I feel very ladylike. I love the idea of mixed patterns and textures so I paired this top with a striped blazer. The subtle view of the sheer lace underneath is really sexy but still modest. My favorite cutoff jeans keep the outfit causal and comfortable, perfect for a coffee date or shopping with friends.

On Rachel:
*Rory Beca Lace Top
*Top Secret Bandeau
*Kaelen Blazer (similar)

--Libby S.

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Welcome to Find of the Day, a daily discovery straight from What’s New.

What it is: Rag & Bone Rowan Vest
Why we love it: It’s a pastel interpretation of the retro-cool denim vest, rendered in super lightweight crepe.
Wear it with: A fitted tank and Rag & Bone/JEAN shorts in equally pale shades for a crisp, white-washed look.
Where it to: A Saturday flea market or drinks with the girls.

Shop Rag & Bone clothing.

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Check out the collection of Alice + Olivia dresses, pants, tops, and shoes in action in this exclusive short film.

Shop Alice + Olivia spring 2012.

From left: DVF Lou Dress, Alexander Wang Botanical Dress, Cynthia Rowley Forced Perspective Dress.

Florals for spring is hardly an original idea (ahem, The Devil Wears Prada), but this season, designers have done a pretty great job of making it one. From abstract to graphic to pop iterations, spring’s coming up roses, which made Assistant Product Editor Aviva’s choice of three a tough decision to make.

WEAR: Cynthia Rowley
“I love wearing prints, and mixed-media was one of my favorite subjects in design school. This dress takes me back to my days of adding pastel pigment to watercolor fashion illustrations.”

WORSHIP: Alexander Wang
“A grayscale floral is a rare and beautiful find. This dress is that perfect juxtaposition of hard and soft that Alexander Wang has mastered.”

WILL: Diane von Furstenberg
“My best friend, Aimee, is a petite runner with the calves to prove it. She could wear this dress for a meet-up at our favorite spot: Pinkberry.”

It’s your turn. Tell us which you would wear, which you’d worship, and which you’d will to a lucky friend.

Shop print dresses.

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What it is: sass & bide Common Thread Dress
Why we love it: Removable skirt—two dresses in one!
Wear it with: Edgy booties and a bright clutch.
Wear it to: A gallery opening or upscale cocktails.

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A sneak peek at what’s to come, this week on Shopbop. Look forward to stories from Alice + Olivia, IRO, Haute Hippie, and more.

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Growing up with She-Ra and Wonder Woman as idols, it’s no surprise I’m enamored with double cuffs. The Glamourai did a drool-worthy post showcasing a chic snakeskin pair, and The Man Repeller showed off a pair in sleek metallics. But it was Shopbop’s very own Karina who convinced me I could try this trend. She paired a set of brass Kora cuffs with a simple white button-down and olive green skinny jeans for a look that’s easy, casual, and has the subtlest hint of super-hero style. 

--Libby S. 

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From left: Rainbow Impression Dress; Chevron Blazer and Pants; Ribbed Dress.

For spring 2012, Nathalie Rykiel and Creative Director April Crichton returned the Sonia Rykiel label to what it does so well: Left Bank gamine. At the runway show in Paris last October, models walked a sunny yellow line (both literally and figuratively) as the upbeat collection mingled the label’s signature knits with relaxed tailoring. The color palette had a neutral focus with occasional pops of yellow and black until the very end, when the show made a dramatic shift: two voluminous gowns in bold tangerine and fuchsia.

Shop Sonia Rykiel spring 2012.

--Amie

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Inspiration for the big day and beyond, our Wedding Boutique board has dress, jewelry, floral, and ambiance ideas for the happiest day of your life.

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