Photo: Contributed

Spring is worth celebrating! The fauna and flora are turning beautiful colors and so are the fashion boutiques as we display dresses, blouses, trousers and jackets in fabulous bright floral prints.

Botanic pattern from head to toe is absolutely perfect for Spring/Summer 2013 season. Mixing floral prints is acceptable for the first time ever. Some of us may be a little shy to blossom from head to toe, or maybe even too shy to wear a jacket or pair of trousers in blossom patterns. There’s still a way to get in on the floral trend if you don’t want to wear a lot of color. Wearing a light floral infinity scarf with your plain Tee looks great as it will add a little pop of color while dressing up a plain outfit.

A floral headband or a garland of greenery in your hair is a great fix this season. Many of the styles are a little Bohemian looking, so the headband with little blossoms on some greenery is a perfect addition.

Photo: Contributed

Summer music festivals are a growing trend, therefore many clothing companies are designing pieces specifically for those attending outdoor music festivals. “Coachella Style” was a commonly used term in the fashion industry as the big music festival draws a huge crowd from all over the world. With Coachella kicking off festival season in style, there are many more festivals coming up where we will see some fun, fashionable ladies dancing to the groove.

Get your style on with some blossoming color this season. Celebrate in style with Frakas at our 10-year birthday bash. We invite all to attend May 10th for party treats, loot bags & fashionable giveaways.

Join us at www.frakas.ca or on Facebook at “Frakas Boutique” to see photos of this season’s best styles.

Try These Trends

90’s Revival

Think Beverly Hills 90210

think nirvana, range against the machine & the cranberries

the 90’s revival trend is all about

grunge, throw on some cross jewelry,

chunky collars, bare your midriff, &

rock those slasher shorts

& denim vests

Black & White

think patterns, stripes, & color blocking

the b&w trend goes from graphic stripes

and herringbone to playful polka-dots

Nifty Neon

the neon trend is all about having fun,

add a pop of color to your outfit with a neon

accessory or statement piece

BOLD & BRIGHT FLORAL FASHION

a fashion trend that is perfect for the fearless

fashionista, florals are bigger, bolder &

brighter than ever

try them on shorts, suits, pants, tops, blazers

anything goes !

MIXING PRINTS

step out of your comfort zone this spring & mix it up

try animal on animal,

stripes & floral,

polka-dots & stripes,

just remember to stay within a certain color family,

pair a bold print with a muted, smaller scale print,

& stick to two prints !

if you want to try the trend but are uneasy – try

texture instead !

Photo: Contributed

Stop by Frakas on Lakeshore Road to check out what we have that fits into each spring 2013 trend. www.shopfrakas.ca

Photo: Contributed

So here I am in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. The Spring buying has been done, and the product will be arriving this week. There are some super sweet styles arriving this season. The girls at Frakas are so excited as they count down the days until the boxes start arriving. It is like Christmas all over again in the backrooms of the Frakas stores. My next column will cover some of the styles we will be expecting to see in stores and on the streets this Spring. For now, I know most of you reading this are wearing your scarves, hats and gloves, so I will save that for when it’s a little closer to thinking about a new Spring wardrobe.

Many customers are curious about the buying process. I wish I had a dollar for every time somebody has offered to come with me “to carry my bags”.

Speaking of buying………..that is the reason I am here in Mexico. I am attending Spanish school to learn how to converse with the mass majority of the people working in the fashion industry in Los Angeles and New York. Most of the suppliers and their employees speak Spanish as their 1st (and sometimes ONLY) language.

I spoke a very small amount of Spanish before heading to Mexico for two months of school. I could understand more than I could speak the language. Learning Spanish will enable me to be more productive and to be able to quickly ask for what I am in search of. We often have specific requests for items from customers which can be quite random in nature. I will be able to search for the items quickly and move on to the next vendor. The Los Angeles Fashion District is huge (a city within itself), so there are many wholesalers to try to get to in a small amount of time. It will also enable me to deal with the importing issues by ensuring they understand the paperwork I require for shipments in to Canada.

I am just 7 days into my Spanish studies. A long way from being able to converse comfortably, but I expect my next buying trip to L.A or New York to go off with ease!

Photo: Contributed

Check us out at www.frakas.ca

Hasta Luego mi amigas

Christmas is quickly approaching with thoughts of fashion gift giving on our minds.

Cozy, soft and warm! This is trending heavily for Winter 2012.

Photo: Contributed

This season the hottest trend going is large, chunky-knit infinity scarves. Worn with your jacket or coat as a pop of contrasting color, or it can be worn with a top or sweater to make a contrasting cowl neck look. Stay warm and look great. Choose a cozy knit in a color that compliments your skin and hair tones. Infinity scarves can be found in a wide selection of colors to compliment this season’s color picks. Rust, mustard, navy, teal, topaz, purple, cream, taupe, grey and black. Or a beautiful mix of shades worn with a black coat or sweater can look gorgeous.

Put the infinity scarf on your wish list this year, it is an easy purchase for those loved ones in your life. One size fits all. Boyfriends, husbands and partners will not shy away from making such an easy purchase.

Photo: Contributed

A close second is the knit head wrap. This item works double duty as it makes a great fashion statement and keeps your ears warm. Some head wraps come with flowers or gems on the side. Some will have a button closure, while others are a simple circle. A trendy way to wear the head wrap is to put long hair up into a high bun. The head wrap will hold all stray hairs in place, while showing off the bun on top of your head. Such a cute look! The head wrap also is a “one size fits all”. It is a great gift idea and is a very affordable choice for those who are looking for a gift around the $20 mark.

To see more photos of the infinity scarves or head wraps check it out at www.shopfrakas.ca or see it on our Facebook page at “frakas boutique”.