Adam Glassman at a photo shoot

Photo: Greg Kessler

Adam Says...Get Ready for Spring!
Creative director Adam Glassman, behind the scenes at an O photo shoot, has the lowdown on the season's newest fashion and beauty trends: what to buy, what to skip, and how to put it all together—on any budget.

Intense color, relaxed clothing, spring tweeds, and a '70s revival are all Adam-endorsed looks.
Models in colorful clothes

Photo: Greg Kessler

The Trend: Color, Color Everywhere
Adam Says: I'm seeing tons of happy, saturated shades—fuchsia, teal, yellow. You can combine contrasting brights, like Yves Saint Laurent famously did. Or wear one color in different hues. Anything coral or orange is especially fresh.

What to Consider


Your Skin
Yellow is tough to wear near your face unless you have dark skin or hair. Fair-skinned women look best in warm, rosy tones. Orange, red, and pink look good on everyone, not just Barbie—really!

The Time
For day, wake up neutral clothes with a vivid shoe or bag. After hours, pair colorful clothes with metallic accessories.

Your Figure
Bright colors attract the eye, so if you're hippy, try a notice-me top with plain—or equally intense—bottoms.

Left: Dress, DKNY, $295. Shoes, Anna Baiguera. Center: Jacket, $1,050, and skirt, $495, Max Mara. Tank, Strenesse Gabriele Strehle, $280. Shoes, Giuseppe Zanotti Design. Right: Jacket, Worthington by JCPenney, $40. Tank, Strenesse Gabriele Strehle, $280. Pants, DKNY, $195. Shoes, MM6 Maison Martin Margiela.
Colorful accessories

Photo: Greg Kessler

Adam's Bright Ideas for the Color Shy
Think Simple
Start by adding one bold thing: Put a green belt with a denim shirtdress, and voilà—you're color-mixing! Pick brights or patterns, not both. To look taller and leaner, go monochromatic.

White is Right
Gray, khaki, and white especially help unite diverse shades. (I have an aversion to black with brights; you always end up looking like a bumblebee, or the Great Pumpkin.)

Mix It Up
I love patterned heels or a matches-nothing handbag—in an instant, they can give an otherwise simple outfit a hit of personality.

Peep-toe pump, Enzo Angiolini, $89. Snakeskin belt, Beirn, $265. Chain-strap purse, Tory Burch, $265. Beaded necklace, Circa Sixty Three, $725. Dip-dyed cotton scarf, Express, $35.
Adam Glassman with model in relaxed clothing

Photo: Greg Kessler

The Trend: Easy Breezy
Adam Says: Wide-leg pants, long jersey skirts, big blouses, draped dresses... When was the last time you could feel so comfy and look so polished? But the line between offhanded and Schlumpadinka City is a fine one. It all comes down to fabric and color: Luxurious-looking materials in pale shades seem purposeful, not disheveled.

How to Dress as Comfortably as You Can


Cut a Narrow Silhouette
Pick clothes that aren't restrictive but aren't oversize, either. Avoid yards of excess fabric—big clothes make you look bigger.

Pair Hard with Soft
Combine a more tailored piece (a blazer) with an unstructured one (a jersey skirt).

Practice Minimalism
Neutral tones and a lack of embellishment keep an outfit feeling neat and understated.

Choose the Right Shoes
Petites can pull off longer lengths by getting a lift from a wedge or platform (pumps look outdated). If you're taller, I like ballet slippers, sandals, even dressy sneakers.

Shirt, Club Monaco, $129. Pants, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, $139. Loafers, Tod's.
3 models in relaxed clothes

Photo: Greg Kessler

Adam's Three Easy Ways to Relax Your Style
1. Fabrics: Look for silk, washed cotton, jersey, and linen. Nothing should be pressed; pieces should be intentionally crinkled, like you just pulled them out of the dryer.

2. Colors: Stick to a stark palette of white, beige, gray, and blush.

3. Layering: Piling on separates is a simple way to nail this trend. The point isn't to add bulk; it's to add texture and interest.

Fuss-Free Style Alert: The news in dresses and skirts is their length: I'm loving midcalf or to-the-floor, even for day.

Left: Blouse, $195, and skirt, $195, DKNY. Shoes, Jenni Kayne. Center: Tunic, $330, and skirt, $255, Nicole Miller Collection. Shoes, Belle by Sigerson Morrison. Right: Dress, Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, $295. Jacket, Silvio Liu, $391. Shoes, Disaya.
Women in suits

Photo: Greg Kessler

The Trend: Who's-That-Lady Suits
Adam Says: The new suit isn't buttoned up. It's youthful, nonchalant, even a bit casual, as if you tossed on a jacket over a sexy blouse and then found a coordinating (not matching) skirt. Tweed and bouclé, traditionally fall fabrics, are making an off-season comeback. Sweet colors lighten the mood; lace, appliqué, and floral details provide a romantic finish. These suits fit in at work, dinner, or a special occasion.

The New Rules of Suiting


Instead of: a to-the-knee skirt
Why not try: a short skirt or mini (if you've got the legs)

Instead of: tucking in your blouse
Why not try: leaving its hem intentionally exposed

Instead of: a matched set
Why not try: similar textures (nubby bouclé jacket with a flat-weave tweed skirt)

Instead of: pronounced shoulders
Why not try: a soft knit blazer or cardigan

Instead of: Easter egg pastels
Why not try: grayed-down shades, like dusty rose or mauve

Instead of: predictable pearl strands and button earrings
Why not try: an over-the-top necklace and no earrings

Instead of: matching your bag and shoes
Why not try: a streamlined bag with a fun shoe (or vice versa)

Proper, Not Prim: Put a modern twist on an old classic—softer shapes and a heathered palette help revitalize the tweed suit.

Left: Jacket, Rebecca Taylor, $450. Shell, Herchcovitch; Alexandre, $425. Skirt, New York & Company, $40. Shoes, Edmundo Castillo. Right: Jacket, $1,750, shirt, $475, skirt, $1,350, and belt, Proenza Schouler. Shoes, Pierre Hardy.
Bohemian chic

Photo: Greg Kessler

The Trend: Bohemian Chic
Adam Says: I wasn't crazy about '70s style back when it was first happening—all that polyester!—but I love elements that reference the era. My favorites: glamorous, world-traveler touches (spice colors, exotic patterns, intricate embellishment). And there are plenty of ways to look less hippie-dippie, more sophisticated, whether in a long, full skirt or a silk peasant blouse.

How to Wear It


Consider Your Body Type
High-waisted pants look best if you've been called "leggy" at some point in your life. Petites should avoid at all costs! You can pull off maxiskirts and dresses (just don't let the hems drag).

One at a Time
Unless you're tall and slim, it's challenging to wear something billowing on top and bottom (remember, these are genetically blessed professional models). Instead, choose one piece. At left, we're showing skirt-top combos to demonstrate the full effect, but you might pair the tops with jeans, or the skirts with a tank.

Belt It
A leather, braided, or macramé belt, or a tied sash, helps define your waist in a free-flowing outfit.

Blouse, Topshop, $80. Skirt, Milly, $595. Belt, Unnur. Right: Blouse, Chico's, $79. Skirt, Rebecca Taylor, $525. Belt, Banana Republic.
Adam Glassman with boho-chic model

Photo: Greg Kessler

Going Boho
Size doesn't matter. Neither does age. I'm happy to report that this look is great on everyone. A long dress can absolutely be worn by an older woman; many styles offer arm coverage if that makes you feel more comfortable. (If the clothes tend toward bare, a jacket thrown on top only adds to the casual appeal.)

Quick Tip: When combining patterns, look for a unifying factor—similar scale or color scheme.

Jacket, Etro, $1,647. Dress, Nada, $500. Sandals, Call It Spring.
Shoulder-duster earrings

Photo: Greg Kessler

The Best Bohemian Chic Accessories
The right extras add polish to an arty look.

Shoulder-Duster Earrings
Dramatic jewelry offsets free-spirited clothes.

Earrings, Paige Novick
Flat sandals

Photo: Greg Kessler

Flat Sandals
A coral pedicure sets off the gold chains on the shoes. You can also try embellished ballet flats or a wedge.

Sandals, Jean Michel Cazabat

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