The Budget Fashionista

What: Charlotte Ronson Runway Show, Promenade, New York Fashion Week Spring 09

The Lowdown: It’s official. Black and gray are big for Spring—but color us pleasantly surprised, as the neutrals are done in a way that’s, somehow, spring-like. Take Charlotte Ronson’s collection on the runway, for example—black and gray take a front seat, followed by soft rosey pink, deep blue, and an occasional subtle and artistic floral print. Taking the focus off the big colors of last Spring means more attention to styling and detail, and Ronson is no exception—she’s pulled together pieces that are strong yet feminine, weighted heavily towards short skirts (from full to hip-hugging) and cinched waists, and prominently featuring horizontal stripes (a thinner version of last summer’s wide-stripe trend), and black lace. And we’re talking feminine that is far from frilly and fussy—it’s full of strong, clean lines that say less “demure” and more “diva”. We like.

Budget Solution: Looks like the emphasis next Spring will be less on jewelry and more on belts—this goes for Ronson as well as some other collections we’ve seen—so we’d suggest picking up some wide black ones right now (like this Carrie Waist Belt at Delia’s), and then some basic black body conscious pieces to layer with pink and lace come spring. The shoes are—again—chunky and platform, and the accessories are barely there (save for those omnipresent belts). Our one concern? We’re not sure we’re feeling those sheer knee high stockings, which make us think of great-granny and her orthopedics—so we’re skipping that one for the time being . . .

image courtesy of Coutorture.com