This spring season we see interest shifting from couture to the culture of art and design.  There has been a revival of the avant garde in textiles. Designers are rethinking their components of design and fashion is taking its cue from animation, illustration, paintings and craft. The result is an exciting eclectic mix of watercolor brights - and it's fun and easy to integrate this into any wardrobe.

Whatever your favorite color is, this season’s explosive new shades pack a powerful punch and there is a lot to choose from. Tangerines, citrines and dynamic neons make for a tangy combination and these bold strokes of color light up fashion that can easily translate from day outfits into night.  Spring’s kaleidoscope of colors and artistic patterns range from florals to geometrics to fearless graffiti scribbling – the effect is exhilarating, unexpected and inspiring. Breezy layers of sheer cotton, chiffons, or organzas – modernly overlay atop colorful wovens or color block knits. Florals get a bold makeover in disorienting proportions and in abstracting crude painted techniques. It’s a joyful manic artistic movement where flowers, stripes, dots and abstract geometrics float on washed, breezy and crinkled surfaces. Electrifying color, freedom of imagination and limitless artistic inspiration…the outlook is optimistically bright for Spring.

The best thing about spring's bright colors is that it's easy to be on trend with your existing wardrobe.  By simply adding a splash of color to a neutral outfit like khakis, camouflage green, greys and denim blues you can update your wardrobe and create a fresh new look.  Happy Spring!

"It often seems to me that the night is much more alive and richly colored than the day." Van Gogh said this September 8, 1888, right before he painted his famous 'The Starry Night.' Van Gogh was fascinated with using color to portray darkness and the night sky but painting at night wasn't particularly easy to do in the late 19th century. So he relied on his memory and his imagination. "The Starry Night" was loosely based on Saint Remy and the Alpilles mountain range but the sky itself is all imagination. From MOMA, "In the open skies Van Gogh perceived formidable forces in nature capable of providing consulation amid life's daily adversities and evoking eternity." Van Gogh said "I have a tremendous need for... religion, so I go outside to paint the stars. " So it's easy to understand why his ability to finally portray what he saw in his mind's eye became truly one of the most important works of art. The Museum of Modern Art currently has an exhibit called "Van Gogh and the Colors of the Night" that explores his letters and his favorite literary works that gave him inspiration for his paintings. They also have an interesting interactive overview on the website.

Nighttime technically is the opposite of day but beyond that, nightfall does cast a bit of an interesting twist to things doesn't it? Things are a bit more exciting and mysterious because of the dark sky and shadows - and let's admit, who doesn't look good in candlelight? Much of the '40s noir genre films were shot at night - in the rain - with a siren wailing in the distance - or a single, mournful saxophone .... and the soft, eerie, drifting, silent smoke from a long cigarette..... . Anyhow, whether you're waiting on the tarmac for a plane to somewhere else or "...of all the bars she had to walk into this one, " here are a few Starry Night suggestions for your ... starry nights. Here's lookin' at you, kid.

Encrusted Collar;  Ombre Square with Coins Scarf;  High Shine Metallic Wrap; Topstitched driver gloves; Cascade Ruffle Vest

Have you been noticing the resurgence of lace in fashion this winter? First Lady Michelle Obama was spotted recently in a great 3/4 length sleeve walking coat with lace overlay. Stella McCartney was seen in a full lace bodysuit. Designers Fall / Winter 2009/2010 collections used lace as well as brocades, stones and sequins.  Other Winter 09/10 trends include the layering of lace and sheer fabrics in moody blacks, inky blues, rich berry and oxidized metallics - ranging from onyx to silver- copper to pewter under and over opaque wools and furs for a mesmerizing effect.

Leathers also took on a new look - they can be metallicized and ruffled or laser cut and pleated. Peek-a-boo laces got modernized with metallic finishes or overstitched with chunky wools and the otherwise simple boyfriend jacket gets a hint of sparkle with embellished lapels or encrusted epaulets.  Vintage shops are perfect for finding that great sequined jacket to pair with jeans and booties.

Investing in a few of these important pieces will take you through to the rest of this season. And you don't have to do it in a full lace body suit - you can integrate a few key pieces to stay on trend. Try a lace wrap tucked around a black turtleneck and jeans with knee high boots. Or layer a 3/4 length sleeve faux fur with our metallic leather gloves and ankle booties.  It's Luxury but understated - and definitely not out of reach. Cheers!

Ask A Designer Question: Help! I lost my most treasured Echo cold weather wrap. It was smart and interesting in an understated way and kept me warm and stylish up here in Montreal. I would be most grateful for any help you can offer in replacing it. Please see photo - it was a wool blend, garter stitch and had rounded ends with a microfiber trimmed hole through which an end could be threaded. Winter 08 or 09. Thanks for your time and for designing such beautiful things, Meghan   From: Meghan Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 10:08 PM Email: meghan****@********.com

Ask A Designer Reply: On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 AskADesigner(at)echodesign(dot)com wrote: Hi there Meghan, So sorry to hear about your wrap. I'd love to help you find another! If Montreal is anywhere near as cold as NYC we better make it fast! I'll show the picture to our designers and see if we can find it for you. I'll get back to you asap! - Jennifer

On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 , AskADesigner(at)echodesign(dot)com wrote: Hi Meghan! Success! I found this same style - I believe the price is $98 - but it's on sale now for $69! The style # is 374467 and it's called the Downtown Wrap. If you want to order one right away feel free to call our customer service reps at 1-800-327-3896 and they will take care of you. Or I you can follow this link to see it on the site. Let me know what you think or if you have any other questions! :) Thanks again for writing in - so glad we could help! -Jennifer

Ask A Designer Final: Wow Jennifer you are a star! Thank you so much for your help. I will have a look at the website in a couple days and order then. Have a great day - you've made mine, Meghan              From: Meghan Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 3:31 PM To: AskADesigner Subject: Re: Echo cold weather wrap

Welcome to our new feature called Cubicle Couture - Echo Our Style.  Check in and see how and what we're wearing here in the hallways at Echo.  Today the windy morning influenced everybody's outfits and most of us layered up in wraps, sweaters and ponchos.  We found 3 people each wearing a wrap a different way.  Wraps are commonly thought of as something to be worn around your shoulders, like a shawl or a pashmina. This is a great way to wear a wrap in the cold weather months and a lace, sequin or silk wrap also can be a nice touch to a party dress or bridesmaid's dresses.  But these wraps shown here are worn like scarves.  They provide just the right amount of fabric to gather and drape loosely for that casual look.  The first two wraps are also eco-friendly. They are made of bamboo which is naturally anti-bacterial and are amazingly soft!   The last look is our brightly colored ikat.  Ikat is a type of fabric which is created by dying the yarns before they are put onto the loom and woven into fabric.  We had an earlier blog post all about ikats here if you'd like to read more.  So if you're searching for a perfect, long and versatile scarf, you might just find it in the Wraps section!

Today Echo is unveiling two beautiful and easy step-by-step videos illustrating ways to fold, tie and wear a scarf.   Our first videos will make you a master at wearing a scarf in the most popular ways – as a casual neckwrap, twisted neckwrap, hacking style (great for winter mufflers) as a headband, and the ascot.  There's a stylish way for every personality, occasion and mood you may have.

Coco Chanel said “Fashion fades, but style remains.”  Instead of wondering ‘What is fashion?’ ask yourself, ‘What is my style?’  With every season’s fashion and trends it can be difficult sometimes for us define our own style.  Accessories can be the key to unlocking your style and they’re great for fitting whatever mood or climate you’re in. A scarf is the perfect accessory simply due to the fact that scarves come in many different colors, shapes, sizes and fabrics. And once you find a scarf that suits you, a scarf that makes you feel great whenever you wear it, you’ve actually doubled or tripled your wardrobe. These videos will give you the inspiration and the know-how to update every outfit you have.

So stop by and take a look at the videos. It’s easier than you think!  Then bookmark this video page so you can access it quickly for outfit ideas in the morning before work or on your way out the door for a lunch date.   Once you find the perfect scarf that fits your personality or your style, you’ll always have it hanging in your closet, your old friend, the standby, the perfect cherry on the top of your delicious outfit.  The scarf that is a reflection of you. Your own echo.

Four years ago last month I went to Cabo San Lucas for my honeymoon. The end of our trip coincided with Cinco de Mayo.  We marveled at our luck – a sun soaked honeymoon that would end with a big fiesta! The evening of May 5th rolled around and we sat at a sea-side restaurant all dolled up in our Mexican party gear drinking our margaritas, waiting for the party to begin. There we were, us and maybe 2 other couples and the waiter.  We asked him 'Donde esta la fiesta?'  He said "oh, Cinco de Mayo to us is kind of like Columbus day is to you."  He poured us another margarita and a single, lone firework went off somewhere in the distance.  Somewhere a dog barked.   

It turns out that Cinco de Mayo IS a great holiday, but it seems to be celebrated more in America than in Mexico. (Although, I’m positive there are parties somewhere in Mexico.) The day does have significant historical value: it’s the day the Mexican army defeated French forces at the Battle of Puebla, 1862. 

I don’t know about you, but any excuse for a party, let alone a Mexican party, I’ll take it.  I’ve always loved anything Mexican: food, tile, clothing, etc and especially parties!  Maybe Mexico isn’t the best destination right now, but you can certainly bring a little Mexican flair to your party. If you don't have a party to go to, grab a party scarf and enjoy the day anyway!  Here are some of Echo’s most festive items. Ole!

It’s common knowledge that a tremendous amount of design inspiration comes from nature – flowers, leaves, fruit, animal skins, insects, textures, colors – the list is endless.   Studying nature can bring a real appreciation for the beauty of textile designs.  But recently I found that textiles had given me a greater appreciation for nature!  There is a type of fabric called Ikat – which is created by dying the yarns before they are put onto the loom and woven into fabric.  The resulting pattern, due to the inevitable shifting of the threads, has a distinctive irregular “flame-stitch” appearance.  Ikats have been one of the hottest trends in fashion, showing up in every type of fabric and product, especially in scarves and wraps.  So my eye was obviously attuned to ikats, when I came upon a “Mother-in-Law’s Tongue” plant.  You can imagine that a plant with a name like that might not normally be considered beautiful, and usually I just walk by these spiky, uncultivated ground covering plants.  But not this time!  All I could think of was how beautiful the pattern on the leaves was and how they looked so in style!  Here are some of our Ikats: the oversized ikat wrap, the ikat floral tunic and the inspirational Mother-in Law’s Tongue!  -Meg