Bold and beautiful: Spring 2008 trends

Like March, who comes in like a lion, the spring 2008 fashion trends have arrived with a roar. Bold details and textured hair are replacing the traditionally softer, subtler shades of springs past.

Bright colors, metallic accents and animal prints have saturated the retail market. Be careful of overdoing it, warns personal stylist Judy Starnes, owner of Janet Marie Studios boutique in Fort Myers. Starnes recommends focusing on a single trend and using accessories to incorporate bold looks into a classic ensemble.

"For instance, a great shoe," she said. "Or a lemon-yellow handbag."

Try lush lime-green Steve Madden wedges at DSW in south Fort Myers ($49.95). Or check out Endless.com, the all-accessories offshoot of Amazon.com, for a pleated leather hobo in bright yellow from Kenneth Cole ($368).

The key to looking chic this spring (and seasons to come), said Starnes, is ensuring that clothes fit well. With a background in couturier sewing, she has an eye for which styles work well on what body types.

"There are three basic body shapes: wider shoulders with narrow hips, wider hips with narrow shoulders, and hips and shoulders that are the same size."

Wearing a boat neck top is one way to offset wider hips, while wearing longer, untucked shirts will lengthen a short torso. Starnes recommends investing in a tailor to ensure that clothes fit optimally.

Like fashion, hair, too, is going bold. Chris Lewis, co-owner of Vincent Salon in Fort Myers, said there are two key looks for this season: curls and matte finish.

Textured hair is in, with 70s era-inspired curls and the soft waves of 40s glam.

Stylists are turning to more subtle looks and stepping away from the perfectly flat styles of recent years.

Lewis recommends the Fresh Curls line of products from Redken for reducing frizz and defining natural waves.

The other in-vogue style is the matte finish, a thicker, grittier look with morningafter glamour.

"Think Anne Bancroft in The Graduate," said Lewis. "This look says, the lady is back. And she had a good time."

To achieve this style, try Redken's rough clay pomade.

The key to beautiful hair goes beyond style. According to Lewis, the most important part of a great-looking do is maintaining healthy hair. To ensure that your hair looks its best, he advises using stylistrecommended products (often the same ones used in salons) at home.

"Many people think stylists suggest products to make a sale," he said. "But those products are really important to keeping your hair healthy."

Also, never color hair at home. Professional stylists use a range of products, including demi-permanent color and glazes that are less abrasive than home dye jobs.

"Hair is like fabric," Lewis said. "If you use harsh bleaches and chemicals on a great new pair of jeans, then they'll fade and develop holes. Like your clothes, you have to take care of your hair."

Fashion Q & A with Judy Starnes, Personal Stylist

>>What are the top three items every woman needs in her closet? Basic black pants, a white top, and a novelty shoe.

>>If a woman is going to invest in just one thing, what would it be? Put your money in accessories. Good quality accessories make a simple outfit look expensive.

>>Is there a piece of jewelry that looks great on every woman? Hoop earrings. Buy them in proportion to your face. They look good on all ages and are still a little gutsy.