There is an epic battle taking place in the fashion world right now -- pastels vs. brights. From the runway all the way to the (very fashionable) streets, designers and fashionistas alike are taking sides between the soft colors fit for an Easter egg or vivid colors that provide a shocking pop. Take a look at the following collections, from Altuzarra to Vera Wang that each showcased two of the hottest trends for spring.

And along with those runway looks comes the street style setters- from bloggers, models to normal people like you and me- they are all making quite a case for their favorite hues.

Shopping around online, I also couldn't help but be drawn to the competition between pastels and brights for Spring. Out of all the items I stumbled upon, I am feeling partial to the soft look of pastels including those light aqua loafers that would be perfectly paired for a funky work look or on the weekend with super dark denim. Still though, I can never resist a brightly colored pant, especially that lipstick red pair from J.Crew that would be a lovely compliment to a patterned blouse.

So which team are you siding with this spring? Are there any pieces you feel like you can't live without? How will you mix them into your look? Share your thoughts in the comments!

With the changing of the seasons also comes the rethinking of our closets: summer tank tops you could have easily worn yesterday are now too thin to wear with the fall chill rolling in. That mini skirt to go out with your friends in suddenly seems too short with bare legs. I know that when I start reaching for my just worn-in sweater instead of my fitted t-shirt that it's time to do a closet overhaul. As the saying goes: out with the old and in with the new! But rather than throw out those perfectly good summer clothes, try updating them with these five new pieces plucked straight off the fall runway. Whether you're starting another school year or out in the working world, these trends will get any closet ready for fall.

Leather skirts were a huge runway trend for fall, seen everywhere from Louis Vuitton to Tommy Hilfiger. This femme fatale look is all about the perfect fit, a longer length than what was on the runway and a smooth texture. Try pairing a leather pencil skirt with a thin long-sleeve t-shirt and your favorite summer flats (a pointed toe will help elongate those legs) for a look that will make you want to banish your everyday skirts to the back of the closet.

Polka dots may seem fit more for children, but this fall, runways from Marc Jacobs, Behnaz Sarafpour, Lanvin and Stella McCartney were all over the spotted trend. Funky, glamorous and even a little bit sexy, a sheer spotted blouse is a great update to wear with either your favorite pair of jeans or a casual work pant.

Not surprisingly, fur was all over the runways this fall especially at Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's line The Row, Prada, Gucci, Missoni and Celine, except for this year it was dyed all the bright colors of the rainbow. Therefore, taking this trend straight from the runway requires a little more creativity. Swap out the real fur for something faux for a trendy look minus the guilt and scale down the proportions to an accessory like faux fur mittens or a scarf. Try wearing these new brights with your favorite patterned dress and jacket thrown over it and you'll be perfectly on trend for fall.

In the colder areas of the world, puffer jackets are generally worn for function rather than their style-setting potential, but this fall, utilitarian is chic again with over-stuffed jackets shown on the runway at Altuzarra, Thakoon, Jean Paul Gaultier and D&G. Head to your nearest outdoors store for the most authentic look or pick one in a patterns to wear instead of your everyday jacket. In order to keep the look flattering, find one with a belt or use a contrasting leather belt you already own to keep the down in check. Wear them out at night over a fabulous dress for the biggest style impact.

Finally, following season after season of gigantic bags, the new it bags may seem minuscule in comparison, not to mention they only carry about as much as you would normally fit in a nighttime clutch. Designers like Alexander Wang and Jason Wu showcased that smaller can be better with these petite bags. It may take a little adjusting as to what contents you decide to carry in them, but these new small-scale bags are just the thing to go from work to play. Not only that, but they'll also give your shoulder a much needed break. Wear them with your everyday outfit for a fresh update for fall.

So what are your favorite fall trends? How would you work any of the above into your wardrobe? Are there any items that you  must have for the changing of the seasons? Share your thoughts in the comments!

While I was on the plane last weekend, something got me thinking. Looking around at the other travelers, I noticed that I was one of the only people on the plane with an actual magazine. Instead, they were looking at their smartphones, their ipads or their laptops. The woman next to me was reading the latest Vogue updates from their Daily Website while I was stuck with the monthly issue, which was already seemingly out of date. Most of the breaking news, articles and pictures in it had already been published on blogs or other fashion-related websites. She was getting the real updates while I was rehashing what had already happened in the fashion industry earlier that month and looking at pictures from weeks ago.

So my thought is this- is the fashion magazine slowly falling behind more technologically savvy mediums? More and more magazines have been folding in the past few years than ever before, although most fashion magazines have been safe for now as compared to other industries like home décor, food or family magazines. I would like to think that they might be around for a little while longer, considering it is quite difficult to recreate that feeling of excitement from finding that glossy lovely in the mail all wrapped up or spotting the new issue on the newsstand next to the chocolate bars and gum. I can remember tearing the pages out of fashion spreads that seemed from another world and tacking them up on my bedroom walls. Now, I find myself saving images to my hard drive instead.

On the plus side, magazine publishers are becoming more in-tune with the constantly evolving demand for to-the-minute fashion news, advice and trends by using this new digital platform to create tech-specific versions of what you’re buying at the newsstand. Behind the scenes videos, interactive spreads, click-and-purchase items along with daily updates are making their paper copies appear defunct. Slowly by slowly, the glossy magazine is losing its panache to the tech-based world.

So do you still read fashion magazines in addition to alternative mediums, or have you given up on them in favor of something ultra-current? Other than Smashion Babble, what are your favorite blogs to read? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Out of the many trends taken straight off the runway from the Fall 2011 shows, there is one that stands out as being not only one of the most wearable but also ridiculously simple and totally fun. Monochromatic dressing, or wearing a similar color palette from head to toe, makes not only a powerful style impact but can also be one of the most flattering ways to wear color to make you look your best. All it requires is the ability to mix and match what you already have in your closet in a new way. And what could be easier than that?

Taking a cue from these style-setters, monochromatic looks work best when mixing different shades of the same color, like pairing a blood orange blouse with a fire-engine red skirt and maroon booties or choosing a palette of dusty pink, beige and off-white. By combining multiple colors but sticking to a restrained color palette and emphasizing different textures, you can be perfectly on trend. Only the rainbow limits your options.

Courtesy: Atlantic-Pacific

Courtesy: The Man Repeller

So what is your favorite color to wear and how would you style it from head to toe? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Another season of runway shows is upon us! This time it is haute couture. Although these clothes may seem over-the-top to everyday fashionistas, the background of this disappearing craft reveals a hidden world that is fascinating to discover.

Armani Privé Fall 2011 couture

First things first, haute couture is tiny industry based out of France that continues the tradition of handmade garments that is unlike anything we are accustomed to. Only a select few designers are legally permitted to call themselves couturiers because of the extremely high quality standards that must be met. Now, some American designers have taken on the name couture (like the megabrand Juicy Couture), even though they are in fact not couture fashion houses. Only those who have Parisian government approval are the real deal. Designers use these runway shows as a theater stage, to showcase confections that might never been seen anywhere else involving some of the most beautiful fabrics, details and techniques ever imagined. Sadly, this craft is slowing fading away mostly due to extremely high costs and little revenue earned from it, but this week we can marvel in the exquisite collections of some of the top fashion houses including Dior, Armani, Givenchy, Giambattista Valli, Maison Martin Margiela and more.

Christian Dior Fall 2011 couture

Giambattista Valli Fall 2011 couture

So how can you find inspiration from these seemingly over-the-top shows? Use the street as your runway and combine items in an unexpected way to show off your best assets. You may not be wearing a cube hat like Christian Dior’s models, but you could work that cubist reference into a shirt that has color blocking or adapt the neon bright makeup by using brightly colored mascara instead of basic black. If the colored updos at Armani Privé were a little too drastic, try recreating the look by tying your hair in a loose bun and wrapping a scarf around it to make the look more festive. All in all, the one thing that we can take from the couture runway is that fashion is not only an individual expression of your creativity but also that it is totally fun.

Givenchy Fall 2011 couture

Try it out for yourself and see how much fun you can have with fashion too!