Actress Susan Sarandon and daughter Eva Amurri Martino are featured in Neiman Marcus’ spring campaign The Art of Fashion, and can I just say, wow! I wish I was part of this good-looking family. It is certainly an artwork, with a wash of vivid colors and richly textured dresses from designers Burberry Prorsum, Donna Karan, Gucci, Valentino, and Vera Wang. If you can take an aurora from the North Pole and thrust it into a photoshoot, this is what it will look like! I am sold; I just want to dye my hair a vibrant red and stroll into Neiman Marcus like I own the place. The photos will appear in the March issue of the store’s new magazine “The Book.” But for now, let’s just take this time to admire this fashionable duo.

Growing up, I was a true tomboy and I never really got over my distaste for florals, pastels, or anything I deemed “too Laura Ashley.” Although I have learned, since the age of six, to embrace wearing dresses, skirts, and heels, I can’t deny that the majority of my wardrobe exists in grey-scale (mostly black), with the occasional brown or beige piece thrown in to mix things up.

No one could have been more surprised than myself when I took such a liking to the rainbow of pastels walking down the Spring 2012 runways. What is it exactly about this season's take on the country club color palette that makes it appealing to a girl who refused to dye Easter eggs because “eggshell is such a nice neutral and really does go with everything?”

In part, I like that designers have given these colors an edge. I like this Spring's pastels the same way I like a baby-doll dress on Courtney Love, but not on Sandra Dee. There is a toughness to them that is undeniably ironic. You wouldn’t want to mess with any of these girls even if they are pretty in pink:

Courtesy: fashionista.com

One other explanation of my willingness to jump on the pastel bandwagon could be desensitization as a result of exposure to the ultra-saturated hues of this past Fall. Beautifully tailored dress clothes in shades previously only found among the selection of Manic Panic hair dyes at the local "Hot Topic" is another trend I never saw myself getting behind...until I saw the fire engine red blouse tucked into hot pink skirt, and the kelly green pants worn under the electric blue blazer...

Maybe, like plaids and stripes, it all goes back to the sheer joy of rebellion. The tiny thrill we experience when we go to our closets and pair together two things that we know to be a “mismatch.” The little boost we get from “pulling it off.” Maybe the clash works on an even more fundamental, sensory level. That color wheel they give out on the first day of art class in elementary school. When your teacher tells you your paintings will pop if you pair up colors from opposite sides of the wheel. Maybe it is biology -- opposites attract.

All I know is it works. And whatever mystic appeal the combination of marigold and plum had for me last Autumn has transferred to tangerine and lilac.

Courtesy: The Kooples

So, go ahead, embrace wearing pastels. Just be sure to also embrace rule breaking!

Now that we have all perfected the smokey eye and nude lip (thank you Kim Kardashian) it’s time for better and brighter!  As we all know this spring is all about color, but why leave it to just clothes and jewelry?  Bright eye shadow, or bold lips can change any outfit from gloomy 2011 to “here I am world, hear me roar 2012.”  The spring runway shows have created colorful canvases out of beautiful faces.  Magazines are splattered with pink lipstick, blue eye shadow, and colorful cheeks.  It’s a simple way to change up any look without a new wardrobe or going all Lady Gaga.

Courtesy: US Magazine

Courtesy: NARS (from Spring 2012 Makeup Collection)

To try out this trend, first start off with a pink lipstick.  MAC’s “Girl About Town” is perfect if you want to make a statement or just add a little femininity and softness to your look.  If you’re ready to really have some fun, add a beautiful blue palette to your eyes like Dior’s “Navy Design” palette and to brighten up your face brush with Bobbi Brown’s blush in “Peony.”

M.A.C. Lipstick in Girl About Town, maccosmetics.com, $14.50

Bobbi Brown Blush in Peony, bobbibrowncosmetics.com, $24

Dior 5-Colour Designer All-In-One Artistry Palette, sephora.com, $59

I’m sure I don’t have to say this but as a disclaimer always remember: you CANNOT try these looks at once.  It would be like wearing the faux fur vest, with the faux fur boots, and the faux fur handbag.  Too much of a good thing is no longer a good thing.  So this Spring, try being bold, and if that’s too much, than at least try it with your makeup.

I've been trying my best to avoid writing a post like this for some time now, as I feel I'm going to harp on the obvious, but I just can't do it anymore so here goes: winter sucks. Of course, aspects of winter, such as the holidays and being at home and gorging yourself on good food, etc. etc. are– in a word– awesome, but the other aspects of winter, i.e. waking up for a grey sky and a shivering shuffle to class each morning, are no fun. At all. And, because I tend to be more superstitious than scientific when it comes to my weather predictions, I'm terrified that the bizarro warm December much of the US had this season means a bizarro cold March is looming in our future. Thus, I've taken it upon myself to will the return of spring (and, hopefully along with it, my sanity), by incorporating bright elements into all my outfits. Below are some of the things I've been sporting lately to fight frost with fashion:

1. Pastel and Neon Nail Colors

Essie in Turquoise and Caicos, target.com, $7.79
Courtesy: Temptalia

Color Club in Explosive, enailsupply.com, $4.95

2. Bright Jeans

J Brand Twill Skinny Jeans in Bright Green, revolveclothing.com, $176

3. Colorful, Oversized Bag

Linea Pelle "Dylan" Medium Tote in Zucca, lpcollection.com, (Past Season)

4. Vivid Print Scarves

Collection XIIX Oversized Print Scarf, nordstrom.com, $38 (sale)

Disclaimer: It was actually only after I loaded the pictures of all these items that I realized they are all basically yellow/orange or turquoise/green. I think this shows where my subconscious has been since returning to college -- in the sun and on the sea. If only it could take me with it.

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!