Retro Trend at TARGET

Target is at it again, bringing style to the masses with four new designer collections. There is definitely a retro modern vibe at work, especially with the Route 66 inspiration byThe Curiosity Shoppe. Seems everyone - from Free People and Urban Outfitters Rookie Road Trip blog to Albertson's Best Road Trip Ever contest - has jumped on the 'Road Trip' trend this summer. 

And my personal fav....the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup can. Fifty years after the artist created one of the art world's most iconic images with his red and white painting of a tomato soup can, the company that inspired the work is selling limited-edition soup with designer labels. Campbell's Soup has launched a series of four canned tomato soups with labels that pay homage to Warhol's 1962 work of art '32 Campbell's Soup Cans'. Timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Warhol's first solo exhibition, about 1.2 million cans of the tomato soup will be sold in Target stores across the United States for 75 cents (S$0.90) each. The company's design team, working with The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, created four different labels in vibrant combinations such as pink and teal for the tomato soup that went on sale this month.

TRENDSPOT: Mermaid Glass

I love sea glass....I love wandering on the beach, looking intently for the sea's treasure, spotting little bits of colored glass and pocketing them as I go. Last Sunday I opened up the morning paper, savoring my cup of coffee and my 'alone' time before my boys and the dog wake up, and came across this article about sea glass in Parade Magazine. The writer, Stephen Fried, tells us that while there is less of it on beaches than ever before--because of recycling, sand replenishment, and rising water levels--interest in collecting "mermaid's tears" has only grown in intensity. To get to the best sites, extreme glassers will do whatever it takes--hike for hours, jet-ski long distances, even rappel down cliffs--to find the glass. Individual pieces may sell for several hundred dollars, and jewelry made from seaglass can fetch even more. I love my sea glass ring that I purchased when I was in Pacific Grove a few months ago.

Sea Glass Guide

* Greens and browns are common. * Blues are harder to find — but not impossible: Cobalt or cornflower blues crop up once in every 250–500 pieces. * Aqua and seafoam are rarer. * Most purples were originally clear; the manganese in them slowly oxidized into the rarer hue. * Glassing holy grails: true yellows, oranges, and the beloved — and ultra-scarce — red.

TRENDSPOT: Girl Power!

DC Comics super heroine, Wonder Woman, who first appeared in 1941 received a dramatic - and amongst her fans, controversial - makeover with the June 2010 release of Issue No. 600 of her monthly comic book series. Here's my impression: The original Wonder Woman is all-American, strong yet feminine, and pantless. The updated version of Wonder Woman looks like a vampire out of the Twilight series. Kind of a 'goth romance' look. I must say the tights/pants and the cropped motorcycle jacket will make it much easier for her to fight injustice and crime.

What makes this story trend relevant for me is the influence she is having on fashion and makeup. MAC Cosmetics revealed that the company is partnering with DC Comics' Wonder Woman to create a limited edition color cosmetics collection featuring the illustrated superhero. Set for a spring 2011 launch at all MAC locations worldwide, the lineup is expected to include lipsticks, eye shadows, blush and nail polish ranging in price from $13 to $49.

Alexandre Vauthier is currently one of the hot names on the Paris couture scene, with Rihanna and Madonna leading the fan club for his moulded-to-the-body, sci-fi silhouette. His fall/winter 2010 couture collection is Wonder Woman inspired, with plunging V necklines and dangling sleeves that were today's super-heroine's answer to the cape.

It is also rumored that there is a Wonder Woman movie in the works for 2013. Super exciting!

TRENDSPOT: Watercolors!

Donna Karan

Charlotte Russe

When I was in college as an art major I took many painting classes. By far my favorite painting style was watercolor. I loved it because it was so fluid, self-expressive and inspired by the mix of light and color and water. From a technique perspective I loved it because I could layer color, it dried fast and it was an easy clean up. I still love it today for the exact same reasons. Now that it's a fashion trend I can't wait to make my next watercolor painting on my wearables instead of on paper.

Farfetch.com

Clothes are now the best canvas for fashion designers who are offering inspiring and artistically creative wearables based on the water color prints trend for 2010. The technique is often impressionistic and dreamy, with vivid hues and ethereal palettes in florals and broad brushstroke patterns.

Cynthia Rowely

Above, from left: Peter Pilotto Tank, $495, available at Opening Ceremony; Urban Outfitters Watercolor Wayfarer, $4.99, available at Urban Outfitters; The Limited Watercolor Floral Scarf, $16.99, available at The Limited; Creatures of Comfort Stine Goya Simply Pants, $373, available at Creatures of Comfort.

For more creative ideas on this watercolor technique, click here and here.