I’m a big fan of Neiman Marcus.  They are a great example of a retail company focused on customer service.  Every season, Neiman Marcus reports on trends and features an extensive shopping gallery of designers interpretations of these trends.  I just received the report yesterday and here is the trend forecast for this season, along with my commentary.  Enjoy!

1-Great White Shirt:  It’s interesting to see this listed as a trend.  I really think of white shirts as a classic piece to have in your wardrobe, regardless of your style.  The key is to choose one with a tailored fit.  I’m partial to Brooks Brothers no-iron (and machine washable) shirts, and they now carry them in short and long sleeve. 

2-Relaxed Pants:  I like this trend from a comfort perspective, but I think it is important to keep things in context.  This trend could easily look a little sloppy if not done right, so I would reserve it for casual wear only.  I also feel that this trend wouldn’t work for certain body types.  The billowy look these pants have around the hips may make plus size women look larger.  Proceed with caution also if you are petite – a longer pant will lengthen you much better.

3-Wedges:  I love a good wedge shoe!  Wedges offer the height of a heel with more stability and comfort.  Coach does a variation of a wedge almost every season.  One dislike I have about wedges is that they tend to be heavy and the extra weight in a high heel shoe can be really difficult to walk in.  Things to look for in a good wedge are:  construction with a lightweight material, or the actual wedge area may be hollow.

4-Shorts:  Well made cuffed shorts with a boyfriend style blazer and casual tee is a fresh, fun, casual look.  Right now in the cooler temperatures, you can find ladies wearing this look with opaque tights and heels, but when Spring arrives, just lose the tights!  I really like the carefree, yet tailored vibe.  Casual dressing should go beyond jeans sometimes!

5-Draping Details:  This trend is going to be around for a while.  As we have all seen in bridal gowns, draping and ruching does wonders for hiding problem areas, and certain fabrics drape so beautifully.  I especially like draping details on a cowl neck blouse!

6-Novel Tees:  I’m seeing a lot of tees with screen-printing, foil, ribbon detail, attached jewelry and so many other embellishments.  The good news is that your basic tees still work fine, just attach multiple broaches/pins, or wear lots of necklaces in varying lengths for interest.  Just like with #1 above (The Great White Shirt) fit is key.  Purchase tees with a bit of lycra included to keep a feminine silhouette.

7-Tribal:  Tribal has been on the trend radar for a couple of years now.  The tribal trend for 2010 is not just limited to shoes (as shown above in the lovely Giuseppe Zanotti sandal).  Tribal patterns are predicted to be hot in 2010.  Be careful, though – wild patterns can be tricky to pull off.  Wear tribal patterns in separates and pair them with a solid, neutral colored top or bottom.  I think I will attempt to pull this trend in through my accessories, such as the shoes shown above, or a bold statement necklace or earrings, or maybe even in a great handbag.  Hmmmm……

8-Denim Dressing:  This trend is not just about jeans!  I love the denim shirtdress shown here from Theory.  Dark denim is so much more interesting than basic black, just as slimming and it is completely seasonless!  I definitely have a denim pencil skirt on my wish list for this year – and I’ll be able to wear it all year long.  Dark denim is also a great backdrop for bold colored accessories!

9-Arm Candy:  Cuff bracelets are a great way to add interest to your outfits.  This is an idea way to express yourself, even when you need to still be somewhat conservative.  Bold jewelry can be a great conversation starter, is quite affordable and really does not go out of style.  I’m seeing a lot of color and sparkle in cuff bracelets right now, but the one shown here from Kate Spade is a little more refined while still being fun!

10-Blue:  Those of you that follow Pantone already know that turquoise has been named the color of the year, and I couldn’t be more thrilled!  However, don’t limit yourself to this specific blue/green.  Fashion houses included everything from royal and navy blue to the very palest shades of sky blue on the runways this season.  Blue is one color that most people can wear, it’s just important to find the right shade for your skin tone and hair color.  Ask a friend to shop with you for your Spring wardrobe and help you select the shade of blue that is most flattering.

11-Nude Shoes:  You may recall that I put nude pumps on my wish list for items to add to my wardrobe in 2010 in my first post of the year.  I want them purely for their practicality.  Nude is a neutral that works when black doesn’t.  Nude pumps or heels elongate the legs, making them perfect for short dresses or skirts.  As Spring rolls around, many of us will be including brighter colors in our wardrobe and nude shoes will be the perfect pairing for colors and patterns.  Not to mention that the color warms the skin tone and accents great legs!

What do you think about the trends for 2010?  Share with us what you love or hate – we enjoy hearing from you!