H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB : FASHION MEDIA UPDATE - NEW FASHION FOR SPRING 2012

One of the most exciting times of the year for everyone who loves fashion is when the new season's collections first hit the stores and everyone gets to refresh their wardrobe for Spring 2012. Here are the must-have items and trends at H&M, for both women and men.

WOMEN

THE WHITE SUIT - Start the year with a clean slate with a sharp white suit for women. Sold separately as a blazer and trousers, it looks great with a soft jersey vest underneath and a pair of loafers.

THE KIMONO - Simple, soft lines inspired by the classic kimono are updated here into the modern shape of a T-shirt dress, with a drape and pattern that adds a sense of tradition to a 21st century shape.

MINI-SKIRTS - This Spring staple makes nostalgia modern, with a chic 60's feel brought to the present day in this season's accent colours. Whatever the shade, mini-skirts look perfect when worn with Spring's must-have white sunglasses.

MEN

THE COTTON BLAZER - It's the centrepiece of the male spring wardrobe, either single-breasted or double-breasted, and in different shades for different moods. In navy, it can be nautical, and perfect for dressing up or down. Make a statement in a blazer that's berry pink, or tone it down in muted shades of khaki.

THE STRIPED TOP - As the boundaries between work and leisure cross, the nautical striped top becomes the perfect piece. Stripes come in so many varieties, such as on a nautical sweater or a striped polo shirt.

WHITE CHINOS - A modern menswear classic, white chinos are the perfect alternative to jeans, creating a smarter, yet still casual look.

H&M Sport starts Olympic year with an inspiring Spring collection

New Year is the time of the year when many resolutions are made to get fit and stay healthy throughout the year ahead. The Spring H&M Sport collection offers functional sportswear in vivid colours. Racer-backs and sports bras come in colours such as cerise, neon pink, papaya, green and blue. There's a choice of either athletic leggings or looser shell trousers, which can be teamed with running jackets and hooded tops to provide after-training warmth. Sports socks and caps finish off the look that is designed to inspire exercise and good health at the beginning of this Olympic year.

H&M+ is the new name for plus-size fashion and style at H&M

As of Spring 2012, H&M is rebranding its plus size collections as H&M+, meaning fashion will always come before size at H&M. Previously known in-store as Big Is Beautiful, H&M+ launches this Spring with a range of modern essentials in UK sizes 18-28 that can be worn throughout the season. There's the perfect long sweater to wear with skinny jeans, while a flirty blazer looks fresh with a pair of bright trousers. Other basics such as white shirts and ankle-length trousers create the beginnings of a wardrobe that will grow as the seasons develop with H&M+.

The first pick of the season from H&M's Head of Design

As the new season gets under way, it's all about the anticipation of Spring for H&M's Head of Design, Ann-Sofie Johansson. "The first spring wardrobe buys always feel like such bliss knowing that winter will soon be over," she says. "I like to wear fresh brights and sheer materials under my big winter coat to start off the season, like these orange-red slim slacks with an acid yellow top and transparent, super-glamorous biker jacket." There are, of course, lots of key pieces for the new season. "A silver mini-skirt or black shorts suit look equally new," says Ann-Sofie, "maybe with a bright red clutch bag and a pair of feminine flats".

For Ann-Sofie, it's sailor stripes that set the tone for menswear this spring. "For men, a modern take on nautical is perfect for the transitional season," she says. "Fiery red and beige stripes look new on a T-shirt or belt, just like navy and natural on a bag or jersey. These can be combined with some brown leather sneakers or even shorts to update, and make sure you wear the classic preppy Clark Kent spectacles to complete the look".

Blue is the colour of Spring at H&M HOME

Romantic and natural blues are the colours with which to greet the spring at H&M Home. Prints and patchwork patterns come in feminine shades of blue, turquoise and white, especially with patchwork bedspreads and kitchen textiles printed with images of charming blue porcelain. Workwear and unbleached blues provide a styling mix on table runners and chair pads, while sequin cushion covers prove that the trend for light and shine continues into spring. Candles in metallic tones and large linen cushion covers with metallic buttons help to define the raw, warm and industrial feel.

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