Style doesn’t come naturally to me. If I lived on a desert island (with a mall), I’d match striped shirts and plaid pants with cheetah-print shoes. I definitely appreciate good style, though, so I try to soak up as much as possible from my fashionable friends and my job, where I research analytics and trends for Groupon’s health and beauty deals. To prep for springtime, I investigated the latest crop of runway-inspired and Pantone-recommended looks. Braids Braids are making a huge comeback. They’re a great way to style hair that’s due for a wash, and they work just as well for a workout as they do for a casual date. For date night, try a loose, touchable version, like the boho-chic braids from Rachel Zoe’s Spring 2014 show. (Master her models’ style with this tutorial.) Bright lips and “bare” makeup The au naturel look for eyes and skin took the runways by storm in Spring 2014 shows. So did bright lips in shades like oranges, purples, fuchsia—even blues and greens! Combine the two trends with Urban Decay’s new Naked3 eye-shadow palette ($52) and NYX’s Soft Matte Lip Cream in Addis Ababa, a neon fuschia ($6). Or go bolder with Ka’oir Cosmetics’ #Kaoirdoll lipstick ($17.99), a cerulean blue. Matte nails   Matte nail hues are all the rage for spring. A matte manicure is pretty much the same as a regular one, too, except a matte-effect topcoat is applied at the end—and you walk out way trendier than when you arrived! Check out the look in this dreamy picture, then take a DIY stab at it with Essie’s topcoat Matte About You ($10 at Ulta). Statement eyeliner In my opinion, eyeliner is the most important makeup element—and this spring, it’s going to crop up in fresh colors, shapes, and patterns. Personally, I’m most excited to try new colors. I tend to stick to black and maybe dark blue, but I lust after looks that involve warmer colors—like this winged violet eyeliner. Radiant-orchid accents Pantone has chosen the color of 2014, and it’s radiant orchid, a gorgeous shade of purple that pops on any skin tone. Check out my guide to wearing it in subtle and statement ways here, or try it in a jewelry piece, like this statement radiant-orchid ring by SherryKayDesigns ($27). Back to Favin the Maven