Q. What was your inspiration for the spring and summer lines – what impacted your creative process when deciding what patterns, materials and colors to use?

A. Some of the obvious trends from the spring and summer 2010 runway shows include neutral hues, knotting and draping, lavender, sheer fabrics, jeweled bibs and heavy necklaces, deconstructed menswear-inspired pieces, t-shirt dresses, ruffles, watercolor prints, and fall hues for spring.

Our spring and summer lines feature soft neutral colors with unexpected pops of color. I love to draw interesting and unexpected color combinations from sunsets on the ocean here in Santa Cruz. If you look closely there are always so many soft colors from the full spectrum combining to create a breathtaking picture. I defined our spring and summer lines as “Tropical Glamour.”

Q. What do you hope to accomplish trend-wise with the new spring and summer lines?

A. I hope women can escape from any fashion frustrations and feel more fabulous, confident and beautiful wearing DownEast Basics. Here are some key, trendy pieces to try:

· Neutral hues with pops of color: All of our layering basics offer perfect layering options and come in an awesome selection of colors, from soft hues to bold brights. I love how the pop of tangerine in our Still Life Skirt complements the neutral hues of the rest of this look.

· Draping & lavender: Our Top Tier Skirt in lavender offers a very flattering take on the draped skirt. The side-swept layers elongate the body, and the skirt’s soft lavender color allows it to be treated as a neutral to pair with almost any color of the season. Shown here with our Frosted Flowers Cardigan.

· Sheer fabrics: I love how sheer fabrics soften color and create dimension. The Corsage Top offers layers of soft white, sheer chiffon and appliquéd flower detail on the neckline. Also, our printed chiffon Centerpiece Dress (available at www.downeastbasics.com) is a perfect mix of soft and bold, all in a fabulous silhouette.

· Jeweled bibs and bold necklaces: Runways for spring consistently showcased bold necklaces as the key accessory.

· Deconstructed menswear-inspired pieces: Our True Love Boyfriend Jeans (available at www.downeastbasics.com) offer a men’s inspired destroyed denim, but are made to fit a woman’s curves.

· Ruffles: I am so glad this trend is sticking around for a few seasons because it is a fun, flirty, and feminine detail to add to any look. Find your favorite ruffles in some of our season’s signature pieces below: Bon Jour Top, Butterfly Kiss Dress, Made in the Shade Dress, & Intuition Top.

· T-shirt dresses: Jersey t-shirt dresses were spotted on the runways from a number of designers including BCBG Max Azria and DKNY. Try our Oceanfront Maxi Dress, Fresh Flowers Maxi Dress, and Rasta Ruffle Dress.

· Watercolor prints: Watercolor prints were spotted in Nicole Miller and BCBG spring collections. Our watercolor print Stroke of Art, Impressionist, and Spring Scene Skirts all pack a colorful punch and are so fun to wear.

· Fall hues for spring: Donna Karan mixed in a number of fall-inspired hues in fresh and fun spring designs. Our Tulip Tunic comes in a fall-inspired shade of yellow, but feels like spring with its cropped sleeves and tunic length that can be worn with crop jeans, leggings or over a swimsuit on the beach.

Q. DownEast had a lot of new categories for the first time in 2009, like its new denim line and accessories. What do you have planned for 2010 in these categories given their popularity?

A. We are so thrilled with the immediate success and excitement surrounding our DownEast Basics denim line, available at www.downeastbasics.com. We have established this category as a constant so you will find new styles, washes, cuts, and very popular embellished denim options! In spring and summer months, we are carrying longer shorts and crop jean styles based on our most popular fits.

Q. In what other new fashion categories will DownEast start offering products later in the year?

A. We plan to continue to build our accessory line, including a full line of jewelry, handbags, belts, headbands, and even shoes! This category has been the most fun to create and helps to complete looks at very affordable prices. It is silly to not stock up. Most accessories can be mixed and matched, layered, and used for multiple seasons.

DownEast Basics special occasion dresses will be offered online and in our retail stores late spring/early summer. We are excited about these stunning gowns and their unbelievable prices (all under $70). You will not believe your eyes!

We have seen a notable growth in our DownEast Basics GIRL line, so we are adding styles and accessories, including the Darling Denim skirt! This could be the beginning to a girls’ denim line!

Other categories we discuss and may possibly test at some point include maternity, plus, and activewear.

Q. What trends are you starting to see now that are likely to affect the line for that season?

A. Fall 2010 looks to continue a subtle 80’s inspiration, with some twists and turns that will create sophisticated mixes of structured blazers and vests partnered with slouchy pant styles. Exaggerated accessories, shoulders and bold prints partnered with neutrals are early trends and seem to be nature-inspired.