Tommy Hilfiger took over Toronto last week to preview the spring 2011 collection of its “younger sibling” line, TOMMY. As with the fall collection, media members in Toronto were among the first to view the clothes, which brought a welcomed jolt of warmth and color to an otherwise frigid Canadian winter night.

While TOMMY’s fall collection focused heavily on nostalgia and heritage, spring brings the vision firmly into the present, with an eclectic mix of travel-inspired prints, nautical motifs and — surprisingly — the perfect touch of neon. The clothing is vibrant and playful, bold and adventurous without being over the top. There’s plenty of pattern on pattern and mixing of untraditional colors and yet, it all works as a cohesive collection.

We can picture boho girls wrapping themselves up in the long patterned skirts and loose-fitting blouses, while the downtown crowd can play up or play down the short shorts, striped sweaters and preppy jackets.

The men’s collection mixes nautical with neon, updating the traditional classic “Hilfiger look” with pops of unexpected color and vintage-inspired details. The dyed Oxfords and faded denim are presented as new staples, while we gravitated toward the bright yellow jackets and bathing suits. For those who prefer to keep it simple, the new collection also includes more “basic” wearables like a pinstripe sweater, cozy tees, and front-pocket shorts.

The standout pieces for us though, are the accessories, whether it’s a canvas rucksack for guys or a boxy tote or distressed satchel for women. They’re the perfect finishing pieces for the TOMMY look, but definitely one of the first items we’ll be eyeing and picking up come spring!

– TC