For spring, it seems that the cool thing to do has been to go heavy, or moody, or dark. Breaking from this sartorial doom and gloom was yesterday's Carlos Campos presentation, where we were reminded that spring can be about color, and that those colors can sometimes be vibrant.

To be sure, Campos doesn't veer away from the utilitarian theme that's been popular this week completely-- he blends traditional South American prints with elements of the modern uniform.

But his use of color, especially the dull yellows and soft turquoises, as seen in asymmetrical color blocks on several of the collection's polos, jackets, and shorts, added a welcome sense of relief from the darkness.

This collection seemed to be far more focused than previous seasons. A coral red bomber jacket and a royal blue double-breasted blazer were particularly handsome highlights of the collection. Both have oversize button-up pockets at the side, lest the utility of these pieces be somehow overshadowed by the brightness.

PAPERMAG's Complete Spring 2012 Fashion Coverage