With resident groundhog Punxsutawney Phil predicting an early spring, it seems the time has come to start planning spring wardrobes. Luckily this season designers have given us a plethora of options including lots of fashionable yet functional staples, as well as edgy chic pieces that complete any night out on the town look. Amazingly enough, almost every one of these spring trends are applicable to both men’s and women’s fashion. If last winter’s introduction of highlighter yellow staple pieces was any indication that age old rules of thumb are changing, this year’s spring collections shy away from the predictable pastel and floral patterns we associate with springtime looks. Instead designers give us practical primary color pieces interchangeable for day time and night wear, comfort chic athletic staples, and practical yet playful accessory options.
The mid-2000s saw the introduction of the office friendly, yet fashion forward Bermuda shorts. The slim cut over the knee shorts came in playful colors and were a great break away from the low rise short shorts of the early 2000s. Luckily, Bermudas are back, but this time designers strayed away from country club ready and moved towards urban chic. Spring 2013’s take on Bermuda shorts bear similarities in fit to the ultra chic boyfriend jeans. Designers like DKNY paired a denim take on the shorts with a clean white cotton button up, while Rag and Bone paired them with a matching boyfriend blazer for an edgier look. This look is practical yet fashion forward. It’s easily paired with platform shoes for a dressier look, sneaker wedges for an urban chic look, or flat sandals for a put together casual look. While black and white is never far from a fashionista’s eye, spring 2013 is incorporating it in a large way. The ultra chic combination of these two primary colors is something men and women can both look forward to, the beauty being that not only is it flattering on all body types, but it is a versatile enough combination to be used at the office or Sunday brunch, yet easily transition into a night on the town look if paired with the right shoe. This classic is back strong this spring with illusory black and white silhouettes, whether in stripes, endless prints, or simple paneled peplum tops or even creating the illusion of legs for days in white denim with a black paneled inseam. The best part of this trend is that you don’t have to feel guilty about spending a few extra dollars on a piece because this lovely color combination can be used year round.
Perhaps the strongest trend to carry on from fall and winter fashion is the inclusion of leather in almost any look. Perfect for a night out on when you’re in the mood for an edgy twist to your favorite look, this spring’s leather comes styled in minimalist looks. Designers are pushing leather as an everyday contemporary material used to add edgy texture to a look. Pair a leather bottom with a cotton button up for a carefree minimalist look. No longer should leather be saved for that special occasion or those days when you’re looking to channel your inner Goth. Whether it’s a circle skirt, leather pants a la Kanye West, leather trimmed dresses and shorts; this luxury material is easily transcends into your everyday wardrobe as seen in Topshop and ASOS’ spring collections.
In a practical step away from New Years sequins, designers opted to keep shimmer alive this spring with replacing disco ball glitz with intricate beading on pieces. Designers like Tory Burch added beading detail to simple cotton tunic and shift dresses to add effortless sparkle. Push those loud sequins aside and make room for Eastern European and Middle Eastern inspired beadwork. Pair with denim and flat sandals for a daytime look or with a strappy nude heel to let the beadwork speak for itself. Last spring, Helmut Lang was one of few designers to introduce minimalist short suits; however the versatile two piece suit has been spotted in every price point, available from almost every designer. The best part about the short suit is that the shorts and blazer combination create an ultra chic professional girl on the go look, yet each other pieces can be worn separately and paired with your favorite closet staples. Many of the shorts featured in the two piece combination come in office friendly lengths, which will work well for that spring or summer internship you’re hoping to nab.
In the practice of fashion functional pieces this spring comes the comeback of athletic inspired looks. Men have their pick of bright windbreakers and rugby sweatshirts, while women can choose from flattering tennis inspired dresses. These are especially great in that they show enough leg to qualify as sexy, while the high neckline offers a flattering and conservative cut to balance. Windbreakers are offered for men and women that work well to keep you fashion forward even in the midst of spring and summer rain storms. Spring is a great time to fulfill that healthy New Year’s resolution, so get inspired by these athletic fashion forward pieces.
Whether cat eye, aviator, or in Wayfarer style; sunglasses are this spring’s hottest accessory. While sunglasses never seem to lose their relevancy, designers have made sunglasses the accent piece that ties together this spring’s latest trends. They can add the perfect pop of color to your spring outfit. Anna Sui opted with a floral embellished cat eye to add an extra touch femininity to a floral 50s silhouette dress. Other designers opted for nudes to add an edge to 90s grunge inspired looks. Diane von Furstenberg used sunglasses to accent color blocking, taking an average outfit and making it a fashion statement. Stores like Aldo and H&M feature cheap takes on designer sunglass trends, while Warby Parker offers a slightly pricier alternative. The idea is to stock up on interesting and trendy pairs of sunglasses to interchange with outfits as if they were jewelry as opposed to opting for your staple pair of lenses for each look.
Spring 2013 seems to be one of the first fashion seasons that bring the masses fashion forward trends that are also practical. Gone are the days of splurging on statement pieces that lose relevancy after one season. Perhaps designers are attempting to appeal to consumers looking to get the most bang for their buck out of their fashion finds. Whatever the reason, this spring’s fashions are a clear sign that simple classic pieces are always in style.