If you follow me on Instagram, you might know I was away on a mother/daughter spring break trip with my 18-year-old daughter. There were 11 moms and 11 daughters - and if I’m being honest, I definitely had some hesitations before going… I mean 22 women (because at 18 our daughters are definitely young women) - that’s a whole lotta personality and a bunch of varying opinions needing to be managed and synchronized for a successful vacation.

The great news is, it was a blast, everyone got along well. We all bonded (moms and kids) and I’m so very glad we went. 

And the other interesting thing that came about was, I gained a lot of good content ideas for this blog. Think about it, 5 days, 22 women - the subject of fashion, dressing, and style came up often. And not just the omg, I found the best {fill in the blank} conversations. But the real-life, pain point kind of stuff. So, anywho, the topic of spring fashion and what was ‘in” or “out” came up quite a few times. And then a few IG friends asked about it too, which made my “I better write about this” alarm go off - and there ya have it…

When we talk about spring trends (or any seasonal trends) I like to preface it with a little background on how I approach coming up with my trend lists. For me, the process is honestly somewhat instinctive. Since writing this blog I’ve found I need to take a step back and think about the steps that go into the process in order to properly explain… It goes something like this:

1. The Fashion Shows

   That is where most of the trends for a season stem from. And I take notes - what jumped out at me, what did I see repeated in one form or another at multiple shows, and what was wearable for a “real” person. I also look to see how the more over-the-top trends could be translated into more wearable ensembles.

2. The Fashion Magazines

   Even though they say print is dead, the fashion mags are still the gatekeepers of trendsetting. Each publication generates its own list of what is on-trend for that season, keeping in mind their readers and demographic. I also look through these lists with the same lens as the shows - what is showing up repeatedly and how it can be worn by real folks, in real life.

3. Social Media + Retailers

   This is where the intuitive part comes in. Over the 6 months between seasonal releases, I watch, make lists, and catalog. Not necessarily physically journaling, but mentally. Ohhh - I see models and Instagram it-girls wearing X or styling pieces like Y. And again, I look for the echoes and the patterns, and then for ways I or people I know would actually wear said pieces.

And through all of that, I compile my list. 

Also, keep in mind the lifecycle of a trend. And the items on today's list are newer items and looks, at the start of that cycle - meaning it’s what early adopters will be wearing. In reality, it could take 2-3 years for these trends to gain traction and become full-throttled, decade-defining trends.

So this list of trends is on the smaller side - because I’m focusing on what is most easily wearable by those of us not walking down a runway or posing in a glossy. 

And also those of us that want to feel modern and put together without being uber trendy.

Spring Trend #1

Color is always a fun and relatively easy way to update for a season…add a little or add a lot, it’s up to you. Bright colors (i.e. Dopamine Dressing) have been trending for a while. And this season 3 colors, in particular, have been popping up everywhere: green, tangerine, and hot pink.

GREEN:

tangerine:

hot pink:

Spring Trend #2

I think the matching sets craze of the past few years has teed us up for the current pantsuit trend. It’s less of a buttoned-up, corporate, Brooks Brothers suit. And rather, a relaxed, slightly oversized suit that can be worn to a meeting with heels or a backyard party with fashion sneakers.

Side Note: Color is also showing up in the suiting arena, giving us two trends in one.

Spring Trend #3

I’m often asked if leather and suede can be worn in summer and the answer is a resounding yes - with the caveat of, the color and weight of the hides that make it seasonally appropriate, or not. 

IMHO a leather jacket is a wardrobe workhorse and the latest iteration is an oversized version. And while a very voluminous leather jacket can be uber cool. It can also be more challenging to wear for us real people. However, a leather (or faux leather) blazer hits that sweet spot of being oversized (aka on trend) and still wearable - even to the office.

Spring Trend #4

Every season there is a new twist on denim. Spring and summer are typically the time to focus on white denim as a way of “lightening” up an outfit for the warmer weather. And this year ecru is the new white jean. The cool thing about ecru is that it still feels “summery” but is a bit easier to wear because it’s more forgiving than pure white.

Ecru also looks great with other white neutrals to create a monochromatic look that’s cohesive but not perfectly matchy.

We’ve seen the denim silhouette moving towards more relaxed styles over the last few years (remember the whole skinny jeans are dead controversy?) Well, they’re not dead, but a more relaxed fit has definitely taken a foothold in fashionable closets everywhere.

I opted for a boyfriend style ecru this season to get the best of both worlds.

Spring Trend #5

Cut outs can be great and fun and sexy - and also harder to pull off at a certain age. But I want to remind you that cut outs don't have to mean underboob or full frontal abs. (See how not to wear cut-outs below).

A wearable interpretation of cut outs can mean a strategically placed peep or even an asymmetric one shoulder that can be worn and look sophisticated at any age.