Catching Spring Fever

Volume, skinny, texture, sheer, brushstrokes, brights, ladylike, gladiator, tribal, safari—these are just ­some of the trend buzzwords screaming at me from the newsstands, jarring me from my winter style slumber. All the noisy trend-pushing could make me want to crawl back into my warm winter woolens, but it doesn’t—it makes me want to shop! Rather than wallpaper my whole spring wardrobe with tribal prints and skittles colors, I’m looking to shake up my favorite whites, tans, and blacks with interesting extras. Here are ten ways I’m planning to wake up my wardrobe and my style for spring:

1. Wide Leg Pants
I’ve always been a fan of wide leg pants regardless of whether they were on trend or not. This spring’s styles are tailored looking, with a dramatic voluminous leg. They’re not the best for bike riding, but they’re great for the office with a tucked sheer blouse, for the weekend with a fitted tee, and for anytime with chunky platform heels. I’ll wear this crisp white pair well into summer and fall.

 Photo courtesy of Shopbop.com

A Happy Day Bag
I’m disregarding the fact that every style bible for spring insists that I MUST own an oversize clutch for spring (or I’ll be outcast, or worse, out of style). I won’t buy one because I won’t use one. Sure this season’s variety are oversized to accommodate more than a stick of gum but they’re just not a practical shape—too awkward for the disco (yes I still “disco dance” and clutch bags inhibit me), and too elegant for my day-to-day needs.

And they’re just so “trendy.” This cross-body supple leather bag by Brooklyn bag designer, Hayden-Harnett, is trendy without being too trendy. I’ll want to wear the rustic modern shape long after the spring-trend egg timer has turned, and this shade of green will look happy and new against my prints and basic whites now, and then pop beautifully against all my tans, browns, and blacks in fall. Bonus: the cross-body design won’t hold me back as I spring for the dancefloor!

Photo courtesy of haydenharnett.com