It’s time to put away the shades of gray and black that dominated fall and winter fashions, and brighten up your wardrobes.
But what to shop for to freshen up your look?
Here are six big trends to tap into.
Tribal
This look is most sharply defined by bold (and often) bright prints that have a hand-crafted appearance, including batik, woven and strong geometric patterns. Accessories include painted wood beads, faux bone, animal prints and woven pieces.
Spotted:
Old Navy turns the trend into an urban safari.
Tips for wearing it:
“Have fun with embellishments,” says Laird Borelli, an editor for Vogue’s Style.com. She suggests looking for details that copy Africa’s Maasai tribe’s legendary beadwork (bright, primary colors).
She also advises finding a silhouette that hangs close to the body if you’re going to choose a loud print. In fact, to keep from looking like you’re going to a costume party, choose pieces that have modern construction — long, loose tanks and short A-line dresses.
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Neo-hippie
This doesn’t stray too far from the boho trend that’s been popular for a while, but expect to see more vibrant colors and more prints, like tie- and dip-dying and paisley.
Spotted:
At Anthropologie, which never really moved on from boho chic.
Tips for wearing it:
Accessories can be key to this look. Gina Kelly, fashion editor at Seventeen, suggests picking up a pair of gladiator sandals, a summer scarf or a slouchy hobo bag.
Transparency
If tribal is this spring’s wild side, transparency is its softer side. Look for sheer fabrics over or under others, dresses with peek-a-boo insets and bits of lace.
Spotted:
Conservative Banana Republic even has a sleeveless chocolate-brown knit dress with crotchet-detail holes that reveal a slip underneath.
Tips for wearing it:
Layer, layer, layer, Barelli says. That sheer blouse needs to be worn over a tank top or under a blazer. Or, simply find a piece that incorporates layering for you.
Saturated, bright color
Look for bright blues, yellows, purples, greens, pinks — shelves and racks look like Skittles-bag explosions. If this season has a single overriding theme, color is it.
Spotted:
On everything from bright yellow patent shoes to hot pink dresses. Preppy J. Crew and Ralph Lauren are especially awash in color.
Tips for wearing it:
Choose your hue. If you look horrible in yellow, wear pink or purple instead. Any color goes, as long as it’s bold, experts say. Match a bright blue dress with yellow patent shoes as in the J. Crew catalogs for a vibrant, youthful look. Not sure you can handle that much color? Pair that dress with blue print sandals that echo, but don’t compete, with the hue of the dress. Keep nail polish neutral.