Spring Fashion Guide
By Alexis Guillory
Pack up those parkas. It’s the time of year when the sun stays out longer and the cherry blossoms bloom. Spring is here and it’s bold, unconventional, and multi-dimensional. Quiet luxury and capsule collections are evergreen and will continue to undergird the quintessential spring wardrobe. That being said, here are the latest trends of the season:
COLOR BLOCKING
Spring is associated with pastels and floral prints on traditional silhouettes. This year, however, we’re skipping patterns and instead mixing solid brights between pieces for a modern color-blocking. I love this trend because it can build off of existing items in your closet. It’s just a matter of thinking outside the box about color combinations. Christopher John Rogers and Rosie Assoulin do color-blocking better than any designer. Some classic duos are red + pink, lavender + orange, and green + blue.
3D FLORAL DETAILS
If there is one spring theme that stays constant from year to year it is florals. However, this year designers are pulling them off the page and bringing them to life with three-dimensional features and appliqués that could confuse any honeybee. We are seeing full-flower tops, gathered rose details, and petals as patterns both on and off the runway this season. Oscar De La Renta, the king of flowers himself, created some incredible 3D pieces for spring. But for the everyday budget, Zara, Magda Butrym, Cult Gaia, and Aje all have pieces that resemble sculptural art in the form of flora and fauna.
UNCONVENTIONAL COLLAR
Button-downs and collared shirts lend themselves to a capsule, but interesting material and proportions can make them stand out. An oversized collar elevates a button-down while also keeping it versatile. Ganni has mastered the collar, from Peter Pan to Sailor. A knit or crocheted polo brings a soft spring look to a sophisticated preppy ensemble. Nili Lotan, A.L.C, and J. Crew are a great starting place for knit collars in every color!
STRUCTURED SHORTS
Suiting style and men’s wear commanded last year. We paired trousers and blazers with more casual outfits to create a modern silhouette. As the weather warms up, we are seeing this suiting style transition from trousers to shorts. Baggy, frayed shorts are out and tailored shorts are in! As it pertains to denim, a more structured pair can take your look from beach to brunch. Derek Lam, Veronica Beard, and Zimmermann all offer a wide variety of short styles that achieve a smart, fitted look.
FLATS — MESH, TWEED, LEATHER, BEDAZZLED
The shoe on everybody’s lips for the past year…FLATS! The fashion world has never seen so many variations of a single shoe style. Whether they’re bedazzled, mesh, woven, leather, tweed, or metallic, flats can fit every occasion. Brands such as Alaia and Miu Miu are going maximalist by incorporating embellishments and non-traditional base materials. Chanel and Christian Louboutin, consistent in their designs, are also breaking out into bright colors for the season.
Alexis Guillory is a construction estimator and selections coordinator at Frankel Building Group. She specializes in luxury residential construction throughout Texas.
