Everyone knows that the weather and the Gregorian calendar don’t always communicate. Still, that shouldn’t stop us from getting excited about the official beginning of spring.
Even if the vernal equinox doesn’t instantly usher in warmer weather, the ceremonial end of winter is a decent excuse to prep your spring wardrobe. To start, focus on a few key trends for the season, specifically the more playful ones below. Whether it’s grown-up tie-dye or oversize barrettes, there is nothing austere here. And that’s the point.
Tons of Tie-Dye
Where didn’t we see tie-dye during the spring shows? It popped up at Calvin Klein, Prada and Dior and dominated at Stella McCartney. Take a cue from the runways and forgo the familiar tie-dyed tee in favor of a more unexpected psychedelic print — on ladylike mules, say, or on a top-handle bag.
From left: 3.1 Phillip Lim cargo shorts, $295 at ssense.com; Anna Kosturova silk maxi-dress, $525 at mytheresa.com; Prada patent leather mules, $850 at bergdorfgoodman.com; Amélie Pichard leather bag, $610 at thewebster.us.
Bike Shorts (Still)
Bike shorts have been a thing for a while now, but for spring 2019 even Chanel is on board. Steal the Chanel styling trick and offset a classic black pair (or even a more high-voltage option, like a snakeskin print) with a demure boxy blazer.
From left: Re:named snakeskin print bike shorts, $41 at shopbop.com; Area silk-blend bike shorts with metallic thread and mini-sequins, $395 at barneys.com; Opening Ceremony stretch nylon jersey bike shorts, $125 at ssense.com.
The Bigger the Barrette, the Better
This must-have spring accessory is less a runway trend than a street style one. At the fall shows that just ended, scads of editors and influencers were spotted in barrettes. Aim for attitude rather than old-timey sweetness and stack several oversize ones or choose clips with cheeky messages.
Clockwise from top: Jennifer Behr barrette, $152 at Jenniferbehr.com; Swarovski crystal clips, $84 at eponavalley.com; Ashley Williams metal Witch clip set with crystal text, $140 at ssense.com; 8 Other Reasons resin clips, $28 at 8otherreasons.com.
