The sun is shining, birds are chirping, and spring has arrived. As the last remains of winter melt away, students are eager to shed their winter gear and don lighter, more flattering clothes. With signs of spring popping up, the new trends of the season are spreading around campus.
According to store representatives of Banana Republic, Gap and Guess, this season will differ from last year's color palette. While last spring brought pastels and soft shades, this year will focus on brighter, more vibrant colors that grab consumers' attention.
"For men, right now, it's just a bunch of bright colors," said Phil Anman, men's stylist at Banana Republic. "There's a lot of yellows, corals and sea foam green for guys. For women it's basically the same thing. They're getting us away from the blacks and blues from the winter."
The trend of vibrant hues is common among the bigger name brands, said Rob Egan, store manager for Gap and Gap Body. Traditional spring features will be mixed with some newly popular, vibrant colors.
"The looks that are going to be in this season are all about color. You'll see a lot of jewel tones and floral prints. Big prints, small prints, anything floral and also a lot of ruffled shirts," Egan said.
While vibrant colors aren't unusual for summer, this season is more about mixing and matching. Stylists are breaking down the old barriers between different colors, patterns and prints, according to Egan.
"They're also layering patterns on patterns, which is something you haven't seen in a long time," Egan said.
Many stores are creating their clothing lines around edgy colors, incorporating bold cuts and styles into their spring looks, according to Jessie Przydz, associate manager of Charlotte Russe.
"Since last month we've been getting all the bright colors, bright greens and bright yellows," Przydz said. "A lot of strapless, halters, and dresses are in this season. [So are] baby doll and above-the-knee dresses."
Women who are interested in keeping up with summer trends while still dressing appropriately for work are in luck. Designers are creating more work-appropriate and stylish summer lines.
"Waistlines are high; you won't see the thick belts like last year. Skinny jeans are popular and wide-legs are coming back, for both professional wear and jeans," Przydz said. "Plaids and striped pants are also popular in work wear as well as short-sleeved blazers... [which] can be dressed up or down."
According to Egan, men's lines are moving progressively and keeping up with women's. Men's fashion is featuring more classic, cleaner lines, brighter colors and patterns that haven't been seen in the past.
Straight, slim fitting pants and more tailored, fitted tops are new trends that can be seen in men's fashion, Egan said. For example the polo, which is a spring classic, can be found in virtually any bright color.
What consumers won't see for the spring and summer season is bold fashion trends like last year. Designers are making smaller changes from their previous lines, Anman said.
"What is really changing from last season is brighter colors and silhouettes," Egan said. "While men's clothes are becoming tighter and more fitted, women's have gotten looser."
One of the trends for this summer is the classic Cleopatra top, which is a sleeveless tank top that has a gathered neck line and flows loosely at the bottom, according to Jennifer Marts, co-manager of Express.
"There's a lot of blues and greens for men and women compared to last season," Marts said.
Across the board, representatives agreed that shoes are the biggest accessory this season. They can determine how casual or dressy an outfit is. Espadrilles, wedges and flip-flops are following the trend of color just like everything else.
"The high wedges and peep toes are really popular. They're really funky colors, oranges, yellows, neon pink, but they're solid colors, no prints," Przydz said. "Last season was more like the suede shoes, but now it's all about the patent leather and pleather."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
