Unfortunately, the groundhog predicted another six weeks of winter, which means another six weeks of trudging around campus in parkas and Ugg boots. However, now would be a great time to update your warm-weather wardrobe. It may be difficult to anticipate what will be in style in a couple of months, but luckily for us, fashion works six months ahead. Looking at the Spring/Summer 2018 fashion shows, it’s easy to predict this spring’s fashion trends. Since brands typically look to the runway for inspiration, we can expect to see those trends coming soon. Here are the major trends you will see everywhere come spring:
Lavender/violet hues
Millennial pink was all the rage last year. It could be found on anything from tops to shoes, or even bags and coats. This year, the new “it” color has upgraded to purple, especially lavender. The hue was seen all over the S/S ‘18 runways from brands like Michael Kors and Tom Ford. WhoWhatWear has even considered it the prettiest trend of the year. The trend can easily be worn as a sweater with jeans or as an accessory like a crossbody bag or socks. If your style is more daring, opt for an ultra violet, which Pantone has named color of the year.
Western-inspired pieces
Western-inspired fashion may seem a bit out there, but the trend is more simple than it seems. Think of Western button-ups, cowboy boots, suede and fringe. Calvin Klein dedicated a portion of its show to the trend, with outfits of satin button-ups and pants paired with pointed cowboy boots. Test the trend out with a Western-style blouse and your favorite vintage jeans. Instead of your go-to black booties, choose ankle-length cowboy boots.
Plastic and patent leather
With rain showers always in the forecast during the spring, it’s no surprise materials like plastic and patent leather made an appearance on the S/S ‘18 runways. Every look at the Chanel show featured some plastic piece in the form of tall boots or as hats and gloves. Similar to the plastic look, patent leather adds definite edge to any outfit, especially in bold colors. While you can’t practically wear Chanel’s thigh-high plastic boots, you can choose pieces like coats to look chic in the rain. Patent-leather skirts or boots are a perfect addition to a night-out look.
Plaid
While plaid blazers could be seen all over Instagram last season, the print is here to stay for the upcoming spring. Not just made for blazers, the print was on the runway in a slew of coats, pencil skirts and mini dresses. Brands like Fendi and Prabal Gurung reworked the print in unique ways to make chic new pieces. Plaid in neutral colors, especially black and white, can easily be incorporated into your wardrobe because it goes with almost anything. Pair plaid pants or a skirt with a solid color top or vice versa. To be extra bold, you can try mixing prints; just make sure the colors are complimentary.
_Edited by Claire Colby | ccolby@themaneater.com_