Spotted: MU students sporting shorts and sunglasses, people riding bikes without showing any symptoms of frostbite and the sun shining for three consecutive days.
What could this mean? This is not normal. Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago we had two snow days in a row, which were days we spent studying and being proactive about our futures (translated: making poor, yet fun, life choices)?
No, this isn’t right. There should be snow. There should be cold. I should be wearing my parka and cursing my 20-minute walk to the School of Journalism every morning in single-digit temperatures.
Folks, this can mean one thing, and one thing only: spring is about to be sprung.
Sound the alarms! Cue the bunny rabbits merrily hopping, the birds chirping a happy tune and the squirrels coming so close within reach that you warily ponder if they’re rabid or just 2008 Taylor Swift fearless.
Yes, springy vibes are in the air, bringing the delightfully bright sunshine, the wonderfully scented blooms and the promise of a new season’s fashions along with them. It’s time once again to whip out those pastel shorts, swingy skirts, floral blouses and “Je ne sais quoi” attitudes.
Spring fashion is arguably the most effortless and exciting (hello, so many bright colors!) season for dressing, and this season’s trends, both returning and fresh, have me grinning like a shmuck. Paris Fashion Week, the final Fashion Week among the four fashion capitals, concluded as of Wednesday, which signals the start of spring 2014 looks finally emerging into everyday dress.
So, what exactly does that mean for this season’s fashions?
Aside from the typical pastels and florals the season’s apparel customarily dons, spring 2014 is rolling in with looks that have me itching at the heels to try them out (and apologizing profusely to my soon-to-be-dwindling bank account). The theme of the new season’s trends: sparkle and shine.
I’m talking a wild array of metallics, gem-embellished tops and rose gold everything. The looks aren’t typically what would pop into one’s mind when thinking “spring,” and that frankly makes them all the more enticing. Sure, they may not have the cotton candy vibes we’re used to for the season of blooms, but they certainly carry a similar “pop” and tumble in with a fresh boldness that sometimes gets lost in spring fashion.
If you want to ease your way into this shimmery trend, try a more subtle, gem-embellished top with rose gold accessories. For a more feminine look, pair the two with a pair of casual skinny jeans and nude flats, or toss them on with a skater skirt and combat boots for something a pinch more edgy.
If you’re feeling ambitious and want to jump right into a sea of shimmer-shine, try a metallic gilded skirt with a chambray button-up to even out the boldness on the bottom. Pair it with a gemmed statement necklace, layer on bracelets for some wrist candy, and voilà! You have a look that’s two-fold sassy and stylish.
What’s so wonderful about rose gold (ranking it at a solid No. 1 among my favorite metals) is its unusual versatility. Some think gold can be too fancy or silver, too casual, but rose gold hits that sweet spot right in between, making it appropriate for both fancier affairs and sweet, laidback soirees alike.
One of my personal favorite trends inching its way into this spring’s scene is the color orange, which is finding itself painted across the entirety of the fashion spectrum. The color has been spotted not only on apparel, but also on eyelids, cheeks, nails and, yes, even lips.
The key to keeping the color from stretching into tacky territory is having only one poppy orange piece in your ensemble. If you’re going with a bright orange top, for example, make sure to keep your accessories and bottom half simple.
This spring, be daring. Don’t be afraid to ditch the florals and simple stripes in favor of some sassy bronze or vivid orange.
And in the name of all that is good and holy, please avoid the squirrels.
