Despite the many winter weather events this year, spring has finally sprung. I’m often asked about color and fashion trends of the season. While I am happy to provide this information, and it is good information to have, take the trends list with a grain of salt. In short, not every trend is for everybody. Said another way, not every trend works well for each body. Ideally, dress in a way that speaks to your personal aesthetic, aware of what flatters your body shape and your personal coloring.
Which Fashion Rules Still Apply?
Most of the old fashion rules are out the window. Match your shoes to your handbag? Ridiculous! Some may say we’ve gone too far and thrown out too many fashion rules. I would not disagree. It remains important to wear clothes that flatter one’s shape and personal coloring. Breaking some of the rules some of the time is a good rule of thumb. Breaking all the rules at once (wrong color, bad shape, improper proportion, etc.) is a bad idea.
Your Image Matters
Keep in mind your image tells your story, and your image impacts you and those around you. Dress well and appropriately for your day. Remember this the next time you pull on your sweatpants (wink).
Top Trends
Without further delay, here are the Spring/Summer 2022 fashion trends. They are exciting, bold, and fun, just what we need right now.
This year’s top trends include:
miniskirts (whether as a separate or as a dress)
cropped tops (and bikini tops)
bold stripes
see-through fabrics
oversized blazers
wide-leg trousers
trippy prints
fitted knits
and lots of extreme fringe and feathers
Which Trends Should You Try?
Choose your favorites and never be a slave to trends. As Tim Gunn bluntly put it, “I hate trends. Wear what works for you.” In addition to your body shape and your personal coloring, consider your lifestyle and your needs before purchasing a seasonal trend. It might be a lovely piece, but if it has no place in your life, it has no place in your closet. Another deciding factor is your personal style. For example, if your style is classic, you might not enjoy extreme trends like oversized pieces, bright colors and standout prints.
Spring/Summer Color Trends
The spring palette is vibrant and joyful. Bright colors are balanced with soft neutrals, pale pinks and light blues. The mid-tone blues and teal are the most universally wearable in the spring/summer color palette. In very general terms, the brighter colors are well-supported by those with darker, richer coloring, while the mid-tone colors work nicely on those with fair skin and lighter hair.
What happens if you like a color that isn’t personally flattering? For instance, I like the bright colors in this palette. Unfortunately, my coloring gets overwhelmed by bright colors. In this case, I might do one brightly colored piece and keep the rest of my outfit neutral. If you’d like to try bright colors this season, start with smaller doses away from your face. A handbag, a pair of shoes or sandals, or a bright color within a pattern are easy ways to sample this trend.
Wearing Trends in Real Life
Looking over the trends above, how does one interpret them for real life? I don’t see anyone in my circle donning a bikini top as part of their outfit. The easiest thing to do is to take a silhouette from the trends that flatters your frame and find a few pieces that bring the trend down a notch. You may not wear a cropped sweater that shows skin, for example, but you might try a short sweater that hits at the high hip with higher rise chinos.
My Top Rule
My #1 rule for outfits is to keep the silhouette balanced top to bottom. If you wear a fitted top, wear looser-fitting trousers or jeans. On the other hand, an oversized blouse or a loose blazer looks nice with slim trousers and jeans.
Trends I am eyeing this season:
Cropped jackets
This cropped bomber by Sanctuary fits the bill.
I bought this olive green knit “shacket” from Fashion Jackson’s The Drop on Amazon, and it’s perfect. It is now out of stock; however, there are many cute cropped jackets out there. Since I’ve been wearing this one so much, I’ve got this Top Shop cropped shacket in my basket right now.
Cropped jackets work best on those who are longer in the torso with shorter legs. This is because the short jacket creates the illusion of a longer leg line. For those with a shorter torso and long legs, a cropped jacket will emphasize the vertical imbalance. In that case, I suggest a jacket that hits closer to mid-rear to lengthen your torso and shorten your legs.
For slightly longer jackets, I like this Blank NYC floral trucker jacket. For a more formal look, I like this Boden cotton twill blazer.
Wide-leg chinos
I’ve received lots of compliments on the cotton pants I bought in a Target collaboration last fall. I don’t see this trend slowing down. My pants are no longer available. However, I found the dupe for you at J. Crew.
Clog sandals
Wooden sandals are here to stay. One of the gold standards is a brand called Swedish Hasbeens. I might pull the trigger on a pair like this one this year. I also love the fisherman clog sandal by Madewell. They look a lot like the sandals I am wearing above, which finally wore out after about five summers.
Oversized blazers
When wearing an oversized blazer, keep the rest of your outfit simple and streamlined. My blazer is from Banana Republic a few years ago. Another option is this cotton and linen blazer by Madewell. I could see it with the sleeves pushed up over a t-shirt and shorts for a dress up/dress down vibe. It would also work beautifully at the office with a silky top and slim trousers.
Happy colors
Find your favorite colors from the palette above and get a piece you love. The two that stand out the most to me are Dahlia and Poinciana (the last two colors on the far right on the next to bottom row). I am loving these brightly colored Bermuda shorts from Banana Republic. The inseam is 8-1/2″. For those with long legs and some height (5’7” and up), they will work well. For those who are less vertically blessed (my hand is raised), try Boden’s pleated linen shorts. You can choose between 4”, 6” and 9” inseams. The bright coral is fun!
Need Help?
As always, I am here to help. My goal is to make your wardrobe easy to work with, allowing you to quickly get dressed each day. Let’s make your wardrobe work for YOU! Message me via my website at www.bethanysiggins.com. I look forward to helping you!
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