I like to look cute and stay on top of current fashions without spending much more than $100 or so a year on my wardrobe.  In fact, for many years, the only clothes I got each year were from birthday / Christmas cash.  I had to learn to choose wisely and I am SO glad I had to because it taught me which items were worth buying and still kept me feeling fresh and fun each season without breaking the bank.

Well, those staple items in my wardrobe that only have to be updated every 10 years are about to need a refresh, because there are some major fashion changes happening and I am here to help you make that transition with intention and ease.

 

If you could only choose 5 items to modernize this spring, this is where I would recommend them.

  1. A higher waste denim skirt (or two).
  2. High waste, wide leg capris or culottes.
  3. A ruffled, prairie, tier, smock or swing dress.
  4. New sandals.
  5. Wire rimmed, round-ish glasses and sun glasses.

But in case you haven’t seen these new fashions or are wondering where you can get them, I’ve got you covered.  

1. DENIM SKIRTS

For nearly five years now, high waste mom jeans have transformed denim from muffin top exposure to ultra high rise coverage.  Fashion has finally caught up to this in denim skirts.  Now you can wear your tops tucked in with a cute belt and be so chic with these popular denim skirts available in several different washes.

  1. Lexi Stretch Denim Skirt
  2. A2Y Denim Pencil Skirt

2. SUMMER SHORTS-ISH

For many the word “culottes” can bring to mind a variety of feelings and reactions and a lot aren’t pleasant, especially when for the past 15 years “skinny” everything has been the reigning fashion.  We can all celebrate though that modesty (at least on the bottom half) has been emerging for the past 3 years.  It seems as if this year, the prevailing theme is “anything but skinny,” and with that a new, more polished denim and also a casual boho, urban version of culottes have starting making appearances in Boden, Old Navy, GAP and American Eagle.

  1. Boden
  2. Old Navy Culottes 
  3. GAP
  4. American Eagle

3. SMOCK DRESSES AND MORE

I have to admit that I do have a nice collection of dresses.  Each year at Easter I try to find a dress that I know will suit my body shape and I choose quality over quantity.  I am loving though that dresses are really trending.  The styles go from prairie style with tiny floral prints to tiered layers or flowy smock dresses.  I personally will probably stick to a more fitted style so that it has a chance of lasting beyond a few years and so that I don’t cringe when I look back and wonder why I dressed in a sack.  That being said, here are some really cute ones I have found.

  1. Striped Linen Ruffle Dress from Amazon (as seen in picture).
  2. Ruffled Fit & Flare from Old Navy
  3. Smocked Floral Print from Old Navy
  4. Sleeveless Smocked Waste Dress from Target

4. SANDALS, FLIP FLOPS & CHURCH SHOES

For quite a while it seemed like the only style of summer sandals hearkened back to Caesar Augustus and the Romans, but I started noticing some major changes last summer with the ankle strap style and mule / wedge sandals.  This year has had an even bigger change where the traditional Birkenstock sandals have become main stream and are paired with casual and not so casual outfits.  In case you haven’t noticed the shift, I will share with you the top styles I have noticed emerging.

  1. Two Strap Birkenstock Style Sandals from Walmart
  2. Leather Slide Sandal from Target (on my wish list)
  3. Ankle Strap Sandals from Target
  4. Ankle Strap Sandals from Walmart
  5. Sport Sandals from Target

5. WIRE RIMMED ROUND-ISH GLASSES & SUNGLASSES

Lastly, in the past several years the epitome of hipster was thick plastic glasses.  It didn’t matter if it was black, tortoiseshell, or clear.  If it was thick and plastic it was what to wear.  The thing about glasses is that the fashions last nearly 10 years because people don’t like to invest in new styles every few years.  That can be pretty spendy.  But style ARE changing.  They have gone from plastic to wire.  The have gone from large to a smaller (but sometimes not) round look.  It has me feeling pretty hippy fashionish, but to be honest, I am glad for the change.  This is one that I am jumping on sooner rather than later.

  1. Rose Gold from Zenni Optical.
  2. Gold from Zenni Optical

FINAL THOUGHTS

I hope you have enjoyed perusing the newest fashions that seem to have some staying power.  I am a big believer in buying wardrobe staples and I look forward to the next blog that talks about just that “The Staples You Need in Your Minimalist Wardrobe.”

Sincerely,

Melissa

 

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