Spring. It’s almost here, and I for one, cannot wait. The two pairs of black leggings I have in rotation are both starting to fade from repetitive use. I’m down to one pair of black tights– I think I started off the season with at least four. I have this amazing Diane Von Furstenburg dress I have been dying to wear to work, but I refuse to wear a cardigan over it to cover my bare arms – it would just destroy the silhouette of the dress. And my poor legs, they are just craving some Vitamin D (ahem, color).

Spring is my favorite time of year for fashion. After coming off of months of cold weather, early nights, and little sunshine, spring is fresh and new and exciting, without having the types of restrictions as summer. For instance, you can finally put on a dress without tights, but it doesn’t mean you have to abandon your knee high boots. Once summer comes, it feels inappropriate to favor the knee height boots over a pair of flat sandals. But I like boots with dresses, you whine. Me too. That’s why I love spring! Spring means bare legs with cardigans, or bare arms with jeans. It means dresses with jackets with sandals and skirts with tanks and scarves in fresh spring colors. And of course, my favorite of all, it means bikini shopping season has begun. (Which also means you finally have some real motivation to spend that last 10 minutes running on the treadmill at an incline instead of a lazy jog.)

If I haven’t convinced you of the amazingness that is spring, you might be thinking that spring really doesn’t sound that different from fall. There you are wrong my friend. Why? Because after fall comes winter. After spring comes summer. And who doesn’t love summer? If the thought of months of sunshine and fabulous designer sunglasses and outdoor picnics and barbeques and lounging by the pool and actually leaving the office while its still light outside and ice cream and bright pink nail polish doesn’t make you giddy with excitement, maybe my list of spring trends will do the trick:

Stripes

I am seeing stripes everywhere. It seems to be that the preferred color is blue and white for spring (think nautical), but black and white is always popular. What goes well with stripes you wonder? Camel colored purses and shoes, gold jewelry, white sunglasses, and maybe a tiny splash of red.

Menswear Oxfords

Menswear is staying strong (boyfriend jeans, boyfriend jacket). Menswear oxfords made their first appearance in fall, but they are here to stay (for now). They look great with shorts, which for spring, would look great with a light jacket. You can also rock the oxfords with a spring dress and cardigan. 

Capris

Think pants that hit right above the ankle. They don't necessarily have to be baggy like cargos. Examples: white skinny jean capris or wool or cotton black work pants that aren't really pants and totally show off your cute Tory Burch shoes that would otherwise be hiding under a wide leg work pant.

Neutrals

Khaki and ivory and gray and beige in blouses, skirts, pants, shoes, you name it. Go overboard with this trend, meaning, if you go neutral, make the whole outfit neutral.

Bold Jewelry, Lots of It 

This one has carried over. Try mixing silvers and gold. Pile on several necklaces. Instead of one big statement ring, try three on one hand.