Season's greetings! No, not that season . . . we're talking about spring, the most wonderful time of the year for fashion. To help you navigate the season's trends, we tapped some stylish locals — the president of a modeling agency, a sassy model/actor, a picture-perfect museum coordinator, the founder of a customizable clothing line, a savvy boutique owner, and a fashion-forward stylist — for some no-fail tricks and tips. The CliffsNotes version? You don't need to spend a fortune to look like a million bucks, parakeets don't belong on your feet, and more is not always more.
What key pieces should we stock up on?
RC: "Anything '90s minimalist: monochrome colors and structured shapes."
AD: "The shorts suit. Michael Kors and Topman are giving us a new spin on the look. . . . It can be done up to look clean-cut, or dressed down to look urban-chic."
JF: "Mixed prints! I love a striped top with a floral skirt."
AP: "Spatial florals and bold stripes."
RP: "Black-and-white color blocking. It is so clean, chic, and sophisticated, but also a bit retro — a throwback to the 1960s."
NZ: "I love, love, love graphic black-and-white prints and stripes, à la Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton — mod, loud, and universally wearable."
What should we send packing?
RC: "Footwear and fingernails seem to have jumped the shark into costume territory. Avoid shoes with a parakeet in the heel, or leopard-print nails. These only make one statement: ridiculous."
AD: "Patchwork animal print. There is just too much going on. Less is more!"
JF: "Sneaker wedges are the worst trend in general."
AP: "Bermuda shorts."
RP: "Dresses with unflattering cut-outs, especially in the midriff."
NZ: "Metallic clothes. Keep this trend limited to accessories only, please. Shiny silver clothing comes off part astronaut, part Reynolds Wrap. That is not a good thing."
What's the hardest trend to pull off?
RC: "Bare midriff."
AD: "Colored pants. I've only met a few people who can pull them off without looking like a Skittle. . . . No one wants to taste that rainbow."
JF: "Patterned pants can either be amazing . . . or tragic. Sometimes more is not more."
AP: "Cutouts and peekaboos."
RP: "Drop-waist dresses. You have to have a very straight, slim body for this trend to look amazing."
NZ: "Crop tops! I adore the look of a high-waisted full skirt with a sweet cropped sweater or top, but this is one best left to the pros, preferably those with six-pack abs."
