Finals are officially over and summer has arrived! Get ready for music festivals, extended pool time and breezy, vibrant summer fashion. While last year’s trends were full of tight and structured pieces, those of you looking for a fun change will enjoy the colorful 70s inspired looks this season. These items can add a modest and versatile touch to any wardrobe. You can sport these styles to work, a family barbecue or even during a night out with the girls. Below are some tips on how to wear these trends as well as a list of affordable places to get them:
Trend: Wide Leg Pants
While the skinny jean undoubtedly has a long life ahead of it, you may want to dust off your stylish platforms and pay homage to the era of Farrah Fawcett-inspired hot pants. Today’s wide leg pants don’t have the complete fullness of their bell-bottom counterpart. Nevertheless, they create a great vintage look for the summer.
Spring 2011 fashion week and runway looks from Marc by Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, Jason Wu, Tommy Hilfiger.
Where to find it: The Gap
The Gap is a great place to find basic staple items that are essential to every girl’s wardrobe. They have a large selection of pants in every style. Their wide leg pants come in a variety of colors such as white, grey and brown. You can also find high-waisted versions and styles with flirty belt ties.
How to wear it:
There are a number of ways to wear these loose pants. The trick is to not get caught up in too many “loose fitting” elements. We are women who have been gifted with curves, so no matter what you put on, you should try to emphasize your hips or bust.
For a casual look with wide leg pants you can keep it simple with cute fitted t-shirt. Throw on a pair of wedges to elongate your legs while accenting the colors in your shirt. If you want a more tailored look, tuck a nice blouse into the pants. Add a colorful belt, necklace or large bracelet to add a little funk and dress the outfit up.
Trend: Maxi Skirts
The days of mini and bandage skirts have now given way to long and loose hemlines. Despite this more conservative look, a fashion-minded collegiate can have just as much fun with this elegant trend. Maxi skirts come in endless styles, patterns and colors that are easily mixable with your tops.
Spring 2011 looks from Marc by Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, Suno, Vena Cava.
Where to find it: Forever 21
This summer Forever 21 has many skirts that reachknee length all the way to the ankle. The fun prints and colors that they include on their skirts add a youthful element to the look.
How to wear it:
As with the wide leg pants, “It’s best to find a balance in whatever you are wearing,” said Sarah King, owner of Blush Boutique in St. Louis, Mo. “For example, wear a loose fitting blouse or tunic with a skinny jean, or a flowing maxi skirt with a fitted tank or longer blouse and cinch in the waist with a belt.”
To highlight your feminine figure, try wearing a maxi skirt with a fitted crop top (WARNING: no bare midriffs with the crop top please!) For those of you looking for something more modest, wear the skirt high-waisted with a nice top tucked in. Put your hair up in a ponytail or bun, pull on some ankle tie sandals, and you have yourself a flirty daytime look!
Trend: Bold Prints and Colors
Neon colors, large shapes and trippy designs are a major part of this season’s clothing. While gaudy prints and loud colors can intimidate even the most knowledgeable of fashionistas, you shouldn’t be afraid to add these fun elements to your wardrobe. The key to any fashion trend, flashy or not, is to make it work with your personal style.
Spring 2011 fashion week looks from Peter Som, Karen Walker, Christopher Kane, Rachel Roy.
Where to find it: Thrift Stores and Charming Charlie
You can find a variety of patterns at pretty much any store you go to but thrift stores often carry unique or vintage patterns at cheap prices. There’s nothing better than strutting your stuff in a one-of-a-kind outfit.
Charming Charlie is a boutique-like clothing store with locations nation-wide. They specialize in big accessories and bright colors that cater to women with different styles. The entire store is organized by color so it is easy to direct yourself to the color section of your choice.
How to wear it:
These trends are definitely a lot of fun, but these vibrant choices, when overdone, can quickly go from chic to clownish. According to Ali Clapper, owner of Findings Boutique in Champaign, Ill., bold looks can be offset when paired with solid, soft tones.
“For someone who wants to ease into the trend, I would recommend pairing a bright bold color with the chicness of beige,” Clapper said. “Any neon, when paired with beige, is toned down to a softer, more manageable color. When you pair a neon with black, to me, it often looks garish, and really 80s. For some that’s OK, but I think it looks far more luxurious to take it back to a more muted tone.”