Well, we’ve waited through a long, cold winter and are finally on the other side of the snow! I invite you to join me in celebrating the season with a spring closet cure. What’s that, you ask? It’s a quick wardrobe refresh in which you pull out (and donate!) anything drab then add in a selection of new-to-you pieces that highlight one fashion trend for the upcoming season.
To start mine, I did a little research to find out what was hot on the runway and for street style then chose one trend from those that worked best for me (Don’t worry—I compiled a list to share with the best up-and-coming styles!). Bonus points to you if you can work in a few current trends, but today I’ll just be focusing on one: ice cream hues! That’s right, I scouted out a combination of twelve tops, bottoms, dresses, and shoes in dusty pastel colors that will get you in the mood for a trip to your corner ice cream parlor now that spring has arrived.
I chose this particular trend for several reasons. One, because pastels work well for my coloring. But also because a broad trend, like a color scheme, allows me to put together a small collection of pieces that each fit together so I can make the most of my money by mixing and matching. Of these twelve pieces, every top works with every bottom so the combinations feel almost limitless (especially when you start adding in accessories). Plus, they’re all bright and cheerful so they feel right for the next few months where flowers begin to bloom and we need some light colors to brighten rainy days. That makes this trend, at least in my book, a triple scoop of gelato perfection. It’s not just me, though—runways from New York to London are colorblocking pastels, too.
If you’re going for this sweet trend, make sure you include a purple! Pantone’s color of the year is Ultra Violet and while that is a darker shade of purple, designers like Victoria Beckham and Michael Kors are including soft lavenders in their current lines so any shade will do. Especially stylish, according to British Vogue, are looks made monochromatic by stacking one particular pastel on top of itself head-to-toe. I went for this mood with a milky strawberry sweater dress, tights, and flats in my last outfit, but then couldn’t resist the urge to top it with a blue jacket à la Eleven from Stranger Things. It is the rainy season after all! I don’t want to be caught unprepared.
One thing that was super helpful to guarantee versatility with these outfits was finding shoes that were super neutral. The heels I chose are a faint brown reminiscent of my favorite ice cream flavor: mocha chip! This pale color can match just about anything and the kitten height means I can wear it frequently without tripping myself up too much. Finding some vanilla tones that are anything but bland accomplishes that same goal: The cream-colored lace top in picture three and the floral dress in five add some texture and variation to this little capsule wardrobe. The vanilla bean handbag in four is also from Goodwill, by the way!
These deep raspberry pants reminded me of strawberry sauce drizzled over a sundae and sort of function as the cherry on top of my pastel pieces since they will carry well through every season. One outfit that won’t necessarily translate to colder seasons is number four, but since everything else will, that’s fine by me. Some people may consider millennial pink the flavor-of-the-week, but it’s still well represented on the runways so I’m sticking with it at least through the summer!
In just this one Goodwill trip, I was able to find some pieces that are perfect for me from places like Banana Republic and Target because the pale pastel trend just happens to feature colors that I’m already comfortable in. I’d say that’s the key to finding fashions that make you feel your best: knowing what feels right to you. Before you head out shopping, identify what styles—whether that means the shape of pieces, their fabrics, or their colors—that you can feel like yourself in. Do this by sifting through your closet and looking for similarities between your current favorites. Florals always feel right to me, too, so I made sure to include this fluttery garden-inspired dress which matches my other finds. I love that it brings a sweet lemon sorbet yellow into the mix.
Now it’s your turn to seek out a spring closet cure! One trick that can help you build outfits you love is to simply think piece-by-piece. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to visualize a whole outfit at once. Start by just choosing a top or bottom and adding the rest of the look one piece at a time. If you’re feeling stuck, think about contrast. Pair a loose top with hip-hugging pants, dark bottoms with a pale top, or Converse sneakers with a tulle skirt. Contrast creates a sense of balance that leads to great looks. Since you’re thrifting everything, you won’t be spending a fortune for this refresh and you’re keeping your closet sustainable at the same time!
By shopping at your local Goodwill this spring, you can give someone in your community and your wardrobe a fresh start. And remember, if dusty pastels aren’t quite your thing, make sure you check back in for a full fashion forecast that can help you find a different trend to try!
