There are loads of trends for spring this season, but one consistent undercurrent shines through. To steal from Pharrell Williams’ hit song, it’s all very “Happy.”
“It’s a wonderfully optimistic season,” says Afshin Haghani, the co-owner of three stores — Gallery Couture, Loop and The Gibson — in Manhasset. “It’s almost as if happiness is a trend.”
“It’s time to lighten up,” says designer Rebecca Taylor, whose own sprightly collection — a feminine nod to the ’70s — is decidedly upbeat.
Lynette Pone McIntyre, Lucky magazine’s market director, is feeling, among other things, a cheerful ’50s vibe this season, citing “Roman Holiday,” the ’50s film hit. “You can almost picture Audrey Hepburn walking around Rome,” she says, mentioning spring’s longer skirts, shirtdresses, gingham and cropped pants.
Flowers will pop up in gardens and your closet this season — and not necessarily tiny prints. It’s more like “your grandmother’s wallpaper . . . bigger and more concentrated,” says McIntyre. What makes this new, she says, “is the pieces are really modern and clean.” And, she adds, big, bold stripes are a “new twist” on spring’s traditional nautical look.
Haghani says the season is all about “fashion that is understood. We’re not reinventing the wheel, they’re pieces that are familiar but presented in a new way.” He notes a ’70s feel in denim — yup, bells are back — and retro prints. And he also points to a ’50s trend going on, with “longer skirts, higher waists and gingham.”
As for colors — all white (for day or evening) starts the new season off on a clean slate. But most important — go with any shade of blue. “It’s a very happy color that conjures sky, water, surfing and sunny days and it looks good on everybody,” says Haghani. Taylor agrees. “Blue is universally flattering.” And that makes us, well, happy.
Here’s your guide to this season’s hottest trends.
