Black and white, brilliant colors and bold sunglasses were some of the trends seen on the runway for spring 2013. For those looking to stay stylish as warmer weather approaches, these spring trends can be found at a variety of stores, and can fit any budget.
“Do your research,” said Abbey Brandon, creator of the fashion blog District Dress Up. “Think about your purchases and look to see if you can get a deal elsewhere. It may take more time, but if you’re on a budget, it can help a lot,” she said.
Spring looks such as warm weather leather, florals and stripes popped up on the runways during New York Fashion Week. While buying these latest creations from top designers like Jason Wu or Marc Jacobs can cost thousands of dollars, department and consignment stores offer options for those looking to spruce up their spring wardrobe for a fraction of the price.
According to TLC, the average American household spends about 3.8 percent of their income on clothing. With people spending a fairly good chunk of cash on their clothes, figuring out what to purchase, and from where, can be a difficult decision.
An option to consider are consignment or resale stores, like REDDz Trading in Bethesda, where the store employees buy clothes from those who bring them in to the store, and then resell them at a reduced price. Wendy “Red” Ezrailson, owner of REDDz Trading in Bethesda, said that shoppers begin flooding the store in March and April, seeking out the latest spring fashions.
“We sell prime designer bags and clothes for a quarter to a half of the retail price,” said Ezrailson. “Everything is fairly, reasonably priced,” she said.
Another option for finding the latest spring 2013 looks is to search chain stores like Walmart and Target, or look to more trend-oriented options like Topshop, Urban Outfitters or J. Crew, says Brandon.
Black and White
Black and white, a top spring trend named by both Ezrailson and Brandon, is one look that can be found at stores from Walmart to Saks Fifth Avenue. Brandon says the black and white trend is one of the most office-appropriate looks.
“I definitely recommend the black and white route,” Brandon said. “Take that trend, and work what you already have in your closet. It’s really easy for the office, and the pieces tend to be ones people already have, or will have for a long time,” she said.
One low-cost option comes from Walmart. For just under $18, Walmart is selling a high-low belted dress that features a black and white pattern and bright red belt that adds a pop of color. The store will ship the dress for only 97 cents.
For those looking to spend a little more on their black and white ensembles, and knock out two trends in one, Topshop sells a bold striped midi dress that is made from jersey and features short sleeves and thick horizontal black and white stripes. Perfect for work, this dress retails for $56. For those who want to splurge a little more, Saks Fifth Avenue is currently selling a black and white Stella McCartney sleeveless dress for $770.
“I’m really liking black and white,” says Ezrailson. “I’m seeing that everywhere,” she said.
Warm Weather Leather
Another spring trend seen from New York to Paris Fashion Week is leather. According to InStyle Magazine, “designers are treating leather as if it were fabric,” and it is being used to create everything from dresses to shorts.
Not the first material choice most think of for the oncoming warm weather, leather can be taken from a winter wardrobe staple to a more spring-friendly palette. Although leather is usually more expensive, faux-leather has made this trend available to those with limited funds.
Target, a store that looks to the runway trends for inspiration for their affordable clothing, is currently carrying a women’s sleeveless dress with faux leather trim for just $34.99. The dress, which would make a classic staple in any professional women’s work wardrobe, comes in six different colors.
“There are reasons for professionals to dress up and look nice,” said Brandon. “My philosophy is, ‘if you have to wear a suit or cocktail dress, why not make it look good?’”
For a more expensive look, Neiman Marcus is also selling a leather dress from DKNY that is made entirely out of leather and retails for nearly $1,000. For just a touch of casual leather, Urban Outfitters has leather shorts that add a touch of retro pinup-girl edge to any spring outfit for $59.
Accessories
Accessories are important additions to any wardrobe and come at a variety of prices. According to Brandon, accessories such as bags and jewelry are one area to spend more on.
“I tend to splurge on accessories because they’re usually more identifiable and you can tell if the quality is really nice,” Brandon said. “They can make more of statement,” she said.
For spring, bold sunglasses are a great way to stay trendy. This accessory can be found a variety of prices from a pair of blue tribal print frames from Target for $13.00 to a pair of Linda Farrow snake-coated cat eye sunglasses for $735 from Net-A-Porter.com. For a pop of color in an accessory, Fendi has a leather tote bag that comes in a bright orange for $2260, while DKNY sells a similar style orange tote for $281.
Bright colors and big stripes
Bright, beautiful colors are not an unusual for spring, however, this year on the runway bright colors were seen on everything from bags to pants to shoes, according to Vogue. Designers were taking a cue from 2012’s Pantone Color of the Year, Tangerine Tango, and orange was used by everyone from Stella McCartney to Salvatore Ferragamo. Although a pair of Stella McCartney orange trousers can run up to $1,080, a similar pair of J.Crew Minnie-style pants in vibrant flame cost only $49.99.
“Whenever I find an item I really look, I evaluate it,” said Brandon. “I ask myself, ‘Could I get something similar and less expensive?’,” she said.
Geometric stripes also can be seen on everything from shorts to shirts this spring, and can be bought at a variety of prices. Brandon advises incorporating this trend into a spring work wardrobe by pairing a striped t-shirt or scarf with a structured jacket and skirt.
“Stripes are great items from any price point,” said Brandon. “You can wear it for each season. They don’t ever go out of style,” she said
Walmart, which creates pre-bundled outfits that are then sold online for a low cost, offers a “Women’s Tee and Denim Skirt Beach Day” package that comes with a brightly-colored striped basic t-shirt and a periwinkle blue skirt. The bundle is sold for under $22 and hits both the bright colors and bold stripes spring trends. J. Crew sells a subtler boatneck nautical stripe tee for $42.
Although D.C. is not known for its fashion, the idea of looking good is an important one, says Brandon, and with the latest spring trends being so attainable it is easy for everyone to find fashion that fits their needs. According to Ezrailson, everyone from corporate professionals to housekeepers are in REDDz Trading shopping for spring.
“You should clean out your closets and bring in their best stuff to REDDz,” said Ezrailson. “It’s good to clean out your closet to make room for new stuff,” she said.
Kendal (Gapinski) Kloiber 