6 Trends For Spring 2021 and How To Style Them

One thing I can say for sure is that I am beyond stoked for spring this year. After virtually an entire year of being stuck at home, this spring has felt different than any other I have encountered in my 19 years of life. This spring truly reflects the reawakening that it is traditionally associated with. Although nothing has really changed when it comes to staying at home, vaccines are slowly being integrated into our lives. This means that people, including myself, are ready to get out of the loungewear that plagued the fashion scene of 2020. Don’t get me wrong, we love a good athleisure moment, but, on behalf of the fashion industry, we are ready for a change. 
That being said, here are 6 trends you should be wearing this spring and how I would style them!

1. Shackets
   

The first trend, shackets, is somewhat of a repeat from the fall but in terms of functionality and style, I petition to keep them around for another season. Shackets are the perfect combination of a shirt and a jacket. They act as a layer to keep you warm as we — especially here in Iowa — are still transitioning from the cold winter months. A shacket can be worn in many different ways and with many types of outfits. I paired my favorite shacket with just about every outfit I wore this fall and I plan to continue wearing it this spring. Skirts, dresses, jeans, shorts and everything in between. I recommend getting a shacket in a neutral color to capitalize on its versatility. 

1. Platform Sandals
   

    Another trend that is near and dear to my heart is platform sandals. If you know me at all you know that I have been rocking my Doc Martens platform gladiator sandals every spring and summer since 2019. This spring I will be continuing with my trusty gladiators but I will also be expanding to a new pair of even higher platform Doc Martens sandals, platform heels and clear jelly platform mules. Platform shoes are a statement and for me, they symbolize stepping out of my house with confidence. One practice I have started this spring is romanticizing my life. During a year of “Zoom University”, the highlight of my day is walking into Starbucks to pick up my online order. I envision the distance from the door to the pick-up counter as my runway. That is why this spring I will be making sure those few steps are confidence-boosted by the platform sandals that lift me up both literally and figuratively. I wear these sandals with almost every outfit in the spring and summer, dresses or jeans, it doesn't matter, they always look cute. If you are really brave you can also style them with socks!

1. Wide Leg Trousers
   

This next trend is going to hurt the millennials who have clung to their skinny jeans until their knuckles turned white, but, I and fashion week agree that skinnies are out and wide-leg trousers are in. That does not mean that you have to throw out all of your skinny jeans, as they inevitably will be back in style soon enough. Just consider adding some wide-leg jeans and trousers to your wardrobe. Another reason to get wide-leg trousers is that they are here to remedy our dependence on sweatpants and leggings. If comfort is key for you, these trousers are a way to keep the comfort while adding a bit of style this spring. I wear these trousers to my job as a bridal consultant, on Target runs, and anywhere in between. I love them because they can be dressed up or dressed down and they always look good. 

1. Spring Knits
   

One piece of clothing I was consistently wearing this past fall and winter was knit turtlenecks, and I am fully planning on wearing them throughout the spring as well. I will, however, be wearing strictly sleeveless knit turtlenecks. I have also been seeing a resurgence of crocheted clothing specifically crop tops, and very unique and  holey knit sweaters. People who started crocheting as an early quarantine hobby have now refined their skills and are making full garments. Whether you know how to crochet or just appreciate the style (like me), I would definitely consider wearing some sort of a knit into the spring. You can wear your knits by themselves, paired with a shacket and wide leg trousers, or any way you like.

1. Corset Tops
   

TikTok, whether you’re on it or not, has a huge impact on popular culture. It has gotten to the point where every song on the radio has some sort of popularity on the app and sometimes even a dance associated with it. Fashion is not excluded from this influence at all, as I feel like nowadays I get most of my fashion inspiration from videos I see on that app. The corset top has become incredibly popular on TikTok with trends like cottage core, and the recent raving about the show Bridgerton. These tops have also been all over spring 2021 fashion week. Some people are wearing full-on corsets as tops, others wear a bustier-like top, and then there are tops with boning mimicking that of a corset. In my opinion, corset tops, or at least the ones that I own, work best when layered. I have worn mine with a turtleneck underneath, with a shacket over top, with trousers, a skirt, or even sweats if streetwear is your vibe. The way to wear a corset top is really based off of the look you are going for. In my opinion, they can be pretty versatile. 

1. Bright Colors and Bold Patterns
   

I don’t know if you have heard, but minimalism is on its way out and we, as a society, are moving towards maximalism. I feel like this can be reflected in some of the other trends discussed prior and the whole idea of wanting to break out of the “stuck at home” mentality. For a while now, popular clothing and home décor has been dominated by black, white, nude, etc. I’ll be the first to say that I am here for the change. Thankfully, bright colors and bold patterns were all over fashion week. I am personally a fan of mixing and matching different bright colors and patterns but, if you are unsure about all of these bright/bold pieces, as a prior fan of minimalism, that's O.K.! Start by incorporating small pops of bright colors or just one piece of patterned clothing at a time. 

Lastly, I felt it’s important to say that I am a huge advocate for wearing what makes you happy. All of these trends are a combination of anticipated styles to come out of fashion week this spring that make me happy! My hope is that you will find this blog post inspiring or you use it to create your own style. ALSO! The majority of the pieces in these outfits are thrifted which hopefully is a good reminder that you don’t have to buy a whole new wardrobe each season to keep up with the trends. :)