As we step into the lively and vibrant seasons of spring and summer, we find ourselves amidst a whirlwind of events – from the Spring Carnival to school formals, weddings, and end-of-year parties. It’s the perfect time to refresh your wardrobe with new or repurposed pieces and step out in style.
Below are some spring season fashion styling tips from the LookSmart team for looking smart as the year closes.
As we dive into the tail end of 2024, here are some of the top styling and fashion trends to keep an eye on, and achieve the laid back yet sophisticated style which is a hallmark of Australian fashion.
➊ Soft Pastels: Spring and summer are synonymous with bright colours – however pastel shades are the trend this year. Choose softer and more muted versions of your favourite colours, such as mint green, baby blue, and blush pinks. These spring fashion colours are perfect for a fresh, airy look, and carrying off elegance with playfulness in these outdoor months.
➋ Bold Florals: Spring is also synonymous with florals, and this year, bold and oversized floral prints are patterns with which to make a statement. Think bright colours and large patterns to stand out at any event.
➌ Sustainable Fashion: Eco-friendly fabrics and sustainable fashion choices continue to gain popularity here in Australia. Their breathability also makes them perfect for the Australian heat. Look for organic cotton, linens, recycled materials, and eco-conscious brands to stay stylish and also environmentally responsible with your fashion choices.
➍ Statement Accessories: Look stunning from head to toe with oversized crochet hats and chunky jewellery. Statement accessories are a must-have. These pieces can elevate any outfit and add a touch of personality. Choose pieces that accentuate your eye, hair, and skin colour palette to coordinate your look.
➎ Tailored Suits: Tailored suits and skirts in vibrant colours or pastel shades are a chic choice for Spring events. They offer a polished look and can be styled in various ways for different occasions. Think pocket squares, handkerchiefs or buttonhole flowers. To achieve a youthful or more contemporary look, alter the pants length at or above ankle, to expose either ankle or socks. Even your socks become an accessory that elevates your outfit!
➏ Athleisure Fusion: The blend of athletic wear and street style with casual and formal styles remain part of 2024 fashion trends. Think stylish joggers paired with blazers or dresses and skirts with sporty sneakers for a comfortable yet fashionable ensemble.
The Colours and Trends of Your Season
Together with the trends of this season, it’s important to know the fashion colours that naturally suit your personal palette (your hair, eyes, skin) to make confident wardrobe choices that flatter your features and create a style that’s harmonious with you.
The 4×4 colour system is a personal analysis method that helps you determine the colours that best suit you. Understanding your personal colour season will help you choose outfits that look timeless and great, regardless of the season’s fashion trends. It begins with 2 basic steps, to determine your undertone and contrast.
Hues
Your skin’s undertone determines which colours flatter you the most. Knowing whether you have a cool or warm undertone will guide you in choosing the right shades.
Cool Undertones: Look for colours with blue or pink bases. Jewel tones such as emerald green, sapphire blue, and amethyst purple will make your complexion glow.
Warm Undertones: Colours with yellow or golden bases are your best friends. Think of warm shades such as coral, peach, olive green, and golden yellow to enhance your natural warmth.
Shades can be more important, in creating a harmonious look. One of the best spring fashion trends recently for weddings is allowing bridesmaids to pick the shade of colour of their dresses (or even the style), if you’re a bride that’s adventurous! When the bridal party is in shades that suit their skin tones everyone looks their best and wedding photos are guaranteed to have that frame-worthy quality.
Unsure of your skin tone? Here’s a simple way to find out. If your veins are blue or purple you likely have cool undertones. If your veins appear more green or greenish blue, you are likely to have warm undertones.
Contrast
Once you have identified your skin tone, the next step is to assess your colour contrast. To do this, assess whether your features are light or dark. For instance, compare blonde hair and blue eyes to black hair and brown eyes. This comparison will help determine if you generally have a light or dark appearance.
Next, examine your skin tone to evaluate contrast: is there a high or low contrast between your skin and your features? Here are some examples:
High Contrast: black hair, brown eyes and fair skin, or red hair, blue eyes and fair skin.
Low Contrast: back hair, brown eyes, olive/tanned skin, or blonde hair, blue eyes and pale skin.
Your Colour Season
Your personal colour season is a combination of these characteristics. So tell us, what season are you?
🌻 SPRING (Warm x Light): If your season is Spring choose colours that are warm with light and clear tones – think peach, coral, ivory.
☀️ SUMMER (Cool x Light): Summer types always look good in cool, light, and soft colours such as pastel pinks, light blues.
🍂 AUTUMN (Warm x Dark): Warm, deep, and rich tones are perfect for Autumn types. Earthier, strong colours such as rust, olive green, mustard are colours they uniquely pull off well.
❄️ WINTER (Cool x Dark): Cool, deep, and vibrant colours create a great palette for showing off features of Winter types (e.g., black, bright blue, pure white).
The four seasons are further broken down into 16 subtypes to allow you to be absolutely clear and confident when reinventing your wardrobe and personal style. Many image consultants and stylists offer services, training and resources to help you elevate your style. If you’re eager to invest in the right look, these professionals can take you beyond the basics.
For styling advice, you can also come to your nearest LookSmart store in Australia or New Zealand, where our tailors can advise you on alterations to new and old pieces to accentuate your best features.
Happy Spring everyone!
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I update my wardrobe to match Spring and Summer trends without buying new clothes?
Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, Miuccia Prada and Carolina Herrera are elegant and timeless! Designers have and continue to play a huge role in updating our styles. However, it’s also worth noting that you don’t always need to purchase new clothes to stay in style. With a bit of creativity and resourcefulness, you can create a new collection for the season ahead:
- Mix and match pieces to reinvent your outfits. For example, pair summer skirts with a lightweight sweater or layer a cropped denim jacket on a simple blouse.
- Use accessories to transform outfits. Think of bright scarves, a trendy belt, a cute bag, or statement jewellery to elevate even your simplest dress.
- Consider DIY alterations. You can shorten long jeans to wear chic capris or transform an old oversized shirt into a crop top.
- Incorporate seasonal colours and patterns using accessories.
- Refresh your footwear by cleaning or repairing shoes to make them look new.
- Swap clothes with your friends.
These can help you embrace the latest spring season fashion styles and extend your wardrobe to work with summer fashion styles as well.
How can I maintain the vibrancy of my Spring and Summer colours through garment care and alterations?
Maintaining vibrant spring and summer colours will keep your clothes in style. Follow these essential garment care tips and alteration techniques:
- Wash your clothes in cold water and gentle detergent to protect colour integrity.
- Always air dry your clothes. Heat drying can cause colours to fade.
- Store your clothes properly. Keep them in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight to preserve their lovely colours.
- Go for tailor-fit clothes. Tailoring your outfit enhances how their colours complement your body, making your clothes look more vibrant.
- Try refreshing colours. If your clothes show signs of wear, you may dye them to boost their colour.
- Add just the right amount of trims, such as colourful hems or contrasting buttons, to breathe new life into older pieces.
These care and alteration tips can keep your spring and summer clothes bright and beautiful in any season.
Are there sustainable colour and trend practices I should consider this Spring/Summer?
- Prefer garments dyed with natural, non-toxic dyes. These are better for the environment and also your skin. Choose brands that use eco-friendly dyeing techniques.
- Invest in clothes with timeless and versatile colours that transcend seasonal styles. For instance, neutral tones and earthy hues are easy to mix and match, extending your collection.
- Support sustainable clothing brands that use organic materials and ethical labour practices.
- Explore upcycled fashion by transforming old items into new pieces, thus reducing waste.
- Always consider quality over quantity. Prefer quality pieces that last than fast fashion items that will quickly go out of style like micro shorts, short shorts and matching sets.
