The credit crunch has hit most of us hard, which means we are trying to tighten our belts wherever we can.
Gone are the days of frivolous spending, where we buy a ridiculous dress that will be worn once and then relegated to the back of the wardrobe, before being dumped in charity bag five years later.
But, with many of the seasonal sales still running, it’s so tempting to spend money that you don’t have on so many pieces you don’t really love, because you think you are getting a great bargain.
It is time to be a smarter shopper and instead choose pieces that will see you through the Spring in style, but will also fit well into your current wardrobe. You can mix and match them with each other and with other wardrobe staples. Taking inspiration from the Spring/Summer 2014 catwalks, there are 5 pieces that you must have for spring…
The Pastel Jacket
Pastels were a key trend on the Spring/Summer 2014 catwalks and every variation of colour was featured somewhere. But, if you are to invest in a pastel piece this spring, make sure that is it a jacket, which is going to be huge this season. Popular jacket styles are the blazer, biker, collarless and bomber, like this stunner from the Spring/Summer 2014 New York Fashion Week Show of Rebecca Taylor.
The Pastel Jacket: 1) Boucle Scallop Hem Jacket, Topshop; 2) Collarless Boucle Coat, Matalan; 3) Pink Embossed Leather Jacket, River Island; 4) Pastel Boyfriend Coat, Dorothy Perkins; 5) Pied a Terre Bomber Jacket, House of Fraser.
The Boxy Blouse
The boxy blouse is like a cross between the t-shirt and the blouse to give a boxy silhouette, which really works on all shapes and sizes. The sleeve is elbow length and the loose fit makes these tops go particularly with all trouser styles – slim fit or wide leg. Will you go for a pretty pastel shade, classic white or vibrant print. You can be slightly more daring like by going sheer like this stunning blouse from the Spring/Summer 2014 Paris Fashion Week show by AF Vandevorst.
The Boxy Blouse: 1) Orange ¾ Sleeve Top, Miss Selfridge; 2) Snake Jacquard tee, Topshop; 3) Flower Quilted Tee; 4) Floral and Bird Print Blouse Top, Glamorous; 5) Premium Floral Blouse, Mango.
The Wide-Leg Trousers
Lovers of skinny jeans will disappointed to learn that their spray on look is set to be out of fashion this Spring, with the wide-leg trouser being the on-trend style. Wide-leg trousers are super chic, yet also have a laid back appeal, which make them ta super versatile piece for any wardrobe. To create the illusion of longer legs, go for a higher waist an that has a less extreme flare, like this perfect pink number from Elie Saab’s Spring/Summer 2014 showing at Paris Fashion Week.
The Wide-Leg Trouser: 1) Floral Wide leg Cropped Trousers, River Island; 2) Floral Palazzo Trousers, Dorothy Perkins; 3) Chesca Yoke Detail Trouser, House of Fraser; 4) Leopard Palazzo Trousers, Mango.
The Contrast Collar Shirt
Fans of the movie ‘Wall Street’ and the fashion it inspired will be pleased as punch to know that the contrast collar shirt is to be big fashion stock in Spring 2014. But things have come a long way since the blue pinstripe shirt with the white collar – collars come in contrasting prints, textures and embellishments. Still the classic menswear-inspired button-down, like those presented by Alexander Wang at his Spring/Summer 2014 show at New York Fashion Week, are a major style winner.
The Contrast Collar Shirt: 1) Tencel Blend Shirt, Mango; 2) Jewel Collar Stripe Blouse, Dorothy Perkins; 3) Colour Block Shirt, Miss Selfridge; 4) Oversized Check Shirt, Topshop; 5) Cropped Lace Shirt, Warehouse.
The Vibrant Pencil Skirt
Pastel shades are great, but every wardrobe needs a pop of brilliant colour to brighten things up a bit. For a more versatile piece, chose a block colour as opposed to a bold print, to allow it to mix better with your other wardrobe staples. The pencil skirt is a classic shape which will always be on style, but don’t be afraid to choose interesting textures or silhouettes like this bold piece from Lanvin’s Spring/Summer 2014 showing at Paris Fashion Week.
The Vibrant Pencil Skirt: 1) Cobalt Pencil Skirt, Glamorous; 2) Mint Sequin Pencil Skirt, Topshop; 3) Tomato Leather Zip Detail Skirt, Miss Selfridge; 5) Yellow Asymmetric Peplum Skirt, River Island.