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• Six sassy spring fashion trends for 2010

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Pretty pastel

This trend embodies quintessential spring — girly, pastel colors in dreamy materials like chiffon, tulle and silk — reminiscent of delicate tea parties and Easter. Look to Luella for perfect tea party ensembles. Turn to Viktor & Rolf for frothy creations trimmed in modern art-like installations of tulle for an edgier take on this trend. Whether you’re on the sweet end of the spectrum or taking a more rebellious approach, candy flossin’ is perfect for Easter brunch (obviously) and coffee dates to adorable cafes. Don these sweet pieces to show your boyfriend or secret crush that you’re 100 percent girl.

Electric vibes

This spring, risk-taking is all the rage as bold, outlandish patterns will be a popular new execution in the trend world. Florals and tie-dyes, multiple animal prints, different textures and color palettes — the key is to stand out. Displayed wonderfully by Diane von Furstenberg in her Spring 2010 RTW line, eye-catching prints of flower, tribal or water color influences are something to get excited about this spring. The trend however, is not for everyone. “It can get too distracting,” said Ashley Pietrzak, sophomore in the College of Business. To tone the trend down so it’s not over-the-top, try just a blouse with neutral shorts and heels for going out. Will it please the guys? “I think its cool to wear something memorable, colorful, and mixed that fits the occasion,” said Timmy Knudsen, sophomore in LAS. Just don’t let the pattern wear you; you have to own it!

Modern military

Think cargo material, shades of olive green and a utilitarian take on everything. Balmain’s military jackets, with their iconic bold shoulders, can update any boring outfit so that you’ll look ready to be in charge of whatever comes your way. Stella McCartney pieces keep this trend feminine with loose, camo-like print dresses. More polished military pieces, like those from Loewe and Sportmax, can impress a potential boss during a job interview.

Enchanting

Dream of ruffles, rosettes and tulle. That’s what this spring’s fairy-tale trend will entail, as designers such as Marchesa have successfully executed on the runway. Expect lots of frill, feathers and über-romantic pieces too. “It’s very pretty and classy,” said Jen Ruppert, sophomore in Education, but she said it’s a hard trend to nail since it’s easy to “go overboard and look tacky.” To make it more wearable than the collections that hit the runways, try sticking to only one or two items that are fairytale-esque, as opposed to an entire ensemble. Guys, however, may not be the biggest fans of this trend on girls. “I don’t see this style transcending very well to mainstream culture,” said Ruppert. So if your goal is to get some positive male attention, think twice — if not, go for it!

Shorts

Warmer weather will undoubtedly make those hemlines shorter, but don’t break out your Daisy Dukes just yet (or ever) — there are more sophisticated ways to wear shorts. As long as they’re the appropriate length and tailored well, shorts can go anywhere from the workplace to the bar to your backyard barbeque with friends. Hermes, Costume National and Alexander Wang all have takes on the leather short, for a more unconventional material than you might be used to. Try out shorts in luxurious, glimmering fabrics like the ones from Rochas, Matthew Williamson and Valentino for special nights out on the town. Hussein Chalayan, Hermes and Michael Kors keep it classy with polished, just-above-the-knee shorts meant for the office.

Raw ideas

Hitting multiple runways but specifically memorable from the Blumarine Spring 2010 RTW show due to it’s everyday appeal, the raw, nude look is definitely in the forecast this spring. However, the trend has students setting conditions for when it looks good and borderline trashy. “I like it, but only when it looks classy. It’s a color that’s very hard to wear so you have to have the right skin tone to pull it off,” said sophomore in LAS Courtney Cheatham. From a guy’s perspective, Wally Wiedner, sophomore in General Studies said that while nude colors look better on a girl with a tan, “If it’s a dress it can look nice and even pull off a look of elegance.” But, he said, “If it is too slim fitting or tight, I think it may just make the girl look like a mannequin or doll with no clothes on. And those Old Navy mannequins on television creep me out enough.” Opt for a looser, classier shirt or mid-thigh length dress. Don’t forget to add some nude heels to give you mile-long gams!