Give me colour, give me texture, and give me big spring energy!
Every spring I make some comment about how long it’s been since we’ve seen the sun in Toronto and how it’s finally time to transition into a new and warmer season. This year is no different. And, in fact, I think it’s taken longer than usual for the spring weather to finally hit the city. But, we’ve finally, finally been able to tuck our turtlenecks away and pull our favourite pastel pieces out of storage — and I, for one, couldn’t be happier about it.
While I’ve been curating my closet for spring, I’ve noticed quite a few trends that have influenced my own fashion choices. Polka dots were once a rarity in my wardrobe, but I’ve been seeing spots literally everywhere lately and now I’m on the hunt for everything dotted. The silky polka dot midi skirt from Reformation? Want. The adidas x ASOS polka dot tracksuit? Needed it yesterday. Ganni‘s polka dot printed bucket bag? Give it to me right now!
Needless to say, I’m loving the spring season and all the fresh fashion finds that have come with it. Here are a few other spring trends I’ve been loving lately:
Florals, but make them whimsical
It’s become such a cliche to wear florals in spring. Insert Miranda Priestly’s iconic quote from The Devil Wears Prada here. But in the last couple years, florals have become larger than life. Rosettes were everywhere in 2024, quite literally adding dimension to traditional floral prints. My personal favourite was Sarah Jessica Parker dressed in Simone Rocha’s floral dress and jacket in an episode of And Just Like That. Fast forward a couple of years and we’re still seeing 3D floral appliqué hit the runways of McQueen, Simone Rocha, and Chanel. I’ve added a couple pieces to my wardrobe like this 3D floral top from Anthropologie, but I’ve also found some great brooches from Simons and Claire’s that have worked well to add a little extra dimension to a blazer or sweater I’m wearing.
Butter yellow spring 2.0
Another spring trend making a comeback this year is the beautiful and buttery shade of yellow. Last year, I wrote about how much I wanted to add some more butter yellow pieces to my wardrobe because it was so trendy. This cardigan and pleated skirt from Uniqlo literally had me in a chokehold last spring, and it makes me so happy to know we’re all still obsessed with this happy hue. Loewe, Chloé, and Louis Vuitton are just a few designers who have brought butter yellow back into the fashion fold, and I’ve already got a couple new pieces to wear this spring.
Fringe benefits
I love when the fashion cycle brings back a fun trend that I wasn’t fully able to participate in the last time around. Fringe started in 1920s when flapper dresses and jazz were cool and had another moment in the 60s and 70s when the must-have piece was a suede or denim fringe jacket. Now, another fifty plus years later, and it looks like fringe has finally found its way back into the hearts and closets of fashion girlies everywhere. In the last couple of years, I’ve added a couple fringed suede and sequin purses to my collection, and this year I’m trying to add a few pieces of clothing, too. This black fringed dress from Anthropologie that I wore to a screening of The Devil Wears Prada 2 has been one of my best finds so far.
In the [cropped] trenches
Long, beige and chic, trench coats are an absolutely staple in every spring wardrobe. But this year, the beloved classic got the big chop for spring. I mean, when Burberry (the fashion O.G. when it coms to the trench coat), and a few other high-profile designers like Maison Margiela and The Attico, release trench coats with a boxy, waist-length silhouette, it’s hard not to notice that a new trend has been established. When I had the opportunity to add this cropped trench coat from the Walmart x Lane Bryant collab to my closet, I didn’t hesitate. It was the perfect shade of millennial pink, and I’ve been wearing it non-stop for the last couple of weeks.
Gingham greatness
After florals, gingham is inarguably the most popular print in the spring season. But in the last couple of years, I’d say it’s grown from a cute print reserved for picnic blankets and the odd spring dress to a total fashion moment. Just look at designers like Shuting Qiu and Carolina Herrera who have embraced the trend this season. Last year, I added this adorable quilted jacket from Anthropologie to my closet and this year I’ve got a few gingham-printed pieces in my shopping cart.
Sportif chic
Between the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, and the WNBA, there’s never been a better time to be into sports. I’m not a sporty person per say, but I love seeing all the ways sports have influenced the fashion world as of late. From tennis to ballet, there have been so many sports-focused trends lately, and the newest one is sportif. Think rugby shirts, track pants, and retro jerseys — basically anything that would belong in Sporty Spices’ closet. I think one of the reasons I’m enjoying this trend so much is that I can play around with the way I style these pieces. Pairing something as casual as a rugby shirt a more elevated piece like my favourite pink pleated skirt feels totally natural.
What are the spring trends you’re loving this season? Tell me in the comments.
Portrait of a Fashionista 