Spring has arrived in Cambridge, and after a spell of sun and blue skies, it’s time to start pulling your tank tops and short skirts out from the back of your wardrobe, and tucking your thick knit jumpers and jeans in for their months of hibernation. I have yet again fallen victim to the endless cycle of scrolling on Pinterest, creating vision boards instead of essay plans in a desperate attempt to identify what my fashion identity will morph into in the coming months. My grey cardigans and long sleeve tops just aren’t cutting it anymore. I here present to you an amalgamation of half thoughts and serious industry research, in an attempt to inspire your spring fashion looks.
Sheer clothing
Somewhat reminiscent of the brat summer that dominated last year, sheer clothing has remained a fun and somewhat experimental way to elevate any look. Compatible with the jeans and a cute top combination that has been adopted by the masses, a sheer top adds an extra bit of fun to an otherwise overworn and bored look. Effective as both a short and a long sleeve (spring is never that warm after all), it is best paired with a cute bra or bralette, or even a classic tank top. It gives you the chance to layer both colours, designs, and patterns, as well as having the option to keep monochrome, for a sleeker look.
Puffs and frills and all the trimmings
A distant cousin to the puffball skirt, which made a short but impactful appearance on the fashion scene late last year, embracing and exploring a wider range of textures is an interesting way to expand your wardrobe. From waffle textured tops to ruched skirts and embroidered shirts, adding an extra dimension to your outfits aside from just colour and shape is yet another way to add a more unconventional feel to your looks. I’m personally envisioning pastel coloured skirts with lots of volume, and silk and satin, leaning into more classically feminine silhouettes. The drop waist skirt is another way to explore and adopt some more interesting textures, with pleats and added volume, it seems to be the long lost sister of the low waist jean that has finally come out to play.
“Adding an extra dimension to your outfits aside from just colour and shape is yet another way to add a more unconventional feel to your looks”
Colour!
I’m sure this isn’t the first article to tell you to wear more colour in spring, but it might be good advice. As an advocate for the timeless simplicity of monochrome, especially all black outfits, it can be difficult and at times sort of terrifying to step out the door in a bright colour. But if spring isn’t the time to try new things and experiment outside your fashion comfort zone I don’t know when it is. Pastels are the generic colour of spring, the muted tones and feminine energy pairing well with the general symbols of new life and blooming nature that accompany this time of the year. Butter yellow especially is seeming to be a fan favourite this year, walking the line of being a bright colour yet also remaining understated and classy.
Tailored fashion
The office wear phenomenon is also here to stay this spring. Making tailored pants fun requires a certain amount of skill, but it really isn’t too hard to make it work. With the sharp silhouette they provide, it’s fun to contrast them with a flowy (or sheer) top, or even a simple tank top to put the casual in business casual. They can easily be dressed down for pub gardens when the sun comes out, and still a good staple piece to have in your wardrobe for any work experience over the break. So a truly multi-functional and adaptable piece. The fitted blouse can also be grouped in this category, either to wear together in a full embrace of the office siren aesthetic, or paired separately with a patterned midi skirt or denim shorts to create a fun spring vibe.
Short nails
Say goodbye to the days of acrylic and hard gel nails ruining your nail beds, and ultimately getting stuck in a cycle of £40 infills that realistically, as students, we can’t afford. Accepting your natural nails is in this spring, either venturing into biab (a type of gel nail polish that supports the healthy growth of your nails), or just keeping them short and neat, accessorised with a £5 nail polish from your local boots. A pop of colour makes your everyday look a bit more exciting, and even slightly chipped nail polish adds a certain je ne sais quoi to any look. And you don’t have to stop at one colour, pick a different colour for each nail, or add some nail stickers. A quick and easy fix.
“A pop of colour makes your everyday look a bit more exciting, and even slightly chipped nail polish adds a certain je ne sais quoi to any look.”
The bob is back
It seems to me that short hair has swept the nations. Perhaps it’s just my bi-annual urge to cut all my hair off, but what better time to take the jump than spring? Short hair unequivocally appears to be more fun than keeping it long, it forces you to style it in different ways, and experiment with which way frames your face best. Simple and basic accessories like bobby pins and fun shaped hair clips, which you can most likely find on Etsy, can elevate it easily, and if all else fails just keeping it down and natural remains a low maintenance job. Less hair, less work, and even if I’m proven wrong, it will always grow back.
Double denim
Denim is also permeating just about every outfit this spring, either in the form of a jacket, or jeans, or a skirt, or bag, or everything all at once. Whether or not this is still as fashionable as it was in the 70s is up to personal taste, but I personally am excited to welcome double denim back with open arms. The combinations are limitless, and investing in a decent, reliable pair of denim jeans, whilst hard to find, is always worth it.
This list is by no means exhaustive, and definitely a very loose guide for fashion this spring. Ultimately, I have concluded that this season is one for experimentation, embracing the marginally warmer weather, while still keeping things practical, and always having a jacket on hand. Layering, accessorising, and investing in staple pieces is not new advice, and is largely applicable to every season, but I’ll say it again anyway just in case I’ve convinced you to change your fashion habits this spring.
Fashion Shoot Co-Ordinator: Holly Hardman
Photographer: Amika Piplapure
Models: Matilda Billinge, Ellis Boden, Ditta Demter, Sam Ericsson, Sami Firdose, Irisa Kwok, Lillian Jones
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