Fashion Column: Freezing and Fabulous, Finding a Fashion-Forward Dress for Spring
As spring blooms in State College, we trade our jeans for shorter hemlines and invite color and fun back to the forefront of our wardrobes. For those in sororities, or attending a fraternity formal this spring, I'll help you find that fashion-forward and fabulous look for your event.
The spring fashion this season is very exciting. It is almost as if the horrendous winter put designers in the mood to liven things up more than usual. Therefore, even if you don't have an event you need a dress for, you might want to awaken your closet with a great going-out dress that is sure to turn heads. Keep reading to find out what Spring '14 fashion is all about and where to find it for the right price.
Spring 2014 fashion has some old and new facets. First, I have seen a lot of designers focusing on black and white pieces and outfits. Adding texture to these colors makes them interesting, so try to look for that when buying a solid color like white or black this spring.
Second, I saw the light green color “pistachio” in fashion designers “Alice + Olivia's” show. This color screams spring and summer! After a winter full of black, add some pistachio and your outfit is sure to please.
Third, pastels were a popular inspiration for designers like Prabal Gurung. Mint, lilac, and light pink were very visible in this year’s fashion shows.
Fourth and most importantly, bold prints and floral designs were extremely prominent in spring shows. Brands/Designers 3.1 Phillip Lim, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Jimmy Choo, Rachel Zoe, and Elizabeth & James displayed large print floral and geometric designs. The combination of prints and floral was popular too.
So where should you find these fashions? If you're shopping online, check out GUESS. I've always been a fan of GUESS, and I feel as if they recently stepped up their fashion game. Check out their website, www.guess.com, for wearable, fashion-forward dresses that are around $100.
Topshop is another winner, in my opinion, when it comes to unique and beautiful spring dresses. Their bodycon and printed pieces really stood out this season. Want to check out some of my personal favorites? Search for their "satin bandage bodycon dress" and the "plunge neck mini bodycon dress."
If you're feeling daring, look up the "lemon stripe bodycon dress." Find hundreds of other options at an average price of $85, check out http://us.topshop.com/.
For shopping online, while keeping a budget in mind, try http://www.gojane.com/ . They have a lot of cute options, but there is a lot of junk to search through. I'll do the work for you.
Search for these dresses on the site:
1. Mesh N Colorblock Bodycon Dress
2. Diamonds N Chains Bodycon Dress
3. Brocade Print Midi Dress
4. Lion N Sun Metallic Bodycon Dress
5. Oh So Royal Floral Bodycon Dress
6. Watercolor Wonder Bodycon Dress
These dresses average about $35 and are a great option for an interesting spring dress.
If you'd rather shop in downtown State College, here are my recommendations for finding options that fit spring fashion…
Metro is a great place to find a spring formal dress. I do believe they have good-quality dresses, but they also seem a bit overpriced. Averaging around $55 a dress, they're a great option for someone who prefers trying on their dress to buying it online. However, the dresses here aren't always up-to-date fashion wise. If the extreme spring trends aren't your cup of tea, metro is a great place to try.
In my opinion, Urban Outfitters is not a good place to try and find a spring formal dress. I often don't see a large variety of dresses here, and the ones I do see are usually very casual.
Access is the last place I'd recommend you go to find a dress. I believe the store is shutting down for a period of time, so get in there soon to look for a dress!
I hope that helps you ‘fashionistas’ find a daring new dress to compliment the extraordinary spring trends!
Until next week,
Jane
Jane Moreland is a senior majoring in telecommunications. To contact her, email jmm6128@psu.edu.
