LAURA JANE KENNY | Staff Writer

 FLORAL

Cover yourself from head to toe with roses, daisies or whatever blossom suits your taste because fl oral is the trend this season. Floral patterns are a great way to add sunshine to your step even when the campus is covered with rain. While this trend may be on the rise, you must watch out for common fatalities. Floral can, and most likely does, remind people of their grandmother. So, make sure to keep it as fresh as the flowers on your dress with flattering shapes. Find pieces with good shapes and shorter hemlines so you are not mistaken for your aunt. Another thing to look out for—do not get lost in the print. The taller you are, the larger the print you can wear. Lastly, this trend allows for variety. Do not limit fl orals just to dresses. Skirts, shirts even shoes and hats can be blessed with a few blossoms.

 MENSWEAR

This one is for the girls. Sharp lines made originally for men are here for women. But this does not mean you can grab your boyfriend’s suit jacket. The way to keep the masculine pieces a bit girly is to make sure they are fitted for you, not for your dad or your brother. Try to find vests and blazers that do not stop right beneath the bust line, because let’s face it, we are all hoping for that short trend to fade quickly. Find vest and blazers that fall at the bottom of your waist or just above your hips. Wide legs pants are a great way to add a unique touch to a fitted blazer, or throw on a pair of skinny jeans to off set the bulkiness of a men’s jacket.

 SHEER

Oh, I know what you are thinking. Ooh la la. But please, let’s start this by saying this trend should be paired with the layering trend. Sheer fabrics are no longer restricted to lace alone. There is a subtle sexiness in a piece of fabric that slightly blocks one’s eye from a direct look at skin. It is also a great way to add visual interest to an outfit. However, this trend has a few setbacks. Sheer fabrics come with a higher price tag due to a higher quality of fabric. And, of course, they are delicate and require special washing care. Invest in quality sheer fabrics so they will not snag easily. Also, when picking out shapes, it is important to find sheer fabrics that lay well on your body so there is no pulling or tugging.

 FULL SKIRTS

Rejoice, again I say rejoice! Women, this trend is one worth celebrating. Got curves you do not want seen? Well, there is no better way to hide them than under a full skirt that flatters nearly all figures. The fifties trend has come back, but contrast to broad shoulders and defines a waistline. So, in layman terms, you give yourself an hourglass shape, the most desired shape among women. A full skirt also creates the image of smaller legs. To get the best shape out of your skirt, pick a hemline that suits you best. Knee length is most flattering to all figures. If you are on the shorter side, shorten the hemline a little. Pick out a skirt that flows so you do not have to worry about bunching in the wrong places.

 BRIGHT COLORS

This trend says, “Hello, I am here!” and is gender inclusive. Canary yellow, traffic cone orange, blueberry blue, fi re engine red and hot pink are only a few examples of the trend this spring. Match the brightness of the day with the brightness of your wardrobe. Everything in your wardrobe is welcome to this trend. Shoes, shirts, pants and dresses come in solid bright colors. With so many options, there is no reason to pick a color that will drown you out. Yellow is probably the hardest to pull off so try to stay away from it unless you have darker skin. Blue and red tend to be the most flattering for all skin colors, but be careful to pick certain shades that might only bring out the wrong red. For some, canary yellow may be to bright to wrap yourself in, but you can still enjoy bold accessories. Either way, use your style to brighten someone else’s day.