Spring Into Spring With Our Fashion Faves
While Evanston’s winter wonderland has yet to reach its hiatus, Tuesday, March 20th officially marks the beginning of spring. When the lakefill refills with students and my morning walk to south campus refills with squirrels, it’s time for Northwesterners to throw off those parkas and take on the [semi] heat. Bidding farewell to the dreary drag of winter, Northwestern students embrace the brightness and vibrancy of the spring aura. Rather than remaining trapped inside dorms while lounging in oversized sweats, Northwestern students take to the beachfront, venture into Chicago, and spend their spring quarter in the great outdoors. With all this seasonal excitement, spring attire is imperative. So— which spring looks deserve the spotlight this quarter? Well, STITCH has the answer.
Rachel Orbach, Staff Writer: Spring is the precursor to my summer wardrobe. I am a big fan of mini, ruffle skirts, and luckily for me, they never go out of style. I rarely shy away from showing skin in my outfits, but tight skirts constricting my movement have never been my forte. These ruffled skirts, however, allow mobility but simultaneously retain their chic feel, and truly complement all body types. In the spring, I’ll throw on a plain t-shirt or cute tank that flows with my flow-y, patterned skirt. Following the post-winter chill, I usually wear some light jacket— usually denim — that I can wrap around my waist or shoulders. On a colder spring day, a leather jacket adds an edge to these frilly skirts. From Isabel Marant to H&M, these ruffled bottoms are not just some spring fling of mine. During the summer, you can always catch me in these flouncy skirts with a tank top and my collection of lace-up sandals. I also frequently don these skirts in a bikini; they spawn that summer beach-y vibe while acting as a stylish cover-up.
Mia Hirsch, Staff Writer: For me, spring is a time to experiment with fashion. My winter wardrobe tends to be pretty monotone - typically black leggings and a black sweater or turtleneck and booties. Spring is that unpredictable time of year when you have to check your weather app every morning to figure out if you can leave your big coat at home, dare to bare some skin, or (gasp!) run along the lake in a tank top and shorts. Spring doesn’t necessarily mean warm at Northwestern, but it definitely means warmer, and for me that’s reason enough to take a trip to Old Orchard to stock my closet with some fresh new pieces. What I’m really loving this season are high waisted flare jeans. I just got a pair by Topshop and I’m obsessed. The flare creates a naturally slimming silhouette, and the high waist complements those flowy crop tops that always pop up in stores around this time. Another spring trend I’m unexpectedly vibing with this year is yellow. Tons of brands are soaking up this sun-loving color these days, splashing it everywhere from pullovers (like this Brandy Melville one I just bought and can’t stop wearing) to rompers. We rarely see many colors of the rainbow expressed in winter wardrobes, but spring is a time to venture out of your color comfort zone and find a pot of gold. Throwing on a pop of color has been scientifically proven to brighten your mood— so that even on those random instances when it snows in April, my yellow pullover reminds me of sunnier days ahead, never failing to bring a smile to my face.
Rachel Burns, Editor-in-Chief: There’s one thing that gets me excited for spring every year, and no it’s not the warm weather or sunshine—even though I can’t complain about those springtime perks. It’s my leather jackets. Spring is the season when I can finally whip out my easy, comfortable, go-with-everything leather jackets. If I could wear these jackets all year round I would, if only I didn’t run the risk of freezing to death in the winter. My go-to brand for leather jackets is All Saints. I have a light blue, motorcycle-style one that I can’t wait to wear this Spring. Another trend I’ve been into lately is florals. I know I’m a little late to the game; Miranda Priestly would be rolling her eyes at me right now saying, “Florals? For Spring? Groundbreaking." I’ve never been a huge print or pattern girl, as I usually stick to black, black and more black, but I have finally caught on to the florals trend. I might have gone just a little overboard buying floral dresses and rompers for this season. Whoops.
Grace Wade, Online Editor: The best part about the weather getting warmer, besides the prospect of a glow-y tan, is the chance to ditch my winter boots for sandals. This season I have been obsessing over platform Tevas. At the end of last fall, I purchased this black and red pair that I cannot wait to style with rompers, skorts, and dresses. Especially for someone like me who is not exactly into the girly aesthetic these shoes can add a bit of edge to floral pieces, making them perfect for cool-girl wardrobes. Another shoe trend I cannot wait to see people wearing as the weather warms is the dad sneaker. Yes, you read that right. Think thick, clunky, all-white New Balances and Sketchers. I particularly love this pair by FILA which come in a range of colors other than white such as baby blue and pink. These shoes dress down even the fanciest of silky skirts and add the perfect touch of retro flair to any outfit. Plus, because they are white they go with everything!
Eden Lichterman, Print Editor: My spring wardrobe centers around rompers, overalls, and jumpsuits. These versatile, one-piece outfits are perfect for everything from a chill day on the lakefill, to running from class to class, to even going out with friends. Most days, I’ll pair a simple black romper with a jean jacket and sneakers. I also love to wear black or blue overalls with either a neutral or bright-colored shirt under. Aritzia is my favorite place to get basic rompers that I can pair with pretty much any jacket or accessory in my closet. For a night out, I’ll wear a patterned jumpsuit with a bomber jacket and platform sandals. Madewell is my go-to store for jumpsuits because they fit well and feature a wide array of patterns. There’s no better feeling than throwing on an outfit in one easy step and instantly looking put together.
Jean Sanders, Editorial: My favorite spring items comes out when it’s beginning to warm up, and I get to throw on fun printed skirts with cropped sweaters. It’s the perfect outfit when it is still chilly in the mornings, and it combines my wardrobe favorites from winter and spring perfectly. I wear the same sweaters I’ve worn all winter but pair them with new skirts that I can wear all summer long. Topshop is always my go-to for cute, fitted skirts, and I’m loving this floral trend this spring. For example, this floral skirt is perfect for this season. It goes with any cropped sweater in a neutral color, which I’ve been wearing all winter long. Couple that combination with cute sneakers or booties and you have the perfect spring outfit!
