Fashion: Spring Comes to Cary Boutiques
Story and lead photo by Lindsey Chester, a 15-year veteran designer of women’s sportswear for Harve Benard, Leslie Fay, Kellwood Industries and Norton Mc Naughton.
Cary, NC – About a month ago, I wrote about Fashion Trends for Spring 2013. Now that our weather is finally warming up and the skies are turning Carolina Blue again, I visited some Cary boutiques to see what trends are gaining traction for Spring.
Spring Fashion Recap
Our Fashion predictions in January talked about 3 main trends:
- Lady Luxe which captured all that is pretty and feminine
- Sharp & Chic – graphic with contrasting black and white and crisp fabrications
- Passport – encompassing looks great for vacation where beautiful tribal prints and ocean blues rule.
Let’s see if the trends ring true for our Cary retailers.
Feminine Silhouettes and Lots of Lace
At Peachy Keen in Harrison Point Shopping, feminine and pretty looks were the dominant trend. Lots of lace detailing, floral prints and dresses. They are proud to exclusively carry Amanda Uprichard who puts lots of details into her dresses that have a timeless feel. The dress below typifies the look of the season. It’s pretty, it’s flowy, there is sheerness, and it’s lace!
photo courtesy Peachy Keen
Another look from Peachy Keen in lace combined pale blue lace and a ruffled hem for a softer feminine look, great for Easter.
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We saw this trend repeated at other area boutiques, notably Apricot Lane, a store recently opened in Cary Towne Center. The ecru lace dress pictured above was worn with colorful accessories. I predict the Lace dress will see plenty of mileage this season.
Color Rules in Cary
Color is making a huge resurgence. Say goodbye to the browns and greys that dominated last spring and winter. Replacing them is a beautiful blue mint, some call it teal – (in the 80’s we called it “turq”). Whatever you call it, the color is universally flattering and I predict every Cary woman will want at least one new item in this gorgeous hue.
The second big color was coral. Not too orange, but you wouldn’t call it pink. Again another winner: I saw it in shoes, jewelery, dresses, tops and even skinny jeans.
The mix of outfits above are from Apricot Lane. The coral jacket with the teal shirt is so fresh. Note that waistlines are moving up on skirts and shorts. Really cute when paired with skinny belts (flashback anyone??).
Jackets are getting shorter and more fitted. Decidedly feminine! I especially loved this little bomber jacket (kinda “Members Only”) in the scarf print which brought in both the teal and coral against a black and white background. Very wearable and seasonless.
Coral dress at GiGi’s
GiGi’s in Crescent Commons had this breezy coral sleeveless dress. The poly-chiffon fabric is another key fabrication for spring. Look at the cute hemline here – another big look this season: Hi-Lo hems. I saw this repeated in tops, and long or short dresses. Just about anyone can pull off that look with a cute pair of wedge-heeled shoes this Spring.
Breezy Prints Great for A Stay-cation too!
Even if you don’t have a vacation planned this summer, the prints arriving in stores will make you feel ready to be transported. The Passport trend includes lots of soft tunics, that can be worn now over leggings or white jeans, and later in summer, worn as dresses. The butterflies on this tunic from Peachy Keen are abstract so that what you notice are the beautiful colors.
this tunic from Peachy Keen captures the blue mint color popular for spring 2013
Watercolor florals work into the Passport trend on this colorful dress from GiGi’s. Wear it now through early fall with the mix of rich tones and the color of the season, blue mint.
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Tribal Can be Pretty
I did see tribal prints – mostly chevron type patterns with the blue and corals mixed in with some neutrals.
Tribal looks started last Spring, continued into last Fall and Holiday and are here to stay. Looks great here in another key look from Peachy-Keen – the Maxi- dress.
Let’s face it, not everyone has great legs, or feels like wearing pants when the weather gets hot. The answer: a breezy maxi-dress like this one. Its got the blue, the tribal print and the Hi-Lo hem- you can’t go wrong here sipping cocktails out on your friends patio.
Sharp and Chic- is Late this Year
The Sharp and Chic trend, was not as evident in stores as I thought. Or maybe because that is essentially a black and white trend it didn’t catch the eye as readily as all the color, which looked so fresh when the weather outside was cold and dreary. Some retailers are bringing in the black and white trend later, for a crisp looking summer, preferring to get the shot of color going early.
I did spot this cute top, that has a graphic print, combined with 2 other key trends: Chiffon and feminine detailing with the mini-ruffle at the neck. This top could be worn with a great pair of white pants in spring then tucked under a jacket in the winter – a true- season-spanner.
If you can only buy a few pieces to update your wardrobe this spring, buy a breezy print with that key blue color and something in a yummy coral. And save room in your budget for a beautiful lace dress. You won’t regret it.
Happy Spring!
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