An 'anything' spring for fashion

Some might say that trends for spring 2010 are blush colors, nautical, military, gladiator shoes, purple and denim.

However, the biggest trend for the season is actually whatever you want it to be. Runways were anything but consistent. There were architectural cutouts at Michael Kors, soft, flouncy ruffles at Nanette Lepore and everything from flowing hippie frocks to sleek jersey at Diane von Furstenberg.

It's a far cry from even 2006, when every designer seemed to design some form of trapeze or sack dress (though those are now long gone). There's no such thing as an unfashionable skirt length these days, with lengths ranging from mini to knee-length to maxi in stores.

"There are no longer rules or must-have looks, really," said Adam Glassman, creative director at O, The Oprah Magazine (and no relation to yours truly). "There are trends that come and go, but they aren't just for one season. They have a lot more staying power." It brings to mind colors such as purple, which seemed like a fad color when it appeared more than two years ago. "The trend becomes a classic," Glassman said.

"It's really anything goes," said accessories designer Eugenia Kim, who, like most of the other sources for this story, just couldn't identify some unfashionable item that shouldn't be worn this season.

She's not the only one feeling that way right now. "In this day and age in fashion, it's anything goes," said Sacha Martin of Bluebird Boutique. (Is there an echo?) "It's different because of the money thing. In jeans, it's not like everyone has to have the latest jean anymore. They'll wear their old jeans and buy a new shirt."

Women wear boot-cut, straight, distressed and wide-leg now. That said, Bluebird still sells a ton of a particular denim legging, but customers no longer walk out with a new pair on each visit.

The new staying power of "trends" also has to do with the speedy delivery of high style to stores. "Everything is so democratic now. It used to be that high-fashion trends came off of the runways, then would eventually trickle down to New York and the rest of the affordable outlets. Now everything comes down at the same time," Glassman said.

Now you can invest in pieces that you love and know that you'll wear them more than one fleeting season. "I'm a firm believer that you only need a few things to pepper the wardrobe -- a little width and personality and novelty," Glassman said.

A world without anything "fresh" or "new" would be downright boring. Designers are playing to that and hoping you'll shell out for a few really special pieces -- a shiny red trench coat from 3.1 Phillip Lim, a fringed Marc Jacobs bag or anything by the late Alexander McQueen.

When you find the trends that work for you, you don't have to let them go, according to Aisha Ghanchi, owner of Belle Reve Boutique.

"People with the best style mix stuff from different seasons together," Ghanchi said. "If you can wear shoulder pads, wear them now, two years from now. It's about cuts of clothes and making sure you wear quality."

Fashion designers share some seasonal trends:

Romantic blouses: "Soft, romantic, flouncy blouses or camisoles or shells. There are lots of blouses and details that move, that have a lot of detail. If you're a working woman who wears a jacket or suit, it adds a nice feminine touch to a masculine suit. Otherwise, wear it with a pencil skirt or trouser and feel work-appropriate and dressed up. It's a very easy piece to wear with jeans or a khaki skirt for a date night with your husband or girls' night out with your friends." – Adam Glassman, creative director, O, The Oprah Magazine
Try: J. Crew Coralie cami ($88), available at www.jcrew.com.

Animal prints! "An animal-print T-shirt! It can be worn casual with jeans or with a printed skirt and a great necklace. It's a fresh, affordable item that easily updates your wardrobe." – Rebecca Taylor, fashion designer
Try: Light gray sheer leopard-burnout jersey T-shirt (shown at right and on model on the cover) by Rebecca Taylor ($125), at Macy's Minneapolis.

Nude shoes: "The hot color for spring 2010 is the nude family. Soft leathers, patents and suedes look fresh in this new color that we cannot get enough of! With the nude color resembling skin tones, it really lengthens your body head to toe. Wear this trend with your favorite LBD [little black dress] or with a monochromatic look head to toe." – Jinny Krogman, buyer at Pumpz & Co.
Try: Bettye Muller "Sage" sandal ($170), from Pumpz & Co., Galleria, Edina, 952-926-2252, pumpzco.com.

Denim leggings: "The J Brand leggings and the cargo leggings are out of control compared to anything. They're like sweat pants. Plus silk tops to go with them. We have them in six colors." – Sacha Martin and Allison Mowery, owners of Bluebird Boutique
Try: J Brand denim leggings, $139 to $198, depending on wash.

Graphic prints: "Instead of a floral, it's a very bold graphic print in bright colors, including tangerine – a bright, almost neon orange." – Aisha Ghanchi, owner of Belle Reve
Try: Mcginn bustier dress, $258, available from Belle Reve, 320 E. Hennepin Av., Mpls., 612-333-3148.

Sara Glassman • 612-673-7177