The Best 2020 Spring Trends To Try

Thank you to Express & ShopStyle for kindly sponsoring this post.
All opinions are 100% honest & all items were hand-selected by me.

Every season, I take some time to look through recaps of the runway shows to keep my finger on the pulse of the latest fashions.  And while some are extravagant styles that don’t always translate well to everyday life, there are usually a handful of trends that I think are worth playing around with – fashion should be fun, after all!

So, today I’m breaking down three of my favorites for spring/summer & sharing some simple ways to adopt them.  The three I chose to highlight here are easy-to-wear, recurring styles that seem to come back year after year, so they’re safe bets to add to your wardrobe because they won’t look “out of style” by this time next year.  Not surprisingly, neon hues, 60’s wallpaper-style prints & feathers didn’t make the cut.  Read on for my top picks (all 40% off now!) + how to pull them off effortlessly…

FEMININE & ROMANTIC

I hesitate to even call this a trend, because in my opinion feminine silhouettes never go out of style.  I, for one, will never turn down a pretty lace top, pleated skirt or flowy dress.  The key is to balance out these romantic styles with modern accents & minimalist accessories.  Here are some easy ways to achieve this:

• throw a moto jacket over a feminine dress
• style a satin midi skirt with white ankle booties instead of pointed pumps
• pair a ruffled blouse (like this or this) with relaxed denim

This lace top is extra in the best possible way & I love it!  But, if you’re looking for something slightly more subtle, I found several similar styles for you here, here & here.  I’m such a sucker for pretty feminine styles – this eyelet shift is a classic you can wear straight through summer; this ruffled top is the prettiest pastel hue (I’d pair with these white jeans) & this embroidered kimono would be a gorgeous swim cover-up for the beach or pool!

What I’m wearing:
c/o Express Floral Lace Top, c/o Express Camisole,
c/o Express Crop Flare Jeans, c/o Express Clear Heeled Sandals

POLISHED UTILITY

Utilitarian-inspired pieces always seem to pop up on the runways, but this year’s versions are decidedly more refined.  Instead of classic cargo pants with bulky pockets, we’re seeing more flattering, streamlined options.  These styles typically feature earth tones like olive green & khaki, which means you want to be careful how you style them so it doesn’t look like you’re heading on a safari. I paired these utility pants with a sleek bodysuit & croc mules for a simple, polished casual look.

I fell in love with the high rise & cinched waist on these pants – they’re a lighter weight fabric than classic chinos, which makes them really comfortable.  You could easily dress these down with a striped tee & sneakers too (I got my usual size & the fit was perfect).  Other utility styles I’m loving now include this twill skirt, these paperbag trousers, this button-front midi dress & this tie-front shirt.

What I’m wearing:
c/o Express Puff Sleeve Bodysuit, c/o Express Utility Pants,
Similar Earrings, Similar Necklace

ANIMAL PRINTS

We all know that animal prints have been huge this year & I own quite a few in my closet, so I’m happy to see this trend continue into the warm weather months. I love the new versions I’m seeing in non-traditional colorways like this olive green leopard dress, which will transition so nicely into the fall with booties & a leather jacket.

I actually bought this dress over a month ago before I even knew I would be partnering with Express so I couldn’t wait to share it with you.  It’s pretty rare for me to find a dress that fits me like a glove straight off the rack, so I was thrilled when I tried this one on!  I did go down one from my usual size, which made the length a bit shorter (I’m 5’8″), but I think it’s perfect for date night.  This same print is also available in a satin top, a midi dress or a long sleeve blouse.

Looking for a more subtle way to embrace this trend?  Try a softer tonal animal pattern like this cardigan, this short sleeve blouse & this button-down shirt.  Or add just a pop of print to your look with an accessory like these sandals, this tote or a chic hair scarf.

What I’m wearing:
c/o Express Leopard Print Dress (also in polka dot & pink), Similar Belt,
c/o Express Ankle Strap Sandals, Similar Earrings

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