I had a hard time keeping this as short and sweet as last year’s list because the colours and trends look extra fresh and fabulous to my eye. The most important thing to do this season is embrace colour, and I can’t stress this point enough. It’s seldom that we see a retail season full of brights, neon, pastels, mid tones and earth tones. If you like these shades, snap them up in wardrobe items that tickle your fancy as soon as possible. We could be stuck with a narrower colour assortment next year, and the year after that. Make the most of colourful product while it’s in stores. 

As always, the list cuts across all body types, fashion personas and age groups. It’s a question of finding the right items, at the right prices, and wearing them in flattering and appropriate ways so that they reflect YOUR style. 

1. Something Bright: If bright clothing and outerwear is not your cup of tea, choose a bright accessory, pair of shoes, or toenail polish. Shades of orange and emerald green are especially big this season. Remember that you don’t need to wear bright clothing from head to toe. Mix up a bright with neutrals and muted colours to tone down the effect.  
2. Something Pastel or Mid-Toned: Pastels and mid-tones look fresh and work well with brights for a tonal outfit vibe. They also look great with shades of blush and nude. Think across ALL items of your wardrobe: clothing, footwear and accessories. 
3. Something Floral: Floral pattens look fresh, and come in all shapes, sizes, colours and vibes. Please don’t be put off the floral trend if you are allergic to the pattern. There is a floral for everyone. Some are bold and chaotic, while others are subtle, tonal and sophisticated. Wear a floral away from your face if that’s more your cup of tea. 
4. A Soft Bottom: This season embraces soft dressing, which means wearing soft fabrications both on the top AND bottom. Sport a pair of soft trousers, shorts or a skirt instead of rigid denim, wool blends and rayon blends. 
5. Midis: We saw this trend come through last year, and there is more on the way. You don’t need to be tall to wear a midi skirt as our petites show us over and over again when they post their midi outfits on our forum. Follow the guidelines if you’re stuck or apprehensive about the length. Nothing beats the elegance factor of a midi in my book. 
6. A Soft Boxy Blouse: Boxy soft blouses in polyester or silk blends are a gorgeous look with slim bottoms. Relaxed, yet pulled together, and oh-so easy. Rein in the volume with a belt if you prefer a more structured silhouette, or tuck them into pencil skirts to de-bombshell the vibe. Button them up to increase the trendy quotient. 
7. A Denim Shirt: It’s a great way to dress down dressy bottoms, or wear the denim-on-denim trend. It’s a versatile neutral that works with just about anything, especially patterned skirts and pants.  
8. Non-Neutral Bottom: Think out of the box for the bottom half of your outfit. Sport skirts, trousers, clamdiggers and shorts in brights, pastels, mid tones and patterns. Yes, patterned pants! The patterns can be subtle and not bold (like micro checks and pinstripes). I just bought a tomato red pair of dressy slim bootcut trousers and am blown away by their versatility.  
9. An Unexpected Patterned Piece: It’s a particularly pattern-rich season and pattern mixing is HUGE. Patterned tops, scarves, dresses and skirts are more obvious patterned choices, but if you dare, think further than that. Patterned blazers, trousers, shorts, jeans, shoes and handbags are the more unexpected patterned choice. Remember that patterns can be subtle. A pair of neutral snake skin shoes functions as seamlessly as a solid neutral.  
10. A Colourblocked item: Think colourblocked clothing items, handbags and footwear.  
11. A Denim Jacket or Denim Vest: They are the perfect way to toughen up and dress down a look. Think blue denim, white or colours. I have two blue denim jackets, dark and faded, that are wardrobe work horses each season.  
12. White Items: Adding white items into your outfits screams Spring and Summer. Choose your whites, from optical white and off-white to cream and bone. I wear all the whites actually, and mix them up in one outfit. Think white tops, trousers, shorts, clamdiggers, jeans, skirts, dresses, blazers, jackets, trench coats, footwear, eyewear and handbags. 
13. Daytime Sparkle: Go on. Be a devil and wear a little shine during the daytime. Mix it up with denim to dress down the bling.  
14. New Shape Flats: Flat oxfords are still very on-trend, as are loafers, pointy toe flats, and slipper flats. Sport them is a solid, colourblock, or pattern.   
15. Ankle Strap Shoes: Ankle strap detailing on pumps, wedges, sandals or flats is a look that I expect will stick around. The silhouettes are a little tricky to wear from both a comfort and stumpyfying factor because of the horizontally cutting line and strap-rubbing potential. But there are ways to overcome these challenges, which is a topic for another day.  
16. Wedges: Modern and fabulous, in both low and high heeled silhouettes, and dressy and casual incarnations. Every wardrobe needs a modern wedge of sorts.  
17. Day Clutch and/or Chain Handle Bag: These handbag darlings are guaranteed to kick your outfits up a notch. Remember that clutches needn’t be impractical. 

There’s also the unstoppable cropped pants trend that is going to be as big for Autumn. Despite it’s popularity, I have not listed the item as a “must have” because it’s a hard look to pull off with sass and style. Please proceed with caution. 

Here are some more wearable Spring and Summer trends that might tickle your fancy: Sporty looks, high-low skirts, peplums, Spring boots, slouchy trousers, harem pants, wedge heeled sneakers, metallic sneakers, Spring trench coats, floral suits, low slung belts, dropped waistlines, pastel suits, asymmetrical tops and hemlines, cropped tops, maxi skirts and dresses, full skirts, pleated skirts and jumpsuits. 

How does the list look, ladies? Which trends and items resonate the most, and how are you going to update your wardrobes for Spring and Summer?