Spring Fashion - Street Style - YouLookFab Forum

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Spring Fashion - Street Style

Irina

Veteran

It finally warmed up here, in Toronto. I was out in one of the fashionable places, Queen West neighborhood. Also, happened to be the area where my kids live
Sunny, just below 20C, feels wonderful after such a long winter and cold begging of spring. I took a stroll and enjoyed people watching.

Trends that I noticed:
1. Despite barrel leg jeans being available at any retail and some styles selling out fast, the most common jeans are still full length baggy, usually in light blue wash.

2. When it comes to pants, cropped wide legs are the most popular.

3. Sneakers are everywhere as usual, more low profile styles. All look retro to me or maybe I’m just old and have seen it before Surprisingly, Mary Janes are the second most worn shoes. I expected to see more loafers as it is still a bit too cold for such open vamp shoe. And yet, I saw it on young women worn with jeans and skirts.

4. Outwear of the moment - some trenches, also cropped trenches and chore jackets with contrasting collars. Leather or faux leather jackets in oversized silhouettes are less common but still there.

5. Something that also surprises me - jorts, below a knee baggy denim shorts. I thought of it as more of a fringe trend but somehow it is trending here. I like it. If I wore shorts, this would be my choice.

I consider myself lucky to live in diverse city and being able to observe and enjoy these fashion moments. They keep me informed on trends and inspired. I think of trends like a secret language - “I know what it is you are wearing. I know why. I saw it, too”. I might not wear it myself but I recognize it.

I didn’t take any photos but I’m adding similar outfits from Pinterest.

What do you see on the streets where you live? Any surprises?

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29 replies

Latest reply was from Cookie

Aquamarine

Veteran

I’m seeing Mary Jane flats, too, some in summery/raffia-type fabrications. Looked airy, appropriate for the spring. Also baggy jeans on the young folk.

Helena

Veteran

Thank you Irina! Love queen west ... A great style watching area. I gotta say I am into the jorts ... I don't know if they would work one but I think I'm going to try!

Lisa

Veteran

I always enjoy street style posts, thanks for the observations!

In my area we are warming up fast. I'm seeing more cropped length pants and shorts of all lengths. Colorful fashion sneakers are quite popular too.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Nice it was fun for you. I have no idea on autumn street style here in Auckland.

Dee

Veteran

Yesterday, we went for lunch in a trendy part of Montreal, in an area that straddles Mile End and the Plateau for those who know the city. What I observed fashion wise:

Lots of fun, well-curated vintage/consignment shops compared to just a few years ago. They often offer a mix of new items like patterned socks, shopping totes, hand-made soaps, candles, etc.. along with the second-hand clothing, hand bags, and footwear for sale.

There were also plenty of high-end fashion boutiques featuring many local designers too. Styles seemed to be mostly smart casual. Looks like lots of linen styles are coming for summer.

On the street - Baggy light-wash jeans seem to be the most popular here, too, along with wearing loose zip hoodies.

However, there were also slimmer, straight- leg black cigarette pants that finish just by the ankle worn with mostly fashiony athletic type sneakers and quilted boxy-style cropped jackets

A few girls were wearing dirndl style skirts with loose bohenmian patterned sweaters and loafers. Very vintage, cool girl.

That's some of what I observed people wearing on a coolish spring day here.

Irina

Veteran

Dee, interesting about black cigarette pants. I haven’t seen it here. Your description of the trendy area makes me want to visit Montreal! I haven’t been there for years! I have this idea of traveling from Toronto to Montreal on a train, driving is so stressful. Maybe be I will go this summer. Thanks!

Cookie

Veteran

I love that neighborhood!

Funny, I think I am not a very good observer of street style because I notice when someone is wearing something I like, but tune out if they are wearing something I find boring, and I guess a lot of people I see out and about dress in a way that is boring to me.

LJP

Veteran

I love that secret language and feel pleased when I'm in on it Nice hearing what's happening in the Queen West neighbourhood - that has more relevancy to me than what is happening in , say LA for example. Surprised about jorts - bare legs already? Or are they wearing them with something underneath? I like the look and I'd be all over it if I was 30 years younger. Happy to watch from the sidelines now .

Irina

Veteran

LJP, I saw jorts with bare legs. The temperature was about 17-18C that day. Jorts + top+light jacket +sneakers.

Another outfit saw young women wearing is a an oversized cotton button down shirt in light blue or blue & white stripes over a white tank top and loose pants or jeans. I think I saw this one last year, too.

Jules

Veteran

Excellent report and love your street style inspo pics. I definitely need to get out more now that the weather is turning and there’s something new to see!
I was thinking that barrel pants probably weren’t a great match for our climate because they don’t style that easily with boots or socks, and often by the time we can wear lower vamp shoes consistently here it’s too warm for jeans. But, if people are in Mary Janes etc that seems not the case.
Here’s one of my style inspo pics for spring, I have these Mary Janes from Poppy Barley ready and waiting to see spring…

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Jules

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PS train to Montreal is the way to go, it’s a terribly boring drive with nothing to see along the 401 and you don’t need a car there! The train station is right downtown and surrounded by hotels. We like the Marriot Courtyard Downtown and Hotel Bonaventure is also good.

Irina

Veteran

Jules, cool Mary Janes! Love! I have some Mary Janes, too. One pair from last year and one new. Funny but when I see a trend becoming too popular, I want to go in opposite direction My Mary Jane’s below.
I thought of making a post on my own “trends” for spring/early summer but stopped myself. I don’t think my choices are particularly interesting.

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RobinF

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Interesting observations. I love street style posts. I’m quite enjoying the cropped trench coat styles. And the fun Mary Janes.

Jules

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Make the post Irina! Always love your take

pirouette

Veteran

I love this post on what’s trending in your neighbourhood. I live in Dublin a very small city. Baggy wide jeans and very fitted cropped tops with sneakers are everywhere on young girls.the Young girls don’t seem to feel the cold. Short trenches are also popular. Older women seem to be sticking to straight jeans and loafers or sneakers. Mary Jane’s are in the shops but it’s much too cold to wear them. Light puffer jackets leggings and trainers are always popular especially with young mothers with fashionable buggies and the ubiquitous coffee.

LJP

Veteran

I'm wearing huge striped shirt from J Crew (much bigger than I expected) over cropped wide legs today , with Birk big buckle clogs and it's too much. I think I'll pop on a white tank and wear it open instead - for the rest of my Saturday errands. I have never worn shirts open over t's or tanks as it seemed too rural/masculine to me but the whole world seems to style shirts like this now so I have to get over myself . It was a big step just to buy a shirt to begin with!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Great report, Irina! It's always fun to hear what others are wearing in different cities. Interesting about the Mary Janes! I like mine but for me they are not walking shoes because they are too flat to be comfy for long. In Victoria, it's mainly wide leg/ baggy light blue jeans (esp. on the young) and sneakers of all kinds. Tops and toppers more varied. I'll need to do a trend-spotting post, too!

Runcarla

Veteran

The one thing that seems to be trending hard (4 sightings in one week in a population base of 17,000, LOL!) are cafe-au-lait Sambas with ecru stripes and a gum rubber sole! Also, the pale blue baggy denim others have mentioned.

And, very thin mid thigh or longer, boxy black quilted puffers. NOT, channel quilting, but other shapes, and NOT the uber puffy winter staple. I bought one last November, but thought it might have been a poor decision (functional, but not loving the form?!), however I’ve been seeing them worn by all ages, and on shopping sites recently. Whenever I’ve worn mine - I’ve gotten compliments. Not sure why!!

The very last of the winter kit got washed and packed away this weekend, and DH has his first golf game with his buddies booked for Monday!

Sal

Veteran

Thanks for sharing Irina! Always love these sorts of posts.

I love Mary Janes but don’t own any. Jorts are a fun accessible trend - I don’t enjoy them on myself now or in the past. Boys of all ages here wear them all year.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Excellent post Irina! I am a long time jorts wearer so that part especially made me smile. I don't live in the most stylish town but can report that wide and baggy jeans are the definite preference among the younger set, at least my 20 year old daughters and their friends.

LJP

Veteran

Becky Malinsky's newest sub stack is about what she calls capris, but are knee length (or slightly longer) fluid fit denim or crepe shorts. I'm now a convert after not really understanding what jorts were . I'd love to find something like the Kalllmeyer crepe ones she's wearing .......

LaPed

Veteran

LJP, I've been looking for my perfect slouchy black trouser culottes since last summer! I tried a couple -- Madewell, COS -- but have yet to find the right ones. Aritzia had a pair that looked perfect but sold out in a flash. I did add a great pair of long, a-line denim shorts last summer that make me very happy. I don't actually agree with Malinsky that the culotte silhouette flatters *any* body type -- my calves are... muscular... and below-knee shorts emphasize it -- but I still think they look really cool.

cat2

Veteran

We are in our short spring, and when we went out, all we saw was a lot of truly grim normcore on the adults. I think WFH may be responsible for this? And Spring is so short there is little point in planning for it. Our students are still in their flannel jammies.

Star (Lise)

Veteran

Oh I am chuffed. I checked out the Capris article by Malinsky and the pair of Escada Sport black denim capris I thrifted last year are practically identical to the Gap pair. Mine have a leather trim and buttons on the legs. I nearly left them behind but they were such a great fit and price, as well as in new like condition for a vintage pair I grabbed them at the last minute. In the back of my mind I had it that they were going to be trending again in the future. Mine are late 90s vintage as I checked the CA number. They also super comfortable and a good alternative to shorts which I am steering away from. I am keen to try a pair of jorts like those that Firecracker rocked a while ago.

LJP

Veteran

I usually roll my eyes at Becky M’s looks and stopped subscribing to her substack but this one came up in my feed somehow . And I agree that the cuts she’s featuring don’t necessarily work on everyone . They also have to be styled intentionally or you risk looking like you’re wearing culottes from grade 7 . That being said , I’m game to try if the right pair at the right price crosses my screen.

Star (Lise)

Veteran

LJP I agree, I am going to have to figure out the styling of them to make them look current.

Ket

Veteran

I would say it's similar trends here. I haven't seen much for trench coats. We live where hiking and outdoors clothing is a trend and status symbol, and sometimes that supersedes other trends, trench coats being one of them. I like all of the flow. Not a fan of jorts. I wore them once back in 2014 -- a pair of cut-offs I made, with a raw hem. It was a very trendy hipster look where I lived. Have never worn them again since.

Enjoying the fluid ease that is accompanying all of the baggy fits. However, like LJP, it's too much on me. I have to rein things in. I like to wear an oversized shirt like photo 5. Might have to add an oversized shirt to my shopping list...

Things I'm seeing near me:
Baggy tees. This is a big one here, especially for those in the 20-30 age group. Sometimes tucked, often left untucked. Always worn with baggy jeans, sneakers, and either very loose uncombed hair OR double buns.

Hair worn in double buns, both high and low (near neck).

Neither of these trends interests me. I lived through them. They didn't suit me then and wouldn't suit me now.

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, Irina - and everyone! Always interesting to read about the street style trends in your neck of the woods.

Jorts are AWESOME! I'd wear them if I wore shorts. I love the look of long shorts. Sharan's new jorts are KILLER

Here on the streets of Seattle - in the urban area:

ATHLEISURE is big. But not leggings. People have moved on from black leggings, it seems. Joggers, track pants, sweats, sweat sets, cargos, cropped tops, short shorts - and with dressy bags, nail art, dainty jewels, scent, make-up, and LONG cascading hair. Puffers, caps, puffer vests too. Sneakers, birkies, boots, mules. SOCKS! Lots of visible socks. Sometimes light neutral trench coats, shackets, and short wool coats.

Jeans are roomy. Wide, relaxed straights, BF, or barrels. Usually with hems short enough to see the entire shoe. Lots of short jackets - motos and bombers - to offset the volume. Yet, lots of BIG sweat tops too.

Boho dresses and tops are beginning to surface.

No skinnies. Very few slim straights. Neutral.

Cookie

Veteran

OK, I tried to observe street style on my NYC visit but any trends I may have thought I gleaned were drowned out by the preponderance of people wearing workout clothes in public, at least in the residential neighborhoods where we were mostly hanging out. Yes to the mary janes! I saw a lot of these. (Though not nearly as many as sneakers.) Also, cowboy boots with shorter skirts, plus a lot of 90s-vintage-looking long skirts on young women.