Spring seems to be the most anxiously awaited season in the Chicagoland Area. People are able to shed their sweatshirts and sweatpants and swap them out for fun colors and – best of all – shorts!

Even though everyone seems to know the gist of how things will go down this season – shorts, pastels, etc. – let’s get specific.

This spring’s trends focus more on casual looks, which is perfect for those of you who decide to wake up at 7:30 and run straight to school. Concerning clothing, texture is really big, focusingon pairing denim with more relaxed fitting sweater-type tops. Flowing dresses and tops accompanied with tighter cropped jeans make up the perfect outfit for the season – which is good since that’s what most of us already wear.

Colors are not typical for this season. Deep reds, greens, teals muted lilacs, yellows, and oranges will be making a huge appearance on the season’s runway. Also, metallics are high in demand – whether it be for nails, eyes, shoes, or clothing.

With the release of a new Urban Decay eyeshadow palette, bright statement lips may be overshadowed by statement eyes. This is where the typical bright pastels of springs will play a role. Lilac smokey eyes or swipes of deep blue will be considered a perfect accessory to any outfit.

Rebecca Bailey, a junior and model for Meijer, Akira, Nordstrom, and more, weighs in on spring trends.“It is going away from more of the minimalist style to more eccentric and artsy. There has been lots of color, embroidery, embellishments, lace, stripes, and shimmer,” she says.

Basically, trends will be borrowed from the 1970s. So for all of you who are still stuck in hippie mode and are constantly listening to Pink Floyd, you will love spring even more than you already do.

When asked where she recommends to find affordable yet stylish items, she says, “Some of the trends can definitely be bought at a Forever 21 or H&M. They usually follow what brands like Topshop are doing”.

She also adds, “make it your own”. It is not necessary to go and buy all new articles, but try styling some of your clothes in a manner that follow trends if you want to keep up with contemporary fashion. Look on blogs, magazines, or websites to see what others are doing to personalize these looks if you want to know more about how to own these looks.

In this new season, don’t be afraid to look fierce!