Tampabay.com
APRIL 16, 2009

Sing for spring with these six trends

Hobo Each time a new season rolls around, I get a major shopping itch.

Unfortunately, this spring's itch coincides with a downright cruddy economy. That won't keep me from shopping, but it will make me shop smarter. 

Here are six fun spring trends. Some of them seem worth spending a little extra on, while others are more suited for picking up at affordable retailers.

Worth the Splurge

1. The hobo bag: Roomy without being the size of a suitcase. Can be dressy or dressed down. Everyone needs a little hobo in their lives, no? Try on this Chinese Laundry bag for size.

2. Statement necklaces: I'm still loving this is a carry-over from '08. Big jewelry spices up solid tops in a way that gets noticed. And this Banana Republic coin bib necklace would be a versatile piece to add to your accessory arsenal.Pavilionshift

3. Dresses: Say yes to the dress! Why suffer through hot days with pants or shorts sticking to your thighs? Consider a well-fitting dress as an investment. It's an instant outfit that makes getting ready for work easy.

Seek the Cheap

Flowershoes 4. Florals: Springtime makes its way to your closet with sweet floral prints. You might work a mini floral like this Forever 21 top, or get your feet in on the action with these adorable flats from DSW.

5. Ruffles: Go girly with ruffles, but keep them away from spots where you don't need extra bulk. This J.Crew shift dress has a subtle ruffle neckline (and it's on sale!), and this shirt from The Limited is aptly named the ruffle explosion top. Sounds a little dangerous, but we'll go with it.

6. Cool in blue: Bold colors are in. As a blue-eyed girl, I already have a bias toward anything azure. I'm happy it abounds this season and, with declining retail sales, there should plenty of clearance items to choose from. Perhaps we can convince Dillard's to go ahead and send these hot Jessica Simpson heels in caribbean blue to the sale rack?

~ Deal Diva Colleen

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THE AUTHORS

Stephanie Hayes came out of the womb wearing high heels. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She loves animal prints, black mascara and anything that sparkles. She objects to visible panty lines, Crocs and anything that costs more than a car payment. And she doesn't drive a nice car. She can be reached at (727) 893-8857 or shayes@tampabay.com.

Emily Nipps As a sullen teenager, Emily Nipps refused to wear anything but black, olive green or burgundy, preferably ripped. She has since added color to her life but still experiments with her dark streak. A product junkie, she has tried tons of overpriced face creams and hair products but loves drugstore brands that work the same. She's an Aries and a bassist in a punk band. She has a pet pig, seven chickens, three cats and a rabbit. And just as many lip glosses. She can be reached at (727) 893-8452 or nipps@tampabay.com.

Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.

A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or lstein@tampabay.com.

Coming from a long line of fashionable women, Kim Wilmath considers herself lucky to fit into their hand-me-downs. Her wardrobe staples include her grandma's vintage blouses and her mom's funky jewelry. When she's in the market for "new" items, Kim hits her favorite thrift stores -- a habit she also picked up from mom. But when circumstances require a visit to the shiny stores in the mall, you'll find Kim at the sale rack like a good little diva. She can be reached at (813) 661-2442 or kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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