Spring Style

10 must-try fashion trends to spring your wardrobe into the season

The sun is shining, Easter candy is in stores, and patios are calling. Spring is here, folks, so it's time to revise and revolutionize your closet.

There are myriad fashion trends playing out this season, so start looking for a few new pieces to incorporate into your wardrobe. These are some of the most prominent spring fashion trends.

Tropical prints
Vibrant tropical prints are a great way to segue from the bleak winter to bright spring. You don't have to sport your husband's faded Hawaiian button-down to rock this trend. Tropical prints are finding their way onto everything from pants and shorts to blouses and dresses. Complete your exotic look with colorful sandals, bright sunglasses and a floppy hat.

This Michael Kors frock is a great way to go tropical.

Statement earrings
Winter was all about those impossibly heavy, slightly absurd statement necklaces. This spring, the must-have accessories are bold, eye-catching earrings. Invest in several pairs of colorful geometric dazzlers to perk up a simple jeans-and-T combo, or use them to add polish to your date-night dresses.

For a good pair of statement earrings, look no further than Kendra Scott.

Peekaboo, I see you
One risqué trend making its way into wardrobes is the chic but sexy peekaboo outfit. Midriff-baring tops, fringe T-shirts, sheer fabrics and high slits have made appearances in fashion weeks across the globe. Thankfully, there are options for every level of modesty.

Francesca's Collections has just the affordable peekaboo for you, such as this chiffon dress.

Bermuda shorts and short suits
In years past, Daisy Duke cut-offs have plagued women's fashion. Seriously, who enjoys having her buns hang out the back of her pants? Praise the fashion gods for slouchy, frame-friendly Bermuda shorts and short suits, which are both making a valiant comeback this spring. Fashion designers are embracing knee-length shorts with an array of colors, textures and fabrics.

If you're looking for a simple pair of Bermudas, try these bright white cotton shorts from St. John Collection.

Shades of emerald, mint and lilac
You might look like an Easter egg wearing these colors. So when you tire of these shades, lucky for you, black and white is also trending this season.

Need an idea on how to wear mint? Try skinny jeans from Bloomingdales.com.

Over-the-top sunnies
If your style is borderline absurd, you're in luck: Ridiculous eyewear is in style. Put away those classic Ray-Bans and aviators and invest in something a little more unconventional.

For $22, you can get these "cool cat" glasses from Nordstrom.

Ruffles, ruffles and more ruffles
In years past, ruffles have been the horror of toddlers and bridesmaids, but this year's ruffles are toned down and extremely chic. Start with a few pieces with just a flurry of ruffles. If you're feeling bold, step it up.

This white Alexander McQueen ruffle blouse might be pricey at $875, but it's oh-so breathtaking!

Colorful lace
This season's runways were adorned with awe-worthy, vibrant lace dresses, shirts, overlays and embellishments. Though lace most recently reemerged this past winter, it's maintained its fashion stronghold into spring. To wear this feminine look, try a bright lace dress or skirt. If you're not ready to dive headfirst into this trend, then stick with a simple lace tee under a light leather jacket or cardigan.

Combine splashy pink with subtle cream in this $45 Dorothy Perkins bustier dress.

Black and white
Similar to lace, black and white started working its way back into mainstream fashion this past winter. This old-school trend is easy to piece together on the fly and useful for both days at the office and nights at the bar. Don't be afraid to play with different textures, fits and shapes.

This affordable black and white frock on Piperlime.com will transition from day to night.

Wide stripes
Some fashion trends get recycled every few years, and that seems to be the case with wide stripes. These all-American, bold stripes are easy to wear for most any occasion, and more than likely, you probably have a few striped pieces already hanging in your closet. If wide stripes aren't your thing, thin stripes are also in this season.

When it comes to stripes, nothing tops Ralph Lauren, like this nautical striped dress.

Go tropical with this Michael Kors dress.

Michael Kors

Go tropical with this Michael Kors dress.

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Fashion on display

Rare Halston fashion exhibition now on display in unlikely Texas city

Halston: Inventing American Fashion exhibit Ellen Noël Art Museum

Photo courtesy of Ellen Noël Art Museum

An colorful eveningwear grouping takes advantage of Ellen Noël Art Museum's curved walls.

A rare exhibition honoring fashion pioneer Halston has popped up in an unexpected place: West Texas. Dallas fashionistas who are fans of the designer can make a five-hour pilgrimage to Odessa’s newly revamped Ellen Noël Art Museum to view "Halston: Inventing American Fashion."

Halston’s minimalistic fashions are rarely the subjects of retrospectives, although the designer’s dramatic life story recently had a pop-cultural resurgence through a 2021 Ryan Murphy miniseries. "Halston: Inventing American Fashion" assesses the talent that made him a household name.

Known now for outfitting 1970s icons like Liza Minelli and Bianca Jagger, Halston changed the international reputation of American sportswear as part of the famous 1973 “Battle of Versailles” fashion show, holding his own against Paris’ most lauded couturiers. His uniquely louche style still influences contemporary brands like Marc Jacobs, Zac Posen, and Tom Ford, who was briefly the creative director for a revised Halston label.

The mannequins in the Odessa display are outfitted with 75 ensembles from flowing Ultrasuede daywear to more dramatic draped gowns. The pieces “illustrate how Halston revolutionized fashion by prioritizing comfort, confidence, and modern femininity,” according to a release.

Although Odessa may seem an odd choice for the show, Halston had deep Texas connections. After he moved on from hat making, Amarillo millionaire Estelle Marsh was his sole backer willing to fund his first Madison Avenue boutique.

$Ellen No\u00ebl Art Museum, Odessa, new facade.$ The new facade at Ellen Noël Art MuseumPhoto courtesy of Ellen Noël Art Museum

$Halston: Inventing American Fashion exhibit Ellen No\u00ebl Art Museum$

Photo courtesy of Ellen Noël Art Museum

An colorful eveningwear grouping takes advantage of Ellen Noël Art Museum's curved walls.

And the recently completed renovation of Odessa's Ellen Noël Art Museum has some of the designer’s signature sleek. Designed by architect R.J. Lopez, the renovation includes new galleries and improved circulation, but the centerpiece is a striking transparent façade, replacing the original brick of the 1985 building.

“The renovation project has been over 10 years in the making and in the construction phase for the past two years,” says the museum’s buildings manager, Steve Patton, via a release. “The completion of the project has resulted in an incredible facility that is a shining star in West Texas, offering programs and exhibits that will be a destination point for people all over the world!”

"Halston: Inventing American Fashion" will run through March 22. Admission to the Ellen Noël Art Museum is free.

exhibits odessa fashion west texas museums designer texas