The 5 Commandments to Effortlessly Chic Spring Street Style

Street style is the one of most influential style elements there is. Interpretations of the Spring 2014 fashions underscore why this influence has such a stronghold on the industry.

By now, it is no secret that street style stars are some of the most influential forces in the fashion industry. Oftentimes, the show that goes on outside of the fashion shows is every bit as (if not more) entertaining as what eventually walks down the runway.

Modern style mavens such as Miroslava Duma and Anna Dello Russo have become regularly-photographed members of this newly-minted club of fearless fashionistas, and despite some rather noisy objection by some members of the fashion industry (most notably by the New York Times’s Suzy Menkes in a 2013 article titled, “The Circus of Fashion”), the show goes on.

This season, there were undoubtedly some trends to be seen in the street style interpretations of the emerging spring 2014 trends. Here are five of them that you will undoubtedly be seeing more of in the months to come.

#1 Let There Be Jumpsuits

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There’s no use fighting it, the jumpsuit is back. Jumpsuits were spotted on Miroslava Duma at the Prabal Gurung show, actress LeeLee Sobieski at the Dior Haute Couture show (hers was even a culottes version!), and on actress/singer Selena Gomez as she was papped in a Los Angeles mall. Their secret to rocking this look? Keeping it relaxed: pushed-up sleeves, funky jewellery, and an interesting or unexpected shoe choice can all go a long way to giving the look a louche, carefree appeal.

#2 The Crop Top Lives On

They’re everywhere – absolutely everywhere – and showing no signs of letting-up any time soon.  However, a recent photograph of actress Mindy Kaling at a PaleyFest event set the internet on fire. Kaling chose an emerald green jacquard crop top and pencil skirt set from Topshop that not only set the internet on fire, but also proved that the crop top is no longer the sole domain of the teenaged set.

#3 Full Skirts are the Way Forward

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Fuller skirts in midi and ankle lengths are keeping things feminine for Spring 2014, and while this voluminous nod to ladylike apparel has been on the scene now for several seasons, this Spring it looks fresh when paired with a fitted top.  Miroslava Duma once again showcased her penchant for trendsetting at Milan Fashion week; she paired her ankle-length pleated skirt with a striking red tartan halter top, belted at the waist. The result was both dramatic and demure.

#4 The Cat’s Got Your…Eye?

Cat-eye sunglasses are really making the rounds right now in the blogosphere and beyond. The unmistakably feminine shape of the cat-eye glasses that are on the scene right now range from subtle riffs on the classic 1950s shape to envelope-pushing modern pop-art interpretations.

These glasses have been spotted on everyone from Olivia Palermo (who paired hers with an all Christian Dior ensemble to attend the Dior Spring 2014 show) to Eva Mendes, who paired hers with a dressed-down pair of boyfriend jeans and sneakers while out on the town. This is a style with so many permutations, there is bound to be one that looks good on everybody.

#5 A Beautiful Brogue

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The menswear-inspired brogue has been circulating in the fashion consciousness for quite a few seasons now, but this spring, street style stars really made them sing by pairing them with their most feminine looks.

The result? A well-balanced, almost edgy take on what might otherwise become a foregone conclusion of the feminine pastels and splashes of colour that make up spring dressing. This look was spotted on The Man Repeller herself, influential blogger Leandra Medine, during the spring shows. Medine pared a white short-sleeved lace mini dress with a pair of black and white menswear-inspired brogues. The result? Utter perfection.

Although these five trends are sure to become quite popular over the next few months, do not be deterred. There will always be trends that quickly become a part of the collective consciousness, yet what can be gleaned from the street style interpretations of these trends is that everyone wears a trend differently; lending an air of uniqueness to the very specific brand of inspiration that is street style. 

About the author

Kristin Buchholz-MacKillop

Kristin is an American writer based in the Scottish Highlands. She is a saxophonist, an obsessive tennis player, a U.S. Air Force Veteran, and holds a Master's degree as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. She is the author of the online style blog highlandfashionista.com

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