Spring fashion: 11 pieces you can wear now

The stores are full of the joys of spring—quite literally. Florals, lightweight fabrics and cheerful colours are practically screaming from the shelves. But it can be hard to get excited while we’re still dealing with negative temps, so we’ve compiled a list of 11 spring items (we couldn’t stick to just 10!) to buy and wear now.
 
Read on for tips on how to style our spring essentials for the last stubborn weeks of winter.

Every woman should own a jean jacket. The versatile topper not only goes with everything but it lends any look an effortlessly cool vibe. While it’s the perfect outer layer for spring days or chilly summer nights, it can also work in the dead of winter. Here it provides added warmth and visual interest peeking out from underneath a leather jacket. (If leather is too expensive then go faux. This $60 pleather number at H&M does the trick). A graphic black and white blouse and red pants complete the look.

Where to buy?
 
Smart Set jean jacket, $55
Gap leather jacket, $298
Winners blouse, $20
RW&CO. red pants, $58

Abbreviated proportions are “cropping” up everywhere now that warmer weather is on the horizon. Buy a pair of ankle-grazing jeans now and simply wear them with booties to bridge the gap until the time is right to slip your bare feet into a pair of on-trend, cap-toe flats.

Where to buy?
 
Gap skimmer jeans, $80
Globo ankle boots, $90
Joe Fresh flats, $59

Worn with bare legs and a wedge sandal, this bright, striped dress will be on heavy rotation come summertime. Make the fun frock winter-ready by adding a blazer in bold cobalt and a pair of opaque tights.

Where to buy?
 
Winners dress, $50
Attitude Jay Manuel blazer, $70 at Sears
Jacob tights, $19

If there’s one trend to tap into this spring, it’s floral. Cheerful blooms have found their way onto everything, including the t-shirt shown here. Wear this sweet, floral tee now by layering it over a button-up shirt and pairing it with army green jeans.

Where to buy?
 
Joe Fresh floral t-shirt, $14
Old Navy button-up shirt, $28
H&M jeans, $30

While these floral pants will look great with a simple white tank down the road, wear them now with a cardigan and blazer. Ground the busy print with basic black for a chic look that’s suited to the season.
 
Where to buy?

Jessica Weekend floral pants, $50 at Sears
Jacob blazer, $99
Gap cardigan, $50

Spring is the season of the ballet flat. It’s the perfect shoe to transition from socks and boots to strappy sandals. While it’s not yet warm enough to go bare, wear a pair of whimsical flats with tights and a sweater dress.

Where to buy?
 
Old Navy dress, $45
Jacob tights, $16
Gap polka-dot flats, $50

Also on the hit list for spring are pastels. The soft shades look great with light-wash denim and white come spring and summer summer, but wear them now with layered neutrals.

Where to buy?
 
Jessica Weekend sweater, $40 at Sears
Winners floral appliqué top, $20
Gap jacket, $98
Old Navy pants, $40

Nothing says summer quite like bold, navy stripes. Wear this lightweight, sequin-stripe knit with red, white, and blue for an all-out nautical look later on, but for now keep it neutral with dark jeans, a military-inspired jacket, and a grey scarf.

Where to buy?
 
RW&CO. sweater, $58
Joe Fresh jeans, $29
H&M jacket, $70
Gap infinity scarf, $25

As the mercury rises, structured pieces give way to relaxed lines and comfortable, loose fits. Case in point; this maxi skirt and these flowy, floral pants. Wear both pieces now with a fluid blouse tucked in (or half-tucked if that’s your thing), and an unstructured blazer. Add visual weight at the feet with a pair of chunky ankle boots.

Where to buy?
 
Mossimo knit skirt, $23, at Target
H&M pants, $40; and blouse, $50
Jacob jacket, $69
Globo ankle boots, $80

The lightweight incarnation of a denim shirt is quintessentially cool for summer when worn with a pair of boyfriend-fit chinos. Channel the same laidback vibe for winter by layering your chambray under a sweatshirt atop a pair of camo-print pants.

Where to buy?
 
Merona shirt, $25 at Target
Gap sweatshirt, $40
Old Navy zip-pocket pants, $40

Traditionally white has been reserved solely for hot weather with a definitive cut-off point on Labour Day, but wearing white in winter is in fact chic, so put your new white jeans to use now. Wear them with a blazer in the same (non) colour for an all over “winter white” look. If head-to-toe white is just too scary, balance a white piece with basic black.

Where to buy?
 
Smart Set jeans, $55
Gap blazer, $90
Smart Set boucle jacket, $75
Jacob skinny pants, $69

Shoes, bags, belts, and jewellery in citrus brights, electric pinks and bold blues are an easy way to add a stroke of colour to your look while winter wears on, so go ahead and buy that hot pink bag you’ve had your eye on! What’s more, a dark colour palette (which most of us tend to stick to from October through March) provides the ideal backdrop for your new spring purchases to really pop!

Where to buy?
 
Joe Fresh suede pumps, $69
Smart Set clutch, $20
H&M necklace, $10
Aldo bag, $50
Old Navy nylon bag, $15
Jacob belt, $30