There are few things in this life that have the power to rejuvenate us as much as a change in season. The combination of shifting temperatures and a fresh lineup of traditions, holidays, and events has an uncanny way of giving us a renewed sense of energy and inspiration. As one season bleeds into another, many of us also find ourselves excited to refresh our wardrobes, leaning into the colors, textures, and silhouettes that feel most aligned with the current time of year.
While those of us who are particularly attuned to our fashion ambitions would probably love to have a wardrobe akin to a main character on a top-budget television series (i.e., a perfectly styled outfit for every day of the year), the reality is this vision doesn’t always align with our personal budget. The truth is that many of us have to be strategic when adding new pieces to our wardrobes. Some items are worth top-dollar investment, and others, well, sometimes we have to cut corners and recognize that an affordable option can shake up our fashion slump without breaking the bank.
As you’re refreshing your wardrobe this spring, be mindful of which pieces can pack a visual punch with little expense and which are worth investing in as wardrobe staples you’ll wear on repeat long after the season has come to a close.
Save: Sunglasses
After months of gray, overcast skies, the sun is finally, finally shining again! While small in stature, never underestimate a pair of sunglasses’ ability to instantly elevate an outfit. Shades are not only practical during the warmer months but also add a sense of completeness to an ensemble. The good news: It’s easy to find a chic pair of sunnies at an affordable price. Look for oval or rectangular frames for a pair that’s on-trend this season.
Splurge: Trench Coats
There is perhaps no piece more synonymous with spring fashion than the trench coat. Practical, stylish, and timeless, trench coats are a seasonal staple. Because they never go out of style, and because we grab for coats and jackets on an almost daily basis, this spring piece is worth investing in. Style with literally every outfit you’re already planning on wearing this spring.
Save: Capri Pants
Just in case you haven’t yet heard, capri pants are back with a vengeance this spring (and if you’re presently having flashbacks to watching Lizzie McGuire as a tween, you’re not alone). Whether you’re really excited about this resurgence or merely curious to give it a try, lean toward purchasing affordable options of this style. Though super trendy at the moment, I’m not sure how much we’ll be reaching for pedal pushers a year or two from now.
Splurge: Athletic Prep Pieces
While the tenniscore aesthetic has been trending for the last two years, the truth is, it’s rooted in classic styles that have been around for decades and will endure through eternity. While you can surely save on athletic, preppy pieces (there are plenty of affordable options available across retailers), it’s more than worth splurging on these items, knowing you’ll grab for them time and time again. (Who can resist pieces that are both classy and comfortable?) Tennis skorts, sneakers, elevated sweatshirts, and sporty v-neck sweaters are pieces we’ll never tire of and can be styled in numerous ways.
Save: Micro Shorts
Let it be known: Fashion girls are shortening their hemlines this spring. Beyond the modest capri pants, hot pants are the celeb-inspired trend being sported by the audaciously stylish among us. While inexplicably cool, there’s a high probability this trend won’t endure past this upcoming spring and summer. If you’re looking to dabble in the trend, save yourself some cash by opting for an affordable option.
Splurge: Ballet Flats
While you can, of course, choose a more affordable version of this trendy shoe, the reality is ballet flats possess a timeless quality. That is to say, even when they’re no longer “on trend,” they will always be stylish. Plus, they style well with everything. Choosing to invest in a quality pair has its merits—you’ll want this shoe to hold up for years to come.
As someone with fallen arches, I can also personally attest to the bearing quality holds over comfort and foot health; in other words, cheap, poorly made shoes are more likely to hurt and potentially damage your feet. Because of the ballet flat’s minimal construction, save your feet some discomfort by buying a higher-quality shoe.
Save: Hair Accessories
A simple way to refresh your wardrobe between seasons is through the addition of a few fresh and affordable hair accessories. As the celebration of girlhood continues to run its course, hair bows also continue to be a popular and feminine accessory of choice. Scrunchies and claw clips in trending springtime colors can also lighten your look while conveniently keeping your hair in place. Flower-shaped clips are having a moment, in particular, this season and are adorning the updos, braids, and half-up hairdos of fashion girls everywhere.
Splurge: Boots
Boots tend to be associated with the fall and winter but are also (for most of us) highly practical in the spring. Knee-high boots can be an especially fun transition piece as the weather slowly warms. Style tall leather boots with shorts or skirts for a preppy or coquettish look. Additionally, rain boots are an ultra-practical item that is definitely worth splurging on, with higher quality pieces holding up over time and helping us avoid the discomfort that is wet socks.
Save: Spring Bags
While I fully support investing in a stunning, high-quality go-to handbag, sometimes the feminine urge to add a fun new bag to your seasonal wardrobe outpaces what’s in your bank account. When it comes to affordable fashion, bags can pull their own weight by adding interest to an outfit without screaming, “I cost $20 on Amazon!” Straw bags are always a popular option this time of year, helping us mentally pull out of the mental rut that is winter, as are bags in colorful hues.
Splurge: Basic Tees
I know, I know—the concept is a little unsettling. For many years, I, too, would only acquire a basic tee when chasing free shipping that was $7 (enter: basic tee). Recently, however, I made my first true investment on a quality tee, and, ladies, I will never look back.
A basic tee is one of those pieces that you can (and inevitably will) reach for over and over again. This is particularly true in the spring when the weather is constantly shifting, and you need a reliable base layer for wearing beneath sweaters and jackets. A quality tee will not only be more comfortable (materials matter) but will hold up in the wash and—in my own experience—be more flattering, fitting more comfortably beneath the items you’re layering on top. Take the plunge and invest in a quality tee (or two) this spring—you won’t regret it.
