What's new for spring 2008 isn't just bright color and pretty floral dresses. It's also rising gas prices, job fears and gloomy economic forecasts.
Fashionistas who might normally be in the stores by now buying wide-legged pants and patent leather heels are thinking twice about splurging on spring fashion.
Take Raquel Reed, a 35-year-old engineer who lives in Govans. She loves to shop for clothes and knows about the latest trends; but she's still paying off her debt from school, and all the bad financial news has her being careful with her pennies.
"I haven't treated myself in a while, and that's strange for a female," she said with a laugh, "I avoid the stores so I won't be tempted."
It's no good shopping the sales, she pointed out. "If you want new and fresh you have to pay the price."
Take heart, Raquel, and all you others who are yearning to shop this spring but don't think you can afford to. We talked to fashion professionals and trend analysts about the hot new looks and how you can update your wardrobe, no matter what your budget.
To begin with, we asked Sally Glover of Frugal-Fashionista (frugal-fashionista.blogspot.com) what you can and can't still wear that's already in your closet.
"Keep ballet flats, wide-legged pants, metallics, big bags and flowy, feminine tops," she recommended. "Toss out leggings, baby doll dresses and Goth-influenced garb."
Nicole Fischelis, Macy's East women's ready-to-wear fashion director, thinks you can bring out a shift dress from last spring, a clutch bag, bangles and a pretty white blouse.
"But buy a skirt," she said. Preferably a full skirt.
Jenna Lyons Mazeau, creative director of J. Crew, would put away clunky platform shoes and boot-cut jeans. She would carry over classic button-down shirts, and "pull out skirts and keep them out."
Like Raquel Reed, she thinks buying clothes on sale if you're on a budget is probably a bad idea.
"They are on sale for a reason," she said. "It's an excuse to buy things you don't need or don't look good in."
Instead, Mazeau thinks, if money is tight women should buy one thing they love that makes them look great and "wear it to death. Enjoy it every day if you want to. And don't follow the trends too much if you're over 25. By then you've probably established your own style. You have to be able to say, `You know what? That just doesn't look good on me.'"
