By Aygin Ghorbani

The most refreshing and certainly beautiful season is here — spring! While the sun tries to beam through the gray, rainy skies, we notice the days start to get longer, the birds start chirping and the flowers are blooming. It’s a sense a hope for most of us, a sense of happiness that the summer days that we are all waiting for are getting closer. Spring offers a lot, including fashion.

FOR WOMEN

Floral prints and patterns
Plant prints, flowers and “jungle fever” bring greenery to your wardrobe. The maxi dress worn by Vanessa Paradis in H&M’s Conscious Collection campaign covered with tropical plants has a been a hit, stores reporting higher in sales of plant prints. For inspiration Beyoncé was spotted in a palm-print short and shirt combo in Cuba. She has sunshine in her favor, of course. Those of us who live in the Pacific Northwest, our legs don’t get to see much of day. My suggestion? Add tights underneath! Some dark colors such as navy blue and black will do. An upside to them, they’re only a couple of dollars!

The colors
Like April showers, May flowers and hay fever, it’s no surprise if spring wants to trade winter’s moody hues for a fresh, new palette. For the last few years, that’s meant pastels. This year, it seems to be a bit different. It’s pastels with a pop of bright color! Bright turquoise, orange and yellow have been everywhere! Who’s to say you can’t pull them off? Look in your closet to see if you have anything. Having trouble? Last week I stopped by TJ Maxx in Northgate and picked up a pair of beautiful, bright, pastel turquoise J. Brand skinny jeans! Got them for only $60. Not a fan of designers or the price? No problem! Juniors had something similar for only $12. Pair this up with a sheer top, simple V-neck or a cardigan and you are good to go!

Peekaboo pieces
Speaking of date night, this spring you’ll have zero problem finding something sexy to wear: daring cutouts, midriff-baring separates, up-to-there splits, and sheer fabrics were all over the runway. The beauty of this trend? There’s a peekaboo option for every body shape (and level of modesty).

Crop tops
A trend that demands some courage. The success of crop tops shows that women are up to the task of tummy exposure – even when it feels likes a little chilly outside. Both Topshop and Forever 21 report strong sales of cropped pieces – possibly due to the movie “SpringBreakers.” Selena Gomez and friends rarely wear anything longer, as bad girls causing trouble in the Florida sunshine. Add this to your high-wasted shorts, skirts and pants and never say fashion can’t multitask.

High waist anything
Shorts, skirts, pants are all welcomed! Who are others to say how you wear them. It depends on you. “I do most of my shopping at Forever 21 and second-hand stores. Most of today’s fashion is recycled/inspired from the 80’s so people can find trendy clothes for a third of the price,” said the cute and fashionable Edmonds Community College Christina Price. She is right! If you are wanting something that is for a fraction of the price, go to a second-hand store and pick out a pair of high-waist pants that you would not mind cutting up. Mark the length and cut away! (Hem if necessary). Also, another fun idea is to mix one-quarter cup of bleach and fill of the rest of the squirt bottle with water and spray over your shorts for an “acid” or “washed out” look. Of course, be sure to wash before you wear.

FOR MEN

Nabiha Wahidi, a University of Washington student who’s always loved fashion and is always spotted being stylish, mentioned: “As far as guys go, polos are definitely in along with Oxfords and military styles. Khaki and color pants, such as the stained gray color.” Fashionista Nabiha is right! I know guys don’t really care about fashion and when it comes to it, us girls will be lucky even if they dress up for us.

Oxfords shoes
These are classics. Whether suede, matte or even shiny, these shoes have been around for decades and it’s been only a matter of years that they have moved their way up in the fashion industry. Giving a guy a put-together look, without the “put together” time is what every guy wants. Meaning more time for video games, working out or watching TV.

Military
It was a huge women’s trend and now it’s found in men’s fashion. A lot of camouflage has been “in” for guys — in shirts, jackets or even pants. Recently a lot of “baseball bomber” jackets, which looks like a letterman’s jacket combined with a windbreaker, seems to be a trend that a lot of guys have been loving.

Button-ups or polos — your pick
OK, if this isn’t effortless, I don’t know what is. Button-ups have always been around and so have polos. It’s what guys are starting to coordinate with them that have changed. Featured in GQ magazine, guys take a button-up, throw on some jeans, wear oxfords and call it good; same with the polo. Although it can get chilly here, throw a cardigan over and you are done.

Each season, the fashion changes, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should go out and splurge. Look for ways to save some of your money and look inside your closet to work with pieces you never thought of. Mixing and matching is key and is the biggest trick into making something old, look new again. At the end of the day, wear what makes you feel most beautiful or handsome and comfortable in. Who is to say what’s in and what’s not. Nothing is more fashionable than a person with confidence. No matter what season– a smile is always your greatest accessory.

This article originally appeared in the Edmonds Community College Triton Review.

Aygin Ghorbani is a 2012 graduate of Meadowdale High School, where she wrote a beauty column for the high school newspaper. Aygin is attending Edmonds Community College and plans to transfer to the University of Washington.