Spring has sprung HFU! The time has come to whip out those dusty bins filled to the brim with old spring clothing, and start integrating them into your daily wardrobe rotation. Spring 2024 is all about thriftiness and comfortability; you will not get one impractical, or unbearably confining recommendation out of me! Instead, I am going to ask you to rid yourself of the gingham-as-a-picnic-blanket bias, and dive head first into long-lasting, classic pieces that you will definitely be able to work into your wardrobe beyond the season of cherry blossoms and rain!

Backless Shoes

^{Mules, clogs, fake Birkenstocks (who cares?)}

Off to quite the controversial start, I know, but you have to trust me on this one reader. There is nothing more timeless, or comfortable, than an opened-back, slip on pair of shoes. In past seasons, we’ve seen the reemergence of espadrilles, the glorification of Birkenstocks and now the popularization of your Grandmother’s woven sandals that were once $1 at your local drugstore. While this evolving trend may seem off-putting, the staple, or essence of slip-on shoes, are ready to be embraced. As the weather grows warmer, but never too warm, you’ll want to have more skin breathing in the Spring sunshine. Starting with your shoes, the little sliver of ankle skin can really break up the bulkiness of heavy sweatpants and zip-up sweatshirts. In addition to the comfortability aspect of this trend, the flexibility of these shoes (in terms of style) are endless. If you’re looking to don a coastal aesthetic in your outfits this spring, I’d recommend a light, suede mule to convey the relaxed lifestyle of beach-living. Alternatively, if you’re going for a 1960s, hippie-esque look for this warm season, I’d recommend a two strap sandal to embody the freedom associated with the color, fabrics and fashion at that point in history. Money does not equate to style, in this sense, and there are multiple affordable options for college students to engage in the backless shoe trend this Spring!

Straight Leg Jeans

Bet you didn’t expect me to say this one again, did you? I’ve made it my personal mission to persuade you to invest in a reliable, timeless cut of jeans. Fortunately, we have lived past the skinny-jeans era of fashion, (truthfully, we barely made it out alive) and now we have entered a denim-focused movement that revolves around classic silhouettes of the 90s past. Think dad-jeans meets Jerry Seinfeld, circa 1992. While this may sound frightening at first, straight leg jeans are shockingly universal when it comes to piecing outfits together; they can be styled with sneakers, pumps, and any shoe you think of! (Just not Crocs… while they’re fun, please don’t ever think Crocs equate to fashion). Straight leg jeans are easily thrift-able as well, which separates it from being a trend that can only be indulged in by influencers, or the wealthy. A good, dependable pair of straight leg jeans have appeared multiple times in fashion history, and I doubt they will disappear anytime soon! Thus, I beg you, lay those skinny jeans to rest, and jump on the baggy denim train this Spring season!  

Basket Purses

Life is a picnic, HFU, and what a perfect way to be prepared for one! Basket, or woven purses are especially prominent this season, as Spring 2024 sees an influx of retro, but plain fashion trends in both clothing, and jewelry! Popularized by Jane Birkin in the mid 1970s, basket purses are a unique, coquettish way to carry all your necessities throughout your nature walks! Simplicity is key this spring, and the versatility of a simple woven purse can be applied to absolutely any outfit you wear! Beyond thrifting baskets to be used in this trend, you can also recycle your Easter basket into a purse as well, which is definitely a plus! 

Eclectic, Layered Jewelery

Necklaces, bracelets and rings, oh my! Perhaps the most personalized trend I have listed for you, layered jewelry is the perfect way to spice up your outfits this Spring. In the winter, the mixed-metals trend was at an all-time high, but I propose that we can go further than this, reader! Accessorizing is a process that can make or break your wardrobe, and layering on sentimental jewelry is a way to make your clothing extend from a piece of fabric, to a staple representative of your personality. This does not mean that every piece of jewelry you wear must be authentic gold or silver, though. The beauty of eclectic jewelry is that every single item draws upon a wide-range of materials and aesthetics. 

Though this is an incredibly freeing fashion activity to engage in, I understand that it can be difficult to commit to. My advice is this; the more the better, and you have one life to look your absolute best for. If you can’t choose between which bracelet to wear, wear both of them. If one necklace seems more appealing than the other, wear it and find another necklace that compliments it. This is your chance to be colorful and eccentric, or, uniform and conventional. Either way, you are upping the ante of any outfit you wear; sunny or cloudy days abstained. 

So give yourself a try, HFU! Spring is the season of rebirth, and your closets are calling for you to try something new, “Layer your jewelry, try this woven purse, please fold your laundry. It’s been here since midterms.” I’ll be on the lookout for your best looks, reader! You got this! 

Susie DiPietro is a senior English major, and creative writing minor at Holy Family University. She is currently interning in her second semester as an Executive Editor of Tri-Lite. Her interests include film, vintage fashion & music.