Most of us don’t need anything — we shop because we want to express ourselves through fashion, feel confident in how we look, feel comfortable in the impending heat and, of course, look ahead of the pulse. It’s not always easy to know where to start given the countless trends we’re bombarded with on the regular. To nail down exactly which trends are key for this season, we turned to Bloomingdale’s Fashion Director Susan Marasco, who has been with the retailer for nearly 25 years. Here’s her expert take on the six must-have trends for the spring/summer 2018 season.
[ Next: The Top 15 Fashion Trends of the Spring 2018 Runways ]
Buyers on trends
Ruffle Refresh
Do and Be Ruffled Cutout Dress, $78 at Bloomingdale's
"Ruffles have been a popular spring trend for the past few seasons, but for Spring 2018 we saw designers take the flirty silhouette in new directions with fresh fabrics, bold colors and adventurous prints."
High Impact Hues
Elie Tahari Jacket & Pants, $448 and $268 at Bloomingdale's
"Spring is about optimism and the saturated brights we saw on the runways really brought this feeling to life. Don’t be afraid to wear this trend from head to toe with a colorful suit to create a bold statement."
Stripes
Honey Punch Vintage Striped Tee, $50 at Bloomingdale's
"Stripes have been a standout for some time now and we still love our standard sailor-striped tees, but this season we’re adding colorfully banded lightweight knits and asymmetric stripes to the mix. We love pairing this with an unexpected print like florals or keeping it simple with jeans."
New Pastels
Joe's Jeans The Charlie Ankle Jeans in Pale Yellow, $178 at Bloomingdale's
"The best way to update your wardrobe is with a new, refreshing color. The popularity of millennial pink has opened the door to a new range of sorbet hues, like lavender, baby blue, mint green and muted yellow. These perfect pales can be found in all different silhouettes, from suiting to dresses. The soft colors also give a fresh update to denim."
Fresh Floral Prints
Show Me Your MuMu Wilson Wrapped Crop Top, $118 at Bloomingdale's
"The spring runways were blooming with bold floral prints. From micro florals to botanical florals , we love mixing two bold blooms for a head-to-toe look or toning it down with one floral statement piece."
Luxe Track
Sunset & Spring Rainbow-Stripe Track Pants, $78 at Bloomingdale's
"Many designers drew inspiration from athletic wear and streetwear for their spring collections. This season, they upped the ante by creating luxe versions of our favorite athleisure pieces with beautiful fabrications. We’re especially excited to see this athletic influence in denim with track stripe jeans."