I Live in New York City, and These Are the 8 Spring Trends That Will Make You Blend in With the Locals

Every year, I eagerly anticipate the arrival of spring, not just for the longer days and stunning blooms, but for the opportunity to reintroduce layers and vibrant colors into my wardrobe. And with the weather warming up, New Yorkers are outside more than ever, and unknowingly creating the season's biggest trends.

As a travel writer with a love for all things fashion, I've been keeping a close eye on what’s in store for spring fashion, surveying everything from the fashion week catwalks and red carpets to the streets of Soho. Naturally, I’ve been finding ways to build outfits around these trends on my recent (and upcoming) trips, and have narrowed them all down eight ones that’ll supplement any wardrobe for my fellow fashion-savvy travelers. 

If you’re looking for a wardrobe refresh (or inspiration for your next 'fit), you’re in luck because these trends consist of reliable basics, colorful sneakers, and more functionally stylish pieces that’ll compliment any look, and are incredibly travel-friendly. The cherry on top is that many of the styles that I’m eyeing also happen to be on sale; prices starting at just $15 for matching sets and floral-covered garments. Keep scrolling to find your new favorite travel clothes.  

Lightweight, Barely There Garments

The welcoming of the warm weather means that it’s time to put lightweight, breathable pieces at the forefront of your wardrobe. Brands are embracing the sheer trend, and it's a great opportunity to play around with layers; it just makes me feel so effervescent and free (and a bit like a fairy). Right now, I’m gushing over the Wilfred Flourish Camisole from Aritzia (as seen styled below), especially when paired with an equally dreamy skirt (the one pictured is the Beach Club Tiered Maxi Skirt from American Eagle). 

There’s a lot of room to play with this trend by pairing the sheer pieces with mesh, crochet, and other lightweight (and very layerable) fabrics. For example, I’m into this Shu-Shi Sheer Blouse that I can spice up with different colored tanks underneath and the Zesica Crochet Top to look effortlessly fashionable around town. 

• Wilfred Flourish Camisole, $88 
• Shu-Shi Sheer Blouse, $29
• Madewell Semi-Sheer Mockneck Sweater Top, $60 (originally $75)
• Zesica Crochet Top, $26 (originally $34)
• Wilfred Frenchy Blouse, $98
• Abercrombie Long-Sleeve Sheer Maxi Dress Coverup, $90
• Ramy Brook Berkley Shirt Mini Dress, $425
• Abercrombie Sheer Rib Layered Slash Top, $40
• Cutiefox Women's Knit Tank, $20 with on-site coupon (originally $32)

Colorful Sneakers

As much as I love my white sneakers, I can’t help but feel called to replace all of my tennis shoes with bright, bold kicks after witnessing firsthand how they unexpectedly elevate any look. I can’t walk as far as a block or two without seeing plenty of colorful, eye-catching sneakers, and they are making me want to upgrade my classic white pair of New Balance 550s with this bright blue pair from the same brand. 

It’s not just lifestyle shoes that are getting a bright makeover. I’ve seen the West Side Highway filled with runners sporting trendy colorful kicks like the bright orange Hoka Mach 6s and pastel-hued Brooks Glycerin StealthFit Sneakers on their daily runs. This is a fun, easy trend to hop on, so if you’ve been waiting for an opportunity to refresh your travel shoe collection, I recommend doing it with a fun pair that makes you excited to get out the door.  

• New Balance Unisex 550 Sneakers, $120
• Hoka Mach 6 Running Shoes, $140
• Brooks Glycerin StealthFit Sneakers, $160  
• Skechers Women's Uno-Night Shade Sneakers, $47 (originally $79)
• Reebok Unisex-Adult Leather Sneakers, $75 (originally $85)
• Dr. Scholl's Time-Off Sneakers, $70 (originally $100)
  
• Merrell Alpine 83 Sneakers, $70 (originally $80)
• Under Armour Charged Verssert 2 Sneakers, $57 (originally $75)
• Cariuma Women's Low Oca Green Canvas Sneakers, $85    

Two-Piece Sets

If there’s one way to always look put together, it's with a matching set. At Travel + Leisure, we’ve been longtime fans of this genius styling hack so, as you can imagine, we’re embracing this trend with open arms. We can’t get enough of the Anrabess Two-Piece Sweater Set at Amazon that’s been garnering rave reviews from shoppers for months. It comes with a breezy, comfortable, short-sleeve sweater and easy-wearing knit trousers that can be worn together, or separately to double your styling options (oh, and it's on sale for just $40). 

I’m also loving the matching Aerie Offline Fleece Shorts and matching Aerie Offline Fleece Hoodie for warmer travel days where I don’t want to overheat, but will still be prioritizing comfort. As for matching sets that you can wear to the airport, gym, and out on a hike, I can’t recommend the Vuori Halo Slim Flare Yoga Pants and Vuori Halo Essential Tank enough — I’ve been wearing them for a few weeks now and have never felt a garment so silky soft. 

• AnrabessTwo-Piece Sweater Set, $40 (originally $50)
• Anrabess Sleeveless Ruffle Linen Matching Set, $40 (originally $50) 
• PrAna Heavana 7/8 Leggings, $89
• PrAna Heavana Racerback Bralette, $65
• Aerie Offline Fleece Shorts, $40
• Aerie Offline Fleece Hoodie, $49 (originally $70)
• Vuori Halo Slim Flare Yoga Pants, $108
• Vuori Halo Essential Tank, $58
• Free People Hailee Sweater Set, $128
• Lillusory Women's Oversized Sweater Set, $62 (originally $77)

Florals All Day 

While this may not appear to be a shocker, as florals always seem to align with the arrival of spring, but I’m seeing tons of tops, dresses, and bottoms adorned with stunning flowery imagery. Go for statement florals with delicately designed options like this Maeve Cap-Sleeve Sweater from Anthropologie (that I personally can’t stop wearing) or opt for an entire meadow with options like two-in-one Hermoza Rachel Skirt Dress that can also be worn as a dress (amazing, right?). There’s no shortage of florals this season, and if you’re looking to add a few statement pieces to your collection, keep reading for some of my top picks. 

• Maeve Cap-Sleeve Sweater, $98
• Gola Classics Women's Bullet Floral Sneakers, $85 
• Hermoza Rachel Skirt Dress, $168
• Shewin Women's Floral Blouse, $29 (originally $31)
• PrettyGarden Women's Floral Midi Dress, $55
• Armour Vert Gabrielle Wrap Skirt, $150
• Madewell Cutaway Vest Top in Floral, $28 with code FORYOU (originally $72)
  
• Lands' End Cotton Dobby Smocked Dress With Ruffle Straps, $100
• Abercrombie Crinkle Textured Pull-On Pants, $80  
• Rails Nessie Top in Indigo Blossoms, $198 

High-Quality T-Shirts and Tanks

Having comfortable, high-quality garments is a must for any wardrobe, but especially a traveler's. You want your clothes to move with you, not against you, which is why experienced jet-setters always prioritize durable T-shirts and tanks to make packing and getting ready a breeze. I’m doing the same, and have upgraded my old, dingy T-shirts to the high-quality, and durable Mott & Bow The Cotton Boxy Crew Tees, and can genuinely feel the difference. They're the perfect length, feel incredibly soft, and are on constant rotation in my daily and travel outfits. I also personally believe that Uniqlo is the capital of comfortable basics, so be sure to check out its vast catalog of tanks, T-shirts, and more. 

Take this resurgence as an opportunity to reevaluate the state of your closet. Do you have reliable, durable tanks and tees that you actually want to wear? If not, take a look at a few of my top selects to replenish your wardrobe with. Oh, and the Everlane The Organic Cotton Cutaway Tank and Everlane The Organic Cotton Box-Cut Tee also have a special promotion where shoppers can score three for the price of two, so if I were you, I’d start there. 

• Mott & Bow The Cotton Boxy Crew Tee, $35
• Organic Basics Organic Cotton Flex Tee, $24
• American Giant Classic Cotton Crew Tee, $40 
• Aritzia Tna Hold-It Ortiz T-Shirt, $30
• Vuori Pose Fitted Tee, $58  
• Nordstrom Pima Cotton Slub Crewneck T-Shirt, $35 
• Madewell LakeshorE Softfade Cotton Crop Tee, $28
• Uniqlo Ribbed Cropped Sleeveless Bra Top, $30
• Uniqlo Soft Ribbed Crew Neck Short-Sleeve T-Shirt, $15  
• Everlane The Organic Cotton Cutaway Tank, $30
• Everlane The Organic Cotton Box-Cut Tee, $30   
• Long Wharf Supply Women's Seawell Pocket Tee, $48 

Denim Renaissance

I can’t pinpoint when it exactly happened, but denim is back and it's better than ever. It's not like the fabric ever technically left the fashion scene, but retailers and designers are putting it at the forefront of their catalogs, highlighting the timeless power that a great pair of jeans, a denim jacket, or a jumpsuit has. And while you may be a bit hesitant to consider denim as a travel-friendly material, trust me when I say that it’s more comfortable than ever. 

I’m including a few of my favorite denim pieces right now, complete with the Ziggy Overalls from Free People that have such a soft feel (pictured below) and my new go-to Rails Jean Skirt; the California-based brand prioritizes crafting high-quality garments that are made to last. I’ve also included a few more denim pieces that I’m planning on wearing this season, including the Wrangler Women’s Corset Jumpsuit and my favorite pair of jeans from Uniqlo that hug all of my curves and feel more like a pair of comfy sweatpants rather than stiff denim.

• Ziggy Overalls, $98
• Rails Brentwood Jean Skirt, $168 
• Lands' End Women's High Rise Cargo Utility Cargos, $90
  
• Wrangler Women’s Corset Jumpsuit, $150
• Mavi Miracle Wide Leg Jeans, $138
• Uniqlo Wide Straight Jeans, $50 
• Abercrombie Curve Love High Rise Wide-Leg Jeans, $90
• Omoone Oversized Denim Jacket, $34 (originally $39)
• Amanda Uprichard Fae Denim Dress, $246
• Lee Women's Mid-Rise Boyfriend Jeans, $29 (originally $43)   

Wearable Workwear

Between last month’s New York Fashion Week and witnessing the rise of tailored trousers, crisp button-up blouses, and smart blazers being represented beyond the office, it’s clear that workwear style is here to stay. This trend also happens to be easy to adapt into your travel wardrobe (especially if you're always traveling for work), and if you don’t know where to start, I’ve got you covered with a few comfortable, easy-wearing options. 

I recently tried the best-selling Spanx Perfect Pants (that you can see me styling with M.M. La Fleur's The Tatum Top below) and am in awe of how comfortable and flattering they feel and look. I’m also considering buying the Open Edit Plaid Bracelet Sleeve Blazer, especially while it's on sale for $50 to add a touch of sophistication to any look. There are plenty of other fantastic options, including the Madewell Long-Sleeve Button-Up Shirt and Abercrombie Crisp Ultra Wide-Leg Trousers, so keep reading to see those and more. 

• Spanx the Perfect Pant: Slim Straight, $148 
• Open Edit Plaid Bracelet Sleeve Blazer, $50 (originally $79) 
• Tronjori Palazzo Trousers, $34
• Madewell Long-Sleeve Button-Up Shirt, $60 (originally $85) 
• Maeve The Bennet Button-Down Shirt, $98 
• Armour Vert Meredith Femme Fete Blazer, $114 (originally $228)
• Zaayo Button Down Shirt, $18 with on-site coupon (originally $40)
• Abercrombie Crisp Ultra Wide-Leg Trousers, $60 (originally $80) 
• Cicy Bell Women's Blazer, $56 with on-site coupon (originally $71)
• M.M.La Fleur The Tatum Top, $265  

Color Me Blue

I don’t know if it's the resurgence of sunny, blue skies, but all of the most stylish people in the city are embracing the color blue this season. Whether it be in vibrant or soft shades, the hue can be found in a variety of clothing items such as dresses, vests, accessories, and more; there’s really something for everyone to opt into this season. You can see me styling my favorite Armour Vert Tabitha Cardigan below, but I also can’t wait to get my hands on the Dagne Dover Ace Neoprene Fanny Pack in Deep Sea — just as I’m eyeing the Aritzia Contour Squareneck Bodysuit in that same deep, royal blue. 

• Dagne Dover Ace Neoprene Fanny Pack in Deep Sea, $95
• Armour Vert Tabitha Cardigan, $195 
• Open Edit Waistcoat Vest, $60
• Aritzia Contour Squareneck Bodysuit, $48
• Dokotoo Ruffle Long-Sleeve Blouse, $23 (originally $36)
• Zesica Women's Strapless Maxi Dress, $43 (originally $56)
• Everlane The Linen Short-Sleeve Notch Shirt, $78
• Madewell Square-Neck Mini Dress, $100 
• Amanda Uprichard Martine Dress, $167 (originally $238)
• Dickies Women's Relaxed Fit Cargo Pants, $46 (originally $65)

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