What to buy this Spring Break

Dont+get+sucked+in+by+Spring+Break+sales.+Instead%2C+use+your+money+on+items+that+you+can+use+throughout+the+summer.

Brian Achenbach/Iowa State Daily

Don’t get sucked in by Spring Break sales. Instead, use your money on items that you can use throughout the summer.

Bethany Benes

Spring Break kicks off this weekend and we all know what that means — shopping time.

With summer fashion and many sales streaming into stores, the conditions are right for springtime shopping. This Spring Break, pass on unnecessary clothing items and splurge on items you really need.

The bright and festive spring colors are back. Wake up from winter with beautiful pastels and eye-catching neons.

Jessie Langley, blogger at blushandblonde.com, says you can expect to see a lot of coral, tangerine, mint and neon colors as you hit the mall this spring.

Langley also says that the classic mantra “don’t wear white after Labor Day” is old news. White denim is perfect for spring outfits, and Langley suggests pairing bright pastels and neon tops with this trend.

Kat Chang, blogger at loveandace.com, loves the pastel colors in style this season.

Chang said she has noticed designers making these soft pastel colors look a little edgier and not so girly.

Grace Lee, blogger at gracefulleemade.com, has also noticed this growing trend and suggests keeping your eyes peeled for leather jackets and skirts you can pair with pastels.

Floral patterns, striped shirts and animal prints are also something you may want to consider adding to your closet this spring. Lee said she loves stripes and suggests everyone have some sort of classic, striped shirt in their closet.

Along with the new colors and prints to choose from this season, look out for staple pieces too. Contrasting button downs, collarless coats, miniskirts and crop tops are a few of Chang’s favorite upcoming trends.

Zephyr Basine, editor-in-chief at collegefashion.net, also loves the crop top trend, and says it seems to be a favorite among college students.

“College is the time in your life to rock these — just obviously not to class,” Basine said.

Langley suggests adding high-wasted shorts to your spring shopping list so you can wear crop tops without being too revealing.

Another trend to be on the lookout for is rompers. Chang said she loves this trend because they are practical for college students and she said she thinks they are adorable as well.

Chang says rompers are a day-to-night piece worth adding to your closet. A romper can be worn to class because of its comfortable fit, but it can easily be dressed up with some heels and jewelry for a nighttime look.

Another piece that is always a practical buy for college students during Spring Break is a trendy baseball cap. Lee suggests dressing up your baseball cap by pairing it with unexpected pieces, such as a summer dress or statement necklace, so you’ll stand apart from the other girls wearing their baseball caps with the typical athletic shorts and a T-shirt.

Spring Break is the prime time to look for swimsuits, and you will not want to miss the vibrant colors and edgy textures that will be on store shelves this spring.

Chang said she loves bandeau swimsuit tops paired with cheekier bottoms. This is different from your typical swimsuit style that may be more revealing on the top rather than the bottom.

Lee said she loves the bright colors and floral prints she has been seeing on swimsuits lately and the lace and fringe trends are also catching her eye. She recommends checking out Target’s swimsuit selection, which is full of these swimsuit trends.

Langley advises not to be afraid of trying the one piece.

“In a sea of girls wearing bikinis, the girl in the one piece is probably going to stand out,” Langley said.

Along with the brand new must-have trends, there is a good chance you will also stumble upon amazing sales.

Be wary of purchasing last season’s trends, despite their discount prices. Basine said if one buys winter items for next year now, there is a chance they may not wear them.

Langley also suggests sticking to very standard jackets and sweaters if you are going to browse the clearance items.

Remember to have an idea of what you want while shopping. Lee suggests stopping by stores like Target, H&M and Francesca’s because they carry all the latest trends at a price that will not break your wallet.

Basine also recommends budgeting wisely this Spring Break.

“You will likely find more trends that you love as we get closer to summer,” Basine said. “You don’t want to blow your whole spring fashion budget in March.”