Spring Fashion Made Simple

Spring weather has finally found its way to NYC and that means it's time to put away the winter wardrobes and get ready for the first fashion trends of 2023. As a horizontally-challenged young man, Spring shopping trips with my mother were dedicated to replacing the shorts and t-shirts that I had outgrown from the year prior. Back then, the shopping strategy was simple, find things that fit, and don't spend too much money. My choices were limited, so I didn't bother keeping up with the latest trends. But these days things have changed, and while I'm not doing a yearly overhaul of my closet, I watch for the drops, and I'm monitoring the trends, and I'm here to help guide my fellow fashion forward friends. So whether you're looking to make some new purchases or just looking to stay on trend with old favorites, here are a few of the trends I like for 2023 that I think everyone can work into the rotation this year.

Get Comfortable

With a bit of momentum at the end of 2022, loose fits are back in a big way. From baggy jeans to oversized tee's, this years' designs are no longer exclusive to the slim-waisted and muscle-chested, and fashion fans of all sizes can rejoice in finding comfort in style in 2023. Skinny jeans for instance had their time to shine, but if you are still holding on to any flares, bootcuts, or bellbottoms, now is the your chance to break them out for a night on the town. If your waist size has changed, or you need a new pair, I would recommend the bootcut jeans from Lucky Brand. I find them to be super comfortable and they come in a variety of shades. Plus, if you are looking on a budget, they generally have sales on most items!

Vibin' in Vintage

Grateful Dead tie-dyes, "borrowed" t-shirts from my pops, and Sunday finds from the local thrift shops, have all worked their ways back into my regular Spring attire. I'm even fit into some of my favorite clothes from high school, thanks to my recent horizontal slimming and converse vertical elongating. My favorite thrift shop to hit in the East Village is No Relation Vintage, the only Manhattan location of LTRAINVINTAGE, a family owned thrift empire established in New York in '99. They have 8 locations throughout the 5 boroughs as well as buyers throughout the country bringing you the best in buying second hand. If you're your not in NYC and do most of your shopping online, checkout my guy @VintageZac on Instagram, or at his website https://vintagezac.com/, for some of the best vintage finds Pennsylvania has to offer. Not to mention some sweet old-school Penn State gear!

Power to the Purple

If you kept up at all with this year's runways from likes of Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, Giorgio Armani, or Hermès, you would have noticed and undeniable purple hue. I personally have been a long time wearer of royal tone, and it's nice to get a little reassurance from its use by the fashion figureheads of our day. From dark to light, and light to lavender, purple is

has been a versatile color in 2023 that works in a variety of looks and circumstances. One of my favorite designs of the season thus far come from none other than KidSuper with his A Boy Patched Lavender Blazer. He continued with a variety of purple tints throughout the collection, but this one has to be my favorite for its soft, yet bold look, sure to be a talking point for any wearer.

More than Just Polos

Nice weather means rolling fairways if you're anything like myself, so performance polos become regular wear. For the latest and greatest of on-course looks, I go no further than Eastside Golf and Breezy Golf. The founders of Eastside Golf lean into streetwear for their designs and have worked to bring a bit of culture to the game of golf, and its attire, partnering with brand ambassadors such as C.C. Sabathia and Victor Cruz. Breezy, brought to you in partnership with the incredibly creative minds behind Bob Does Sports, offers consumers a wide selection of apparel and accessories that look good and are designed to provide optimal comfort for the regular golfer. From bicep hugging polos to "Have a Day" rope-hats, either of these will have even the worst of golfers looking as good as they wish they could play. And for a little variety in your off-course look, knit polos with fewer to no buttons have made a recent appearance in this Spring's offerings, with enough designers giving it a shot that you can find your look in any price range. If you don't like the thought of even a short sleeved sweater in the Summer heat, a nice short sleeve button up might be more your speed, but don't be afraid to change it up from time to time.

Keep in mind that these are just a few of my favorites from this years' trends, and for every one that catches on, there are several more that crash and burn. I've heard that leather is in this year and I gotta say, I am out on that one, I'll stick to my jeans and tie-dyes thank you very much. But no matter what, my number one recommendation is to feel comfortable in what you are wearing, and to not let anyone make you feel otherwise. And I know that easier said than done, but since fashion is so subjective, it really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, so I say go for it. Hope this helps you find your look for this year or maybe inspires you to bring back an old favorite from years' past. Either way, I know you'll look great!