As warmer weather allows us to shed our winter wear and begin adding in some spring wardrobe staples, we turn to some of Nashville’s fashion tastemakers for direction in terms of where to shop and what to buy, as well as to find out which items they’re adding to their own closets for spring. Take a look!
What Nashville’s Fashion Tastemakers Are Buying for Spring
Mattie Carney of H. Audrey
Mattie Carney, buyer and manager for H. Audrey, and designer of clothing line Disco Cowgirl, tells us, “Customers are loving a casual cotton top that looks fresh and crisp for spring. A stripe or floral print brings it to life and makes it easy to go from day to night. Our in-store favorites right now are by XiRENA and Ulla Johnson.”
She also emphasizes the merits of a neutral, closed-toe pump. “I love an appropriate heel that can go with a dress to elongate your leg, or with distressed denim to give it a sophisticated touch,” she says. “Nude, pink or light grey are flattering against your skin and also go with any outfit.”
Mattie is going the comfy route in terms of updating her own spring wardrobe. “I’m adding lightweight pants,” she says. “Sometimes, I just can’t force myself to put on a pair of skinny jeans! A relaxed pant is not only comfortable but looks chic and put together. I love the options we have in H. Audrey from Nili Lotan.”
Ceri Hoover of Ceri Hoover
Ceri Hoover’s customers are swooning over the Woven Waller Clutch in Marigold Nubuck. But outside of her own shop, Ceri also suggests adding a Two New York Kaftan to your list of spring must-haves. “I love Monica’s designs!” she tells us. As for her own closet, she’s looking to add a pair of Beatrice Valenzuela Slides.
“I’m working to reuse fabric from pieces that didn’t fit me quite right,” she offers when asked about transitional items. “Currently, I’m converting an Ace & Jig dress that I purchased last fall into a skirt for the upcoming season. It’s fun and creative, and really, what’s the worst that could happen to a piece you didn’t reach for anyway?”
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Libby Callaway of The Callaway
Libby Callaway, Founder of Nashville-based PR firm The Callaway, is all about adding more suits to her wardrobe this spring. “I have been buying up vintage blazers and trousers sets lately and am finding they really, um, suit me,” she says. “I’m not very strict in how I wear the piece, either. For spring, I’m looking for a boxy off-white linen number. Donna Karan made some very perfect ones in the early ’90s that are my touchstone. I’m a big vintage devotee, so I’ll look for it on Etsy or in local vintage shops like High Class Hillbilly and Pre to Post Modern.”
Libby also feels it’s the most versatile piece we can include in our closets. “They’re really the definition of versatile — if you think of them as a whole and also as separates,” she says. “I’ll wear the whole suit for a very put-together presentation, and then I’ll put the jacket over a pretty dress to give it some edge or ‘un-serious’ the pants with a striped T-shirt and sneakers. It’s like having three new pieces within one major purchase.”
As far as trend-setting colors, Libby says, “I’m all about muted brights like olive green, eggplant, dusty pink, chartreuse and teal — colors that stand out, but that are a bit too dirty to call jewel tones.”
Connie Cathcart-Richardson of Nashville Fashion Week
Connie Cathcart-Richardson, creative director, stylist and co-founder of Nashville Fashion Week, tells us she has been too busy with the upcoming fashion week to do much local shopping. “But I just got back from a birthday shopping trip in NYC with my daughter, where I added a bright pantsuit, a blue polka dot dress and a pleated faux leather tent dress to my wardrobe,” she tells us. ” I’m loving all of the bright colors and prints that are everywhere, but especially pink and orange. I’m still thinking about the vintage-inspired lion buckle belt at Gucci, so I’m pretty sure it’s going to be mine. And I always add a few new pieces of Margaret Ellis Jewelry to my collection every season.”
She’s anticipating spring trends such as floral prints, white and colored faux leather, the comeback of long-tiered dresses and shorts. Lots of shorts — from hot pants to Bermudas. Taking it a step further, she adds, “Wear them with colored or floral tights if you dare!” She also suggests adjusting to the season. “Start mixing brights with black to transition into spring,” she says. “Those bold colors will look even fresher when mixed with white in a month or so.”
Claudia Fowler of Haven, Hero and Parish
Claudia Fowler, stylist for boutiques Haven, Hero and Parish, says all three shops are buzzing for an early spring kickoff. The trend she’s seeing most? Color!
“We are selling tons of hats, mohair spring-weight knits, white booties, cashmere lounge sets, oversized blazers, matching top and bottom sets, menswear suits in fun prints, maxi dresses in flowy fabrics and animal prints mixed in every color,” she relays.
Cynthia Kelley of Cynthia Kelley Styling
Local stylist Cynthia Kelley of Cynthia Kelley Styling is over the moon about kicking off her spring wardrobe with colored denim from FRAME. “It’s so on-trend,” she says. She’s also excited for the aloe-green color that’s gaining popularity, and she can’t wait to update her own closet with white denim jeans with cropped fringe from Mother Denim at H. Audrey.
In keeping with spring’s traditional theme, Cynthia says floral dresses are “everywhere in every style and for every age,” and we can expect “small prints, mod flowers and larger floral patterns in every possible color.”
Cynthia’s recommendation for seasonal transition items? “Flowy dresses with jackets and sneakers” for the win. She also suggests changing out your black and navy blazers with a more spring-centric color and pairing your outfits with light-colored booties or a neutral pair of slides.
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Marla Skipper of SVM Boutique
SVM Boutique owner Marla Skipper is leaning toward the brightly colored dress trend this spring, too. “Dresses in all of the bright colors and prints are definitely a fave for SVM customers,” she says. As for her own spring wardrobe, she’s adding maxi dresses and jumpsuits to her closet.
Vanessa Evigan Adcox of “Her Morning Coffee”
Stylist and fashion blogger Vanessa Evigan Adcox, of Her Morning Coffee, is particularly excited about color trends that are straight off the runway. “Some of the Spring 2020 colors we will see a lot of are saffron, Biscay green, chive, orange peel, lots of denim, and ‘flame’ scarlet — also known as red,” she says.
“I think the most important thing to remember when you’re shopping is to find pieces that make you feel confident and evoke happiness, “she tells us. “I’m adding vests, more blazers, bold colors, large collars and silk!”
Vanessa does a lot of online shopping and says, “I love Nordstrom because they are wonderful about returns, and they have a wide variety — from high-end designer to affordable brands that look great.”
As for transitioning out of cold-weather clothes and into warm-weather wear, she recommends keeping cozy sweaters handy to wear over spring tank tops. “I’ll be carrying over some of my long, open winter sweater favorites and pairing them with high-neck spring tops and tanks.”
Meg Blackney of Habit
Meg Blackney, owner of Habit Boutique, is all about the ongoing love for animal prints. “Animal prints, in general, are strong,” she says, “but the white cheetah look is very fresh for spring.”
She also suggests adding more shorts to your wardrobe. “I feel like dressy shorts are having a moment — linens, textured fabrics, coated metallic cottons,” she tells us. “And boho dresses! I love a lightweight, easy dress when it gets so hot.”
As for the seasonal transition, she says, “I’m not afraid to pull in winter whites and creams early in the spring season — a great cashmere sweater paired with crisp white jeans is such a fresh look. Throw out the rule book and mix it up a bit!”
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