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ELLE.com's Comprehensive Guide to the Biggest Trends of Spring 2018

Headshot of Justine CarreonBy Justine Carreon
Fashion model, Clothing, Fashion, Fashion design, Dress, Event, Fashion designer, Costume design, Style, pinterest icon
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Spring 2018 is all about this Millennial Pink-adjacent hue, industrial-grade rubber, and the bag you denied your whole life. Read our forecast of the biggest trends for of the season, ahead.

Rubber

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"100% Nitrile / Synthetic Rubber" read CALVIN KLEIN'S industrial-grade pencil dress. You'll never look at your mother's dishwashing gloves the same way again, with brands taking rubberized materials and molding them into unexpectedly chic silhouettes (like a pair of Balenciaga Crocs).

Ruching

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Who needs stiff corsetry when ruching is so much more comfortable? Fabric gets pushed around this spring with DIY pull-through details at Tory Burch, Kardashian-worthy curve-huggers at Tom Ford, and boudoir details at No. 21.

Asymmetrical Necklines

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Seen at Altuzarra, Isabel Marant, and Prabal Gurung, this off-balanced silhouette dances along your shoulder, wraps around your neck, and twists around your collar bone. Simultaneously. Get ready for the asymmetrical neckline.

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The Fanny Pack

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We can deny it no longer: the fanny pack is here to stay. No matter your aesthetic, there's a hip-slung bag for you: strap on a sporty number from Rihanna's runway, go minimalist with Rochas, or wear it on the diagonal with Balenciaga.

Transparent

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Go clear this season with all your favorite designers. Chanel convinced us we need an OTK rain boot, Tibi's has us considering over a plastic corset, and Off-White's plastic-wrapped collab with Jimmy Choo already man a fan out of Rihanna.

Lavender

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Victoria Beckham and Michael Kors Collection are hinting that Millennial Pink will be replaced by pastel-adjacent lavender come springtime. This soft purple hue is the next it-color, making a turn in knits, suiting, and whimsical formal wear.

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White Suiting

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If fall suiting belonged to gray plaid, then spring is all about a clean slate. The white suit isn’t just for prim and proper presidential events either, but was cut as an oversized tux at Adam Lippes, styled with a bra at Tom Ford, and wentSaturday Night Fever with Acne Studios.

Dark Denim Sets

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We're not crazy enough to retire our vintage, light-wash Levi's, but dark denim is seeing a resurgence. The selvage textile is doing double duty, with sleek Texas tuxedos showing up at Alexander McQueen, Rosie Assoulin, and more.

X-Girl Sunglasses

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We've touched upon it before, and it seems that Louis Vuitton and Prada have taken notice: this '90s sunglass shape is back. It comes in the form of razor edges, Oakley-esque touches, and a fearless experimentation with color.

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Black and White Polka Dots

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Floral might be your go-to spring print, but polka dots will be a close second come next year. The print was spotted everywhere, most notably as a monochrome colorway.

Feathers

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Saint Laurent and Maison Margiela are birds of a feather flocking together. Their plucky runways trimmed their designs in marabou, making for a flirty look that takes flight next season.

Square Necklines

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Square up this season with a neckline subtly throwing it back to the Renaissance. Featured at Carolina Herrara, Christian Dior, and Rodarte’s first collection shown in Paris, we predict the flattering style to appear as dainty cotton tops, cocktail wiggle dresses, and every style in between.

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White Tank Top

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Given Hanes’ collab with both Re/Done Jeans and stylist Karla Welch, the basic white tee is key. Spring, however, belongs to its scrappier sister: the white tank top. Despite its problematic nickname (hint: A Streetcar Named Desire may have inspired this alias), the ribbed top is getting an upgrade with screen printing at CALVIN KLEIN, twists at Alexander Wang, and layered under sheer florals at Miu MIu.

Puffed Shoulers

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The delicate puff shoulder trend might be inspired by vintage-loving Instagram influencers, but it went high fashion with Christian Siriano's emerald gown and Delpozo's not-so-wearable-but-equally-lovable tulle detail.

Exposed Briefs

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Salute your shorts this season and bare it all with underwear meant to be seen. Fendi layered a sheer dress over their skivvies, while Adam Selman's pearl thong was worn with a see-through trench on top.

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Rainbow

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There's a wearable way to wear the rainbow without channeling Pennywise. Designers like Peter Pilotto opted for a lo-fi spectrum, making the multi-colored trend approachable, mature, and most importantly, chic.

Pink & Red

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Millennial pink is everywhere this season, but we’re inclined to wear it with a pop of rouge. Following in step with Coach 1941, Brandon Maxwell, and Oscar de la Renta, the sherbet color combo will coincidentally hit stores just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Haute Performance

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Nylon parkas might fare better while hiking, but the windbreaker is getting the high fashion treatment. The Top Gun textile even made an appearance as a retro skydiving suit, courtesy of of Marc Jacobs, with bungee-laced accessories seen at Louis Vuitton.

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Statement Straw Hat

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We're still obsessed with the straw bag, but next spring you'll be able to wear it with its headgear equal: the statement straw hat. Oversized at Jacquemus and twisted into a bow at Delpozo, the beachy style is so much more than your basic Panama hat.

Fringe

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Fringe made its way in all forms this season, so there's a look for every level of commitment; We witnessed shredded tees s at Loewe, strips of sequins at Monse, and statement earrings at Sachin & Babi.

Headshot of Justine Carreon
Justine Carreon


Justine Carreon is the market editor at ELLE.com covering fashion, Dutch ovens, and fashion again. When she isn’t approaching style through a modern, accessible lens, she’s scouring eBay for vintage Levi’s and pretending she knows how to surf. Before joining ELLE.com in 2015 she worked as a freelance writer and stylist in New York City.   

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