Spring is officially here, and we all know what that means: warmer weather and shorter hems. This season, we’re ready to strut our stuff in the latest and greatest trends. Nostalgia is in the air with the revival of ’80s prints, ’90s nonchalance, and Y2K favorites.

We asked a few of our go-to Baltimore boutiques what must-haves will be stored in their closets this spring, and how we might put our own spin on them.

PALAZZO JEANS
A Style Studio

“Our favorite trend this spring is palazzo jeans,” says Lauren Rutkovitz, owner of A Style Studio in Pikesville. “I love the versatility and comfort of these jeans: Dress them up or down, day or night with a heel or a sneaker. The point of these jeans is to show off your waist! Wear them with a tucked-in blouse or a cropped sweater.” 25 Hooks Ln. # 111, Pikesville, 410-484-1115

GEOMETRIC JEWELS
House of Muse

“One of my favorite trends happening in spring 2022 is the use of unique geometric shapes in jewelry,” says Alex Dekowski, owner of House of Muse. “You’ll begin to see a lot of chunky rings and earrings in fun atypical designs. We saw a huge trend of mixing metals that is still going strong into spring, with pops of color being added into the mix.” Online.

CORSET TOPS
Brightside Boutique

Paige Hamburg, marketing manager at Brightside Boutique, says that “Y2K looks are back!” Their style advice? “Look out for micro-mini skirts, baggy and low-rise denim styles, and corsets. We’re styling corset tops with low-rise denim and heels for nights out grabbing cocktails.” Multiple locations including 915 W 36th St., 410-814-0595

SATURATED HUES
Keepers Vintage

“I get excited about trends that are revisited and reimagined. I encourage my customers to repurpose vintage pieces for creative, on-trend wardrobes,” says Erica Bentley, owner of Keepers Vintage. “My favorites I’ll be adding to both my closet and the shop are saturated hues from the ’70s and ’80s.” Two locations including 229 W Read St., 443-421-3757

Valentine’s Day might not be your favorite holiday, but, if nothing else, it’s a reason to dress up and celebrate. Whether you’re spending the evening with your partner, gathering your crew for a night out, or honoring the occasion with a bottle of wine at home, the holiday is a great excuse to get yourself a brand new outfit. We’ve gathered pieces to make you look and feel fabulous this Valentine’s Day, regardless of how you spend it. Casual, chic, or cozy—you choose your vibe:

Galentine’s Day

Maybe you’re single and not ready to mingle, but you want to take advantage of the season of love. Grab your closest pals and hit the town! Dinner, drinks, and dancing await you. What to wear? Simple. Something bright, young, and beautiful.

ROMANTIC DINNER

Though Valentine’s Day might not be your anniversary, it’s a momentous occasion for couples nonetheless. A nice dinner for two requires a look that is elegant but not over-the-top fancy. Heels, a new dress, and a smoky eye are all it’ll take for this type of date.

CASUAL DATE NIGHT

Valentine’s Day isn’t for everyone, but it might be hard to ignore the many restaurant and bar deals. The perfect look for this means decking out your go-to jeans and booties outfit with a stylish twist like pleather pants and statement shoes.

CHILLIN’ AT HOME

Need an excuse to buy that pajama set you’ve been eyeing up? Now is your chance. Loungewear is the easiest way to treat yourself this Valentine’s Day. Something soft, trendy, and totally worth spending the evening at home is exactly what this Valentine’s vibe is all about.

When it comes to style, A Style Studio owner Lauren Rutkovitz, has
done it all—from giving makeovers and tips on what’s trending to
selling up-to-the-minute clothing from her Pikesville boutique. “I think
having a sense of fashion is innate,” says Rutkovitz. “But if you don’t
have it, go to someone who can help.” The style maven opened her shop
in 2009 after working as a stylist and makeup artist for a local TV
show. At the time, she found there was a dearth of stores that carried
great clothing for women up to size 16, as well as few places to buy
makeup with a professional other than department [stores] where, “the
young women look like gypsies, and the older women are wearing so much
makeup they look scary,” she says. “What I was looking for at the time
didn’t exist in Baltimore. I thought ‘Baltimore can do better than
this,’ so I opened my own store.”

How do you define ‘style’? The
definition of style is wearing what looks good on you for your body
type, and not just what’s in fashion. Just because skinny jeans are in,
doesn’t mean that you should be wearing them. Don’t wear something just
because it’s trendy. A big and bold print won’t work on someone who is
heavier, for instance, but you can bring the trend in with a print
scarf.

How does one develop a sense of style? It’s important to
figure out what style works for you, and then collect a wardrobe around
whatever style suits you. If it’s boho that suits you, get a couple of
pairs of great-fitting jeans and a couple of cute different-style (i.e.
peasant) tops that can be mixed and matched with great accessories so
that your closet looks like you’ve done it all effortlessly—even if it
was hard work.

Any tips on figuring out the right look for
makeup? When it comes to makeup, I suggest going to a professional for a
consultation so you can learn what looks good on you and what suits
your lifestyle. It’s all about natural beauty and using makeup to
enhance it. Your weekend face makeup should be the same as what you wear
during the day. Go for whatever looks natural, and then on a weekend
night the only thing to change is wearing a bolder, maybe red, lipstick
and popping up your eyes a little.

What about spring hair care?
For people who have hair color, it’s important to put products in the
hair that have sunblock so that color doesn’t fade. In terms of trends,
pulled-up hair and ponytails continue to be very popular.

What You Need

Use these tips to aid your spring look.

Go-To
A simple bun or stylish ponytail is always a hairdo staple.

Sunblock
Just like your skin, your color-treated hair needs a product to block the sun.

Pretty Pastels
Add shimmery colors like pinks, purples, and light blues to your makeup palette this season.