By Karen and Erica

Since you are reading a post on Lustre, we are going to assume you have not spent the last year in sweats. You’re too elegant for that. But likely there has been some slippage. After all, dressing well almost demands that you be seen by people outside of your home. And we don’t mean on Zoom.

We hope the end of this awful time is in sight. There is much to think about, and clothes may not be the most important, but they are not the least important, either. Many of us have been pretty down, for obvious reasons, and this is one way to try to get our spirits up.

So what are we seeing this spring?

First, we don’t often find inspiration in men’s clothes. But look at Colman Domingo in Versace at the Oscars. Spring personified!

Second, we like trends we are seeing around reducing waste. Not being wasteful has led to all kinds of creativity.

Swimsuit designer Malia Mills makes huge and innovative tote bags. In their store, we saw bags festooned with buttons and bows. We asked. Seems that MM is making the bags with fabric left over from making other things to train people how to sew—cutting and seaming, but also buttons and bows. What a great idea, and what a great crossbody bag for comfortably carrying everything.

Other designers are also being creative to avoid waste. Eileen Fisher has started Waste No More to use leftover scraps, as well as Renew to sell used clothes. Lots of designers are using deadstock for their current lines. And Gabrielle Carlson that has the most elegant scarves pieced together from gorgeous leftover fabric. Silk and wool and reflective metallics. Works of art! Pair them with this gunmetal shirt and starry leggings. Everyone around you would be brightened by reflected light!

Third, we are just dying to wear something other than sneakers. We love sneakers, especially floral Converse high tops, but we have been wearing them constantly for a year because we walk everywhere. We want shoes like these Manolo Blahnik mules. Practial? No. But don’t they scream spring? They would go well with these green and black polka dot trousers. BTW, Blahnik’s website coyly announces that a new store will be opening in June. Stroll around on upper Madison Avenue and you will see where. That seems like a new green shoot too.)

Fourth, we long to swirl around in a dress. We have not even seen anyone on the street wearing a dress in ages, let alone worn one ourselves. (We’re not talking about “dresses” that look like Little House on the Prairie and are supposed to work for napping too. We agree with Elle magazine—we don't want to feel adrift in a flowy cotton hanky. ) No, we mean real dresses with real design. Lafayette 148 has a very sophisticated zebra number. We definitely need something graceful with flowers, too. And color. Scroll down to the Spark Joy look. On a different wavelength, we like Porto. No swirling, and subdued on the color front, but fabulous fabrics and flattering drape. Find Porto at A Uno.

Of course everything in our closets seems new, since we haven’t worn real clothes in centuries. Maybe we don’t need much else. Maybe we just update some leggings with a charmeuse shift floating in the breeze on top!

The point is, let’s have a little fun now that we can go out, get flirty in the sunshine, and finally resume life with actual people. We’ll give thanks for that.