Embracing Feminine Garments Without Looking Too Girly

Spring fashion has found its feminine side: flirty floral prints, delicate chiffons and a new kind of nautical are among the season’s top trends.

Take a stroll past the well-dressed windows of this March and you’ll likely detect an overall feminine feel. What you may not notice is that their ensembles incorporate girly details without looking too girlish. Not noticing is good. Their ensembles are effortless.

Frilly fashion can easily turn futile. Fun, feminine details are perfectly appropriate for women of all ages, so long as they're done in moderation.

Floral Prints

Flowers are fresh and fun to wear. Bigger, bolder patterns will look more mature, but can overwhelm. Tone down the flower-power with a casual jacket or cute cardigan on top.

Kristina Klockars, vice president and buyer for Hot Mama, has a nice knack for mixing trends together. She suggests pairing floral patterns with chunky metal jewelry to harden the look, "so it isn’t as girly."

Chiffon

Light, creamy and delicious, this spring fabric is like butter.

"Chiffon is the fabric for spring," Klockars said. "It is great for Hot Mama because it is lightweight and gives the illusion of dressing up while still being comfortable."

Catering to active moms and moms-to-be, the buyer pursues functional fashion for their dedicated customers. While chiffon dresses are a beautiful option for many occasions, the chiffon henleys and racer back tanks—on the floor at Hot Mama—allow one to wear this feminine fabric more often and with a modern twist.

Nautical

A new kind of nautical washed ashore this season. Less navy-like, you probably won’t find masculine anchors or gold accent buttons. Instead, the new nautical is understated, delicate and dainty.

Thin, muted stripes have trickled into the mix. , which moved from the corner of 50th & France to Southdale Center, has a new Spring catalogue that features a nautical tee with more muted colors (beige/white).

Bold blue stripes, however, are still riding the wave. Loft’s bolder nautical striped knit dress graces the catalog's front cover, paired with a navy jacket to dilute the look.

Crochet and Lace

According to Klockars, lace and crochet is weaving its way into all kinds of tops. She said the trend "is best shown on tops in small details, but we think lace tanks are an easy layering piece."

Lots of black lace can accidently go goth, while too much white lace borders on bridal. Just a little colored lace detail, sewn into a tee or tank, will add a flirty femininity to plain cotton cardis or a boyish cut denim jean.

So as you put together trendy outfits this spring,  just remember that a little girly goes a long way.