Like the seasons, fashion trends are cyclical. As another spring dawns, we spoke with shop owners from some of the Twin Cities’ top boutiques to see what will be returning this year, whether it’s a continuation from last spring or a comeback from 20 springs ago. What we found was hardly surprising after last summer’s girl power takeover, led by global phenomena like Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, and Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour. Collectively, the trends for spring 2024 reflect an unapologetic expression of femininity, employing soft colors and classically feminine silhouettes and accessories. And this time, these traditionally girly trends have the power of versatility and androgyny. As these looks gain traction, shop owners offer tips for styling and provide a sneak peek of what may appear in their stores come spring.
Primp Boutique: Bows and Pastels
Parc Shop/Dina Kantor
Primp Boutique is ready to welcome back brighter days by leaning into pastel shades. Buyer Jenny Bruce is taking inspiration from Pantone’s 2024 color of the year—peach fuzz, a delicate crossover between orange and pink. As a styling tip, Bruce welcomes a bold monochromatic look, adding “Co-ord [coordinated] sets are effortless and would be the perfect way to fully execute this trend.”
As for accessories, Primp is calling it: Bows are here to stay. After a brief heyday in the early 2010s, the feminine accessory slowly began appearing again at the start of last year, often represented as a soft and delicate motif. But by the dawn of this year, bows were seen in bold and unapologetic expressions, in some cases encompassing the breadth of entire garments. This spring, Bruce doesn’t see the trend going anywhere. Primp is welcoming bows not just as an accessory but as detailing on garments, from tops to dresses to skirts. For those who are skeptical, Bruce invites you to start small. “Start slowly by incorporating with an accessory, like a hairclip, purse, or pair of heels.”
Parc Shop: Sheer Fabric and Cargo Pants
Larissa Loden/Joan Born
Even as seasons change, Parc boutique maintains its trademark minimalistic style. This spring, shop owner Thao Nguyen is expressing it through ’90s nostalgia, leaning into the versatility of classic silhouettes like the mini and maxi skirt. Each of these distinct hemlines can transition seamlessly between seasons and add a fashion-forward edge when paired with early-spring staples like lightweight sweaters and knee-high boots. As an alternative to skirts, Nguyen also predicts the effortlessly cool cargo pant to stay in style, so if you bought a pair last season, hang on to them. With their loose, baggy fit, cargo pants provide a harmonious contrast with form-fitting or crop tops, a look that calls back to the golden streetwear age of the ’90s and early aughts.
While it kickstarted last spring, Parc believes the sheer fabric trend is just getting started. From tops to dresses to skirts, a pop of transparency can add a fun twist to basic outfits and doesn’t have to compromise modesty when styled correctly. Layering is key here. Nguyen suggests “investing in great undergarments, such as bra tops worn as actual tops and layered underneath sheer.” The options are limitless. Try layering a mini skirt under a sheer maxi skirt for a gorgeous contrast of length and a lovely cascade of fabric that reveals an ambiguous outline of the legs. As for color, Parc encourages green for spring, but make it soft with shades of mint and green apple, harkening back to Pantone’s soft palette for this year.
Larissa Loden: ‘Tomato Girl’ Trend
When it comes to jewelry trends, Larissa Loden is taking cues from TikTok. Specifically, she’s eyeing the “tomato girl” trend, a popular look that arose last summer among an influx of TikTok microtrends that also included “coastal cowgirl” and “cottage core.” Influencer Emma Chamberlain described it to Vogue as “earthy colors that you would find in your garden.”
But we have seen the trend translate more literally on runways since summer, most prominently in J.W. Anderson’s fall 2023 menswear show, in which a model strutted the catwalk with bright red tomatoes painted on his legs, hands, and neck. Loden is opting for the literal representation this spring. Her 18K gold-plated tomato studs offer a subtle yet playful take on the look. Loden is also echoing Primp by endorsing the bow—another cue from TikTok, where bows have been defining the hyper-feminine “coquette” trend. Loden plans to release a line of bow earrings this spring to keep the sweet accessory in the limelight.
Serge + Jane: Neon, Ice Blue, and Après Sport
This spring, Serge + Jane plans to dress the Edina shop in pops of bright color. Putting a twist on the wildly popular Barbiecore trend of last year, co-founder and owner Jamie Carl is ready to embrace neon pink. While it took time, the resurrection of neon from its ’80s grave seems only logical. The striking hue can complement a wide range of skin tones, and its vibrant, uplifting aesthetic offers a glimpse of optimism in a post-pandemic world.
When styling, Carl suggests pairing neon pink with dark and silky slate grays for a muted, balancing contrast. If you’re feeling bold, you might make it a colorblock look by incorporating a pop of Carl’s second color of the spring: ice blue. “Ice blue is going to be hot for both men and women,” Carl predicts. Serge + Jane plans to style this hue monochromatically, pairing it with light denims for a sleek head-to-toe look.
Serge + Jane is also channeling the après sport trend this spring. Think of it as the warmer-weather counterpart of winter’s popular après ski look. Pulling elements from tennis and golf activewear, including collared tops, pleated skirts, and tennis shoes, this trend employs an effortless athlete-off-duty style that elevates basic athleisure.
“Polos will be the ‘it’ item for the spring,” Carl says, “and we are thrilled to be carrying coordinating cardigans, knit sweaters, vests, leggings, and bra tops to complete the entire look.”
