Spring’s Most Cheerful Pieces Are Bound to Make You Smile
We’re all for sweatpants, but they’re not particularly uplifting. Part of the fun of fashion is fantasy—a beautifully crafted piece of clothing can transform your mood, transport you to another time and place, or simply bring a smile to your face. The spring 2020 runways were brimming with optimism, splashes of technicolor and idealized visions of eras past: Miu Miu looked to the silhouettes and motifs of the 1960s, while Marni went for rainbow ’90s vacation wear and Balenciaga took a spin around the skirt sets of the ’80s. While there may be nowhere to go right now, there’s no reason not to dress up if you feel like it, even if it’s just as a means of temporary escape. Here, some of the most cheerful pieces of the season.
1Miu Miu floral embellished dress, $6,840, modaoperandi.com
This ’60s-inspired number is part flower child, part princess. With an easy empire silhouette and an eye-catching crystal bodice, it’s an ideal all-day piece for a future warm-weather vacation.
2Prada printed knit top, $810, farfetch.com
You’ll wear this graphic knit tank year round: barefoot with straight-cut jeans now, and with structured trousers and heeled boots when things cool back down again.
3Gucci retro flared trousers, $1,100, farfetch.com.
Channel Harry Styles in these watermelon-hued pants that feature crisp pleats and a cheeky patch at the ankle.
4Louis Vuitton minidress, $5,700, louisvuitton.com
The combination of balloon sleeves, a prim lace bib and a high-cut hem make this butter-colored dress slyly subversive.
5Marni floral printed tie skirt, $950, farfetch.com
This sarong-inspired skirt is just the right amount of kitsch—throw it on and it’ll be like living inside a Polaroid taken on a beach in Barbados 25 years ago.
6Loewe crochet cape, $1,400, matchesfashion.com
Who knew a cape could possess the sweetness of a cardigan and the sexiness of a sheer, unbuttoned blouse? This unexpected Loewe piece is poised to become a summer classic.
7Bottega Veneta knotted-strap dress, $1,490, matchesfashion.com
With clean lines, a saturated tangerine hue and a simple, elegant knot at the back, this dress is bound to make an impression.
8Balenciaga floral print skirt, $1,950, modaoperandi.com
Picture yourself wearing this painterly skirt at a garden party circa 1988, mimosa in hand, white leather heels sinking into the grass.
9Paco Rabanne floral print top, $790, mytheresa.com
Silver globe buttons and a Western-style back yoke toughen up the Laura Ashley florals of this blouse, giving it more of an edge than you might think.
10Givenchy straight-leg Bermuda shorts, $890, modaoperandi.com
Sleek, elevated and party-ready—these aren’t your average Bermudas.
11Proenza Schouler printed cape dress, $3,490, farfetch.com
With a caped back and a silk ribbon belt, this dress combines the ease of a caftan with the impact of a gown.
