Get ready for some color. While the past couple spring fashion lines have featured bold prints and lots of florals, this season prints move aside to let solids and muted patterns make a comeback.

Dassie Fuchs, owner of Petit Chic in Bergenfield, stocked up on all the latest fashions and is excited for her customers to add the fashions to their wardrobes.

“This season has a lot of dresses for girls of all ages,” said Fuchs. She explained that dresses have a variety of benefits that will appeal to girls and young ladies—as well as their mothers. “As Shabbos gets longer, girls tend to change into something more comfortable before going to friends, for a walk or hanging out in the park.” With solids and one-piece outfits very popular for spring, Fuchs encouraged wearers to use the dress as a background and to spruce up an outfit with bright headbands and accessories.”

“Summer wear is generally more casual to begin with,” Fuchs continued, explaining the duality of these dresses and their ability to go from cozy to dressy with just a little effort.

Boys are all about color this year, too. “Bright colors are not just reserved for girls’ clothing,” said Fuchs. Look for shorts in neon colors, corals and bright shades and patterned bottoms. Green is very popular this season in all shades and extends to boys’ clothing as well.

“For older boys, blazers still make a striking wardrobe piece,” Fuchs added. Blazers come in a variety of summer colors and linens.

In response to popular request, Petit Chic now carries Alfa Perry shirts. Older boys do not always want the austere look of white shirts, and the Alfa Perry shirts are not just plain white shirts. The pockets and cuffs have a pattern that gives these “white shirts with an edge” what Fuchs referred to as “hidden pizzaz and hidden fun.”

Fuchs laughed at the irony of Pesach shopping on the East Coast. “We all buy spring and summer clothing for Pesach but always end up in our winter clothes,” she said laughingly. Fuchs advised that when people choose their wardrobe, they need to consider their location and the climate just as much as the styles. In addition to the climate, it is also important to consider the sensitivities of the individual children, whether it is their personal style, fabric sensitivities or anything else.

Although fashion for girls and women often differs greatly, the versatility of the dress trend lends itself to a broad range of wearers. “Dresses continue to trend,” said Alene Brodsky Bloom of Cedar Lane’s Carly’z Craze. “Look for bright colors on dresses and accessories that pop out and shout ‘spring is here,’” Brodsky Bloom elaborated, referring to the sunshine yellow, true green, candy pink and poppy red colors coming into the store. For a perfect accessory complement to the dresses of spring and summer, the ladies of Carly’z Craze recommend chokers and long pendant necklaces to really enhance the fashion.

And while solids reign, patterns have their place too. Unique prints and patterns look like artwork on dresses, skirts and tops.

Men’s accessories have found a way to make use of Pantone’s color Greenery, with the color splashed across ties, pocket squares, bowties and flower lapels. As prevalent as this color is for the season, Emporio’s visual designer and merchandiser Ari Elbaum encouraged people to embrace all “refreshing and lively” colors of spring and summer. He advised mixing the various bright colors for the summery look.

This sentiment extends to men’s suits and blazers as well. Men’s suits are moving away from the drab blacks and midnight navy shades. Look for lighter shades of blue and gray, in lighter materials.

Men’s shoes are also adding a splash of color to their look. “Tassels, double monk style and cap toe shoes are all still in style, but with a twist,” said Elbaum. “Designers are making dark colored shoes contrast with a bright stitch or light wooden sole. Cole Haan and Florsheim both have this design on many of their new lines of shoes.

Men’s, women’s, girls’ and boys’ fashion all have a variety of bright colors to choose from, at all comfort levels, to shake up their fashion sense.

Looking forward to beautiful spring weather and spring fashion.

By Jenny Gans