Let your fashion style splurge forward this season

SLIDESHOW: More spring fashion trends

Spring is here, and it's time to pick from fashion's garden.

Dresses come in a bumper crop of styles from floral-covered wraps to tailored black-and-white shirtdresses and empire-waisted flirty numbers. Shorts bloom in sexy and sophisticated varieties thanks to fabrics and styling beyond denim and khaki. Paired with eyelet bustiers or billowy blouses, shorts have become the skirt alternative.

Wedges, platforms, peep-toe pumps or flats enriched with detailing borrowed from their more vertical counterparts add interest to any outfit.

Clothing retailers and wardrobe coaches from Carytown, the West End, Mechanicsville and River Road said that together, these elements make for a glorious seasonal selection of staples and splurges sure to brighten the landscape of any wardrobe.

"A splurge can be twofold," said Hank Greenberg, owner of Coplon's on River Road. "It can be the thing you wear the most -- a pair of [high-quality] pants. Then they're an investment."

"To me, a splurge is a really gorgeous dress. It doesn't have to be a long gown, either," said Heidi Story, owner of the Carytown store of the same name that will showcase some of its spring lines in Thursday's Carytown fashion show at EQ3, which is expected to include 35 Carytown businesses.

Staples will be among the featured items as well. They can be good quality, work-them-all-the-time pieces, experts said. Think shoes, pants, skirts or a particular shirt.

Choosing staples for your wardrobe depends on your lifestyle and the pieces you wear routinely. Experts said to buy the best you can afford so the pieces will last under the strain of daily wear and tear.

Suzanna Barth, manager of South Moon Under at Short Pump Town Center, said women can find sticker-shock relief for splurge and staple pieces by dividing the number of times they're worn in a year by their price.

"When you add it up, you're not paying nearly as much as you thought," Barth said.

Contact staff writer Penelope M. Carrington at or (804) 649-6027.