The sun is shining. The birds are chirping. And I’m finally able to put the big winter coat away. It’s time for iced caramel macchiatos and driving with the windows open and the music blasting. It’s time for spring.

Well…almost.

For me it won’t quite be spring until I’ve done my spring shopping. And I plan to do a lot of spring shopping. Bright colors. Neutral shoes. 70s inspired shirts. Lady like pieces. Long skirts. So much to choose from. And so little cash. Sigh. I guess I’ll have to stick with my top five. These are the spring trends I just can’t live without. And you shouldn’t either.

Wide Leg Jeans.

I resisted this trend. I resisted this trend a lot. Because as much as these jeans are supposed to flatter every body type, and as much as these jeans are supposed to make your legs longer, and as much as everyone wants to embrace these jeans with open arms, I was worried they’d look dated next to my favorite pair of skinnies. But two weeks ago I caved and bought a pair. I tucked a white button down into them and paired them with some wedges and a really cute belt. And you know what? It looked really great. I may just have a new favorite jean.

Check out our favorite wide leg jeans here

Chunky Wedges.

Being all of five foot nothing I’m a girl who likes her heels. But I like them even more when they’re a chunky wedge with wooden or rope woven bottoms, and lots of crisscross straps. I like them in leather and in cloth. In bright color and neutral shades. I like them with skinny jeans and wide leg trousers and longs skirts and short dresses. I like them with pretty much anything, actually. And this spring wedges will be my go-to shoe. That’s for sure.

Check out our favorite chunky wedges here

A Striped Shirt.

Sometimes preppy. Sometimes Parisian. Always chic. I love stripes because they’re like wearing a print without actually having to wear a print. (I’m not a big fan of prints.) And I especially love this seasons stripes because there are so many different options to choose from. Horizontal stripes. Vertical stripes. Thick stripes. Think stripes. And those cute one that looked they were drawn without a ruler? Those are my favorite. I’m a fan of the traditional blue, but this season everyone’s favorite pattern is available in lots of bright colors too.

Check out our favorite striped shirts here

70s Accessories.

When I was flipping through the pages of my April StyleWatch I almost started to feel like I was watching an episode of That 70s Show. 70s style is back this year, and it’s pretty big deal too. Now I’ve never been much for peasant tops or bright red pants, but even I can appreciate crochet accents and fringe bags. Flower rings, turquoise jewelry. Big earrings. Keep them coming please. I’ll pair them with my wide leg pants.

Check out our favorite ’70s accessories here

A classic trench coat.

The trench is having a moment right now, of that you can be sure. But I know I won’t have to feel guilty about this purchase because the trench has been around for a very, very long time, and it will continue to be around for a long time to come. From Audrey Hepburn to Victoria Bechkam, from rainy days to dinner dates, every girl can wear a trench for just about any occasion. And I plan to use mine quite a bit this season.

Check out our favorite trench coats here

The following post is courtesy of our gal pals over at CollegeFashion.net. Check them out for all your fashion and beauty needs!

As members of the CF (and CC!)community, it’s safe to say we’re all pretty fashion-savvy. We know what’s in, we know what’s out, and most of all we know that most of the season’s “must-haves” come with expiration dates. Similarly, we’re all students. We can’t afford to buy into the latest designer whims- we can barely afford to feed ourselves! So what’s a stylish college girl to do? Reach for the classics, of course.

Whereas most “wardrobe classics” lists talk about items that have been popular for centuries, this post is about the new era of timeless pieces – OUR classics: the new wardrobe staples for this generation. While of course there will be some overlap with old-school “fashion classics” lists, this list will focus on the next generation of classics, and list some newer pieces that every modern girl needs to own, as well as a few items that have been in style forever.

1. The Plaid/Check Shirt

Although this piece has only been hot for a couple of years now, it won’t be going anywhere for a while. The check shirt is easy, casual and fabulous dressed up or dressed down. If you need any help styling up this fantastically versatile piece, check out CF’s guide to rocking a plaid shirt.

2. Skinny Jeans

Okay, I know not everyone is a fan of the ubiquitous skinny jean, but the truth is this style is here to stay. Whether you wear them with ballet flats or boots for day or sky-high heels for night, skinnies are a perpetual closet staple for every modern girl.

Clickto hop over to CollegeFashion and find out the other 8 essentials (plus another 10!).

Want to return to the spring trends story. Well, duh. Just click here!

[Celebrities get paid to look good and serve as a style guide to all us common folk, and part of looking good is flaunting their totally awesome fashion sense. Each week, I will be highlighting my Style Idol of the week: a celebrity who consistently shows keen fashion sense and whose closet I would raid in a heartbeat. Of course, no celebs are immune to the occasional “what the hell were they thinking?” moment, but for the most part, these celebs look foxy and fabulous and inspire us all to do the same.]

My favorite fashion-conscious celeb this week is Miss Leighton Meester. Since becoming a bonafide star after Gossip Girl came to the silver screen last fall, this girl can be seen all over the young Hollywood circuit consistently looking put-together and gorgeous.

I love how she puts young and modern spins on classics, and while she’ll vamp it up with short skirts or backless dresses, she never crosses the line into Slutville. Not only does she choose the right clothes for her personal style, coloring and body-type, she accessorizes fabulously well and knows how to mix & match appropriately.

She really showed off her stuff during Fashion Week in NYC two weeks ago and proved that she’s one of Hollywood’s best dressed. If I had access to her wardrobe, I think I might just die and go to heaven.