Sure the economy looks dismal, but that doesn’t mean you have to. Fresh spring fashions reflect a mood of optimism—where color, compelling combinations of textures and patterns, and bold jewelry offer escapism from the news of the day.

The attitude is sports chic—comfort clothes in flowing silhouettes, cozy layers, and soft fabrications. As expected, many fashion designers found inspiration in the safety net of the past—reinventing ‘80s post punk/Miami Vice/Star Wars techno vibe, ‘60s-‘70s free-spirited bohemian panache, and ‘50s garden party/resort style. Others took cues from African, Asian, Indian and Mexican cultures, even Yankee Doodle Dandy Americana!

Which colors are getting response?  Calming, grounded, and happy shades like cool blues and purples, vibrant pops of lemon yellow, spring green and fuchsia red, and deeper translucent or neutral tones like slate gray, oatmeal, and sand.

Design details are adding more interest and fun in fabric treatments like asymmetrical hemlines, solo shoulder strap, and tailoring tricks like draping, folding, ruching, ruffles, pleats, cutouts, and lace-ups. Rich metallics and jeweled embellishment remain popular. Separates (i.e. cardigans and jackets) play a key role in wardrobe makeovers, with layering and accessorizing important to making a look your own.

This season’s must-have accessory is jewelry, of course! Both fine and couture costume jewelry decorated most of the spring runways in an array of artful, bohemian, and ethnic looks. Deep colors, interesting textures, and unique material combos, like precious gems and metals with enamel, glass, resin, wood, brass, leather, or rubber are the mainstay. Current textile trends translate perfectly in jewelry like cutouts, transparency, and graphic patterns.

Seen On the Runways
• Over-the-top gem pieces by Henry Dunay decorated the stunning fashions of Venexiana like 18k gold jewels with South Sea pearls, salmon coral, multi-color tourmalines, and vanilla, spearmint and blue sheen moonstones.

• Malan Breton launched his first jewelry line with his spring collection, both influenced by nature’s elements translated in attention nabbing rings, pendants, earrings, and bracelets set with gems like amethyst, aquamarine, blue topaz, lapis, moonstone, citrine, emerald, jade, onyx, tourmaline, and iolite in silver.

• Damiani collaborated with designer Jil Sander to launch her first jewelry line. Among the pieces spied during her spring runway show—tribal earrings worn as thin gold rods protruding from both sides of the lobe, dangling black diamonds.

• Carlos Miele adorned his fashions with the gemmy jewels of fellow Brazilian designer Juliana Scarpa, who crafted massive rings and bracelets in unexpected shapes with rough and cut stones like amethyst, citrine, rutilated quartz, rock crystal, morganite, aquamarine, turquoise, onyx and black tourmaline in 18k gold.

• Brian Reyes accessorized his Ethiopian inspired fashions with bold bronze wired necklaces handcrafted by L.A. designer Sonia Boyajian, who imbues a raw but structured edge in her tribal-like jewelry.

• Monique Lhuillier handpicked one-of-a-kind pieces from John Hardy’s "Cinta" collection to accessorize her spring line of sweet chiffons and airy tulles, including seashell rings, pendants and cuffs handcrafted from vintage shells, and sculpted in gold set with colorful gems.

Seen On the Sidewalks
• Nature-inspired designs remain all the rage, especially flowers, bugs, birds, animals, and sea life. Looks with tribal flare and cultural connections; whimsical styles; and pieces with personal meaning are the trend.

• Next to statement necklaces and long chains with big gem and pearl tassels or large medallions, big earrings, ala chandelier, are back, and knuckle-dusting gem rings and cuff and bangle bracelets stacked are staples.

• Colorful brooches are spot on! Gems like amethyst, citrine, rock crystal, or smoky, rose, lemon, green, and milky quartz offer big bang for the buck in color.

• But it’s not all about size. Smaller, more delicate pieces—miniscule pendants covered in pavé diamonds, delicate drop earrings, and lightweight rings are important, especially in message conveying pieces like hamsa hands, lucky charms, talismans, and personal symbols like zodiacs, initials, and numbers.

• A major trend spotted in the spectator crowd at the spring runway shows in New York was hair accessories, particularly headbands donned in feathers, bejeweled combs and berets, even brooches used to tack swept up dos.

So, seek comfort knowing you don’t need a new wardrobe this spring, just a few key items to spice up your look and reinvigorate your attitude!