craigdailypress.com

Craig — Vibrant and vacation-driven are the best ways to describe spring fashions, Craig retailers contend. With flowy, flouncy tops and dresses in a variety of patterns and prints, spring fashions are in Craig and ready for warm-weather wardrobes.

"I think clothes in the springtime are just fun all the way around," said Elsie Hernandez, owner of One Way Fashions, 19 W. Victory Way. "We have to take advantage of the little summer that we have."

Basics of the beach

Hernandez said long dresses in hues such as yellow, fuchsia, orange and turquoise - in both solids and patterns - are popping up everywhere. And Hernandez said dresses and tops that flow away from the body seem more popular than those that cling to curves.

"The dresses, they look so feminine," Hernandez said. "They're dresses you can dress up or dress down."

With easy-to-wear tops in a variety of textures and designs, Hernandez said many of the items she's bringing in feel like resort clothes to her.

"It really feels like beach wear, vacation wear to me," Hernandez said.

That concept rings true on the catwalks, as designers tout their new lines of ocean-inspired colors in flowing shapes.

Nordstrom's fashion director Gregg Andrews said the season's fluid fabrics mimic the movement of water and that many of the materials also are soft and diaphanous.

"It's a way to take a mental vacation," Andrews said.

Bling bling

Hernandez and Rose Lindquist, manager of Maurice's in Centennial Mall, 1111 W. Victory Way, agree that embellishment is an eye-catching way to dress up a spring wardrobe.

"Anything with bling on it is really hitting home," Hernandez said.

Lindquist said her store carries clothing items that mimic gladiator, safari and Bohemian looks, many of which are complimented with medallions, sequins and faux necklaces. Tye-dye, floral and animal print clothes and accessories are popular, as well, Lindquist said.

Not everyone can afford to replace their current wardrobe with a brand new spring one, but Lindquist said it's an easy transition.

"You can take basic pieces - like a pair of solid capris - and you could add a new shirt or two to it and get a whole different look," Lindquist said.

She also suggests taking spring pieces and pairing them with tall boots or a cardigan to stay warm until temperatures rise again.

Accessorize!

Another way to bring an outfit into the new season is through jewelry, shoes and bags.

"Accessorizing is such a big thing : you've got to have big and bright, just like the outfits," Hernandez said.

Wooden bracelets, straw totes and shell jewelry are big this year, Lindquist said.

"Accessories make a big difference," she said. "If you add a fashion scarf or jewelry with bright colors, you can make your outfit more interesting."

Fashion scarves are "long, thin scarves you can put on with any outfit - casual or dressy," Lindquist explained. "Those are really popular right now."

All in all, the women say that the key to spring fashion is having fun with it and expressing your own style in the sun.

Lindquist said her favorite things about spring fashion are: "The fun colors - you get to wear the brighter colors you can't always wear in the winter - and the accessories - the flip flops, the jewelry and the other fun things you can add to your outfits to make them different every day."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.