6 Spring Fashion Trends You Don’t Have to Spend a Lot of Money On

Spring Fashion Trends You Don’t Have to Spend a Lot of Money On It’s officially March, which means we’re one month closer to glorious spring. Awesome. What’s not awesome? The ton of cash we all want to drop on a new season’s wardrobe.

Luckily, you don’t have to, so long as you shop spring’s most fun trends responsibly, with a little help from our handy guide. Here’s where it’s best to save (and then where it’s actually better to spend).

SAVE ON: EMBELLISHED FLAT SANDALS

Pom-poms. Tassels. Fringe. This season is all about crazy-fun footwear. But will you wear them enough to justify taking out a second mortgage? Probably not. Go ahead and add a bright and playful pair to your closet, but look to the wealth of cheap-o options first.

SAVE ON: SKINNY SCARVES

You don’t have to pair your skinny scarf with a loudly printed suit per se, but it is a great way to inject a little ’70s edge into an everyday ensemble. Plus, since it’s basically just a thin strip of fabric, chances are it won’t break the bank.

SPLURGE ON: RAW EDGE DENIM

It was a sad day when we discovered that spending more on denim really is worth it–but that’s just because pricey jeans last longer and the fit is far superior. So, OK, not that sad. This season go for those tough raw-hem joints to pair with your dainty heels. Heads will turn.

SAVE ON: BELL SLEEVES

What looks great with your fancy new jeans? A statement blouse. You can cut a few corners on this high-trend but casual style because, frankly, every mall store will have one.

SPLURGE ON: OFF-THE-SHOULDER TOPS

Off-the-shoulder tops have been hot for a few seasons (and will be for a few more), so you’re probably going to get a good amount of use out of this bad boy, especially if in a neutral color. It might be worth it to spend a little extra to snag one that will go the distance.

SAVE ON: SNEAKERS

Praise the gods of comfort for this one. Clean white sneakers can be paired with virtually anything, and with many pairs costing under $100, they’re the least expensive shoe statement you can make.

SPLURGE ON: HEELED MULES

Unlike the embellished flat sandals before, this style requires a bit of quality–mostly for walkability. To get the most bang for your buck, stick to a simpler, more classic pair that you can wear again and again. And we promise you will for a few seasons to come.

SPLURGE ON: BACKPACKS

Material matters, especially when it comes to leather. Spend a little on an on-trend knapsack to ensure that you’ll still love wearing it years down the line.

SAVE ON: CHOKERS

Fun, costume jewelry is one category where you can pretty much always go cheaper, price-wise. Look for plain metals instead of necklaces with stones–which are usually dead giveaways that a piece is fake. Just be cautious of not going too cheap, lest you’d like a green neck with that.

SAVE ON: STATEMENT EARRINGS

The same goes for statement earrings, which you can definitely get away with spending less money on.

SPLURGE ON: PAJAMA DRESSING

Paired with jeans or a skirt alike, a pajama top surprisingly looks chicer than slept-in. And it’s one of spring’s most ladylike trends. Since this little number can pull double duty during the day and at night, treat yourself to something in a luxurious, high-quality fabric.