Pictured: Style inspiration for slim straight denim. Photo by Kendall Stone, as seen on Motel Therapy’s Instagram

I keep an eye on runway shows and fashion trends so you don’t have to. As a Sarasota Native, I filter through style trends to give you realistic style advice for all ages; and for the record I stray away from hyper-trends and fast fashion.Let’s talk about what styles are on the horizon for spring and summer 2023 and where you might find them locally. I’m calling the overall theme of this year “casual chic”. Over the past 2 years we’ve seen athleisure wear takeover and we are now seeing the popular style slowly elevate. For example, upgrade your leggings to a skirt or a flowy dress but feel free to keep the sneakers on. For dresses and skirts we’re seeing a lot of longer hemlines this year. Midi and maxi dresses will be popular. If you really want to be ahead of the curve, denim maxi skirts are slowly becoming the “it” item amongst influencers and celebrities. It’s also a personal favorite trend of mine. We’re also seeing a lot of feminine details like bubble hems, bows and soft colors. Surge Style, a boutique on Main Street, has great feminine pieces and dresses that align with these trends. For denim we’re seeing a revival of the skinny pant! They got a bad rep last year but designers are quickly welcoming the style back this year. If you still like the look of a skinny pant but want to feel modern and on trend, opt for a slim straight leg. Motel Therapy, a local boutique located in Burns Court, carries the Aussie Brand Rolla’s which offers these styles under $150. Trousers are still all the rage this year and look great worn casually with a sneaker and tee of your choice. Speaking of sneakers, one of the most popular lifestyle sneakers at the moment are the Adidas Sambas (it also has a great price point at $100). The black Sambas were seen all over for fall and winter; I’ll be opting for a bright color for spring and summer. Other brands like New Balance continue to be very popular and are releasing great modern lifestyle options. Whenever discussing trends, I always like to end with saying fashion and style are best when it feels personal to you. Use trends as a guide to feel modern and then wear it however you feel best!

Kendall Stone is owner and fasion buyer for Motel Therapy,  532 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, 941-960-2277.

Pictured: Style inspiration for slim straight denim. Photo by Kendall Stone, as seen on Motel Therapy’s Instagram