Happy leap year! Whether you regard February 29th as a particularly auspicious day, follow any of the leap year traditions or superstitions, or treat it like any other day, it is the right time of the year to start planning ahead for your spring and summer wardrobe. Here are some of the best ways to leap into spring 2024 in style.
Leap Year Style: Leap Into Spring 2024
In fact, leap day 2024 might be a perfect time to pick up a few new pieces (or rediscover items you already own) to revitalize your closet — and your mindset — for the season to come. Here’s a few things that we’re loving for spring and summer.
YES! I LOOK FORWARD TO #GROWINGYOUNGER
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE ME TO YOUR MAILING LIST.
Going Green
Emerald green is one of the auspicious colors of the year according to the Chinese zodiac, and adding some to your wardrobe might be a perfect way to mark the lunar new year.
A pair of faux-emerald studs is a great way to start, and these from Savvy Cie available at Nordstrom Rack are a cheap and cheerful option, or you could embrace spring early with a floral blouse like this one by Maeve via Anthropologie. Not a fan of prints? Stick with a rich and solid green top like this one from Banana Republic Factory.
Leap Into Spring 2024: Update Your Raincoat
Something about a cute raincoat — or any kind of lighter jacket — just screams spring to us! We always love a trench for spring, and this one from The North Face is equal parts practical and chic.
Switch To (Ballet) Flats
We love our boots, but after months of wearing them we’re ready for some cute flats or sneakers. Ballet flats are back in a big way, so if those are your thing you’re definitely in luck.
We’re fans of the slightly squared off Mary Jane style from Dolce Vita, which comes in plenty of colors and patterns (the snakeskin might be surprisingly versatile) or go for some bling with a crystal-studded ballet flat — this might be the biggest shoe trend at the moment.
A Colorful Bag
Black and neutral bags are always useful, but there’s something about a colorful bag that just makes us smile. Go all-in for the year of the dragon with one of the limited edition handbags being released (like this beaded lucky dragon shoulder bag from Staud) or consider something with a more subtle theme like this beaded option from Anthropologie’s house line.
If it is still gloomy and wintery where you are located, however, you can brighten things up immediately by celebrating leap day and…
A Flash Of Red
Since one of the leap day traditions involves wearing a scarlet petticoat (for the Irish or Scottish) if you are making a daring move like proposing marriage (in those regions, leap day or February 29th was the one day of the year when a woman could propose to a man and have it be considered socially acceptable).
Perhaps we can adjust that concept to making any kind of daring move for 2024 and anything red will do, since petticoats might not be practical or necessary for most of us! Nail polish, however, is an easy way to add a flash of red. We love OPI’s Red Hot Rio for a bold ruby red that’s a perfect way to literally brighten things up after wearing deeper winter shades.
Shop Leap Year Style
Pictured above from left to right:
Savvy Cie Jewels Vermeil Sterling Silver Emerald Cut CZ Box Stud Earrings, now $27.97
Anthropologie Maeve Buttondown Blouse, $90
Banana Republic Factory Keyhole Double-Pocket Blouse, $59.97
The North Face Women’s City Rain Trench Coat, $169
Dolce Vita Reyes Ballet Flats, $120
Sam Edelman Women’s Michaela Mary Jane Flat, $160
Stand Tommy Beaded Bag Lucky Dragon, $295
Athropologie Maeve The Fiona Beaded Bag: Shoreline Edition, $88
OPI Nail Lacquer, Red Hot Rio, Red Nail Polish, 0.5 fl oz, $11.99
Do you have any special leap year superstitions or leap day traditions? Do you know anyone born on February 29th and when and how do they celebrate their birthday? Let us know in the comments or on our Growing Younger Facebook page!
–Jacqueline Zenn
You may also like to read more of Jacqui’s fashion tips like Chic Ways to Nail the Mob Wife Aesthetic for Women Over 50 and Winter Vests: Love Them, Hate Them or Simply Just Not That Into Them?
This post contains affiliate links which may give us a commission at no additional cost to you.
Are you following Fountain Of 30 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest? We’ve got lots going on, so join in on the fun! Subscribe to our newsletter here. You don’t want to miss a post and promise not to bug you to death. Join our Facebook Group called Growing Younger where women discuss everything good and bad about being over 50. Additionally Lauren hosts a bi-weekly podcast called Beauty is a Bitch! and an Instagram Live series called “Growing Younger Gabfest with Lauren.”
Please pin!
