Spring Closet Must-Haves: Current and Classic Picks for the Season

From left to right: Amy Buschar, Elizabeth Bean Smith, and Christy Walsh of Wardrobe Therapy. 

Spring has officially arrived, and with it comes the opportunity for a closet refresh. Thanks to an Instagram feed filled with inspiration courtesy of chic boutiques and style mavens, our heads are spinning with the stylish possibilities just waiting to be purchased. To help us focus on the absolute must-have items for the season, we asked the experts at Columbus, Ohio-based Wardrobe Therapy to share which pieces they think are destined to become classics (i.e., what to splurge on), as well as which pieces to invest in to look current in the coming months.

Style Expert 1: Elizabeth Bean Smith, Founder // A Fashion Institute of Technology alum and former corporate stylist for a Fortune 500 company, Elizabeth describes her personal style as “casual chic with boho flair.”

Keep it current: This spring, she’s embracing the sleeve details that seem to be ubiquitous among designers. “My most classic client can wear the look with a great black ankle pant, and the most boho client can wear it with cropped denim and booties,” she says, listing Caroline Constas’s Athena Striped Wrap Blouse and Victoria Beckham’s Cape Top (pictured above, #3), both available from Marissa Collections in Naples, Florida, among her favorite options.

Invest in a classic: For a piece to splurge on that you’ll wear for years to come, Elizabeth says you can’t go wrong with a classic blazer like the Dorothee Schumacher Unexpected Grounds Jacket in Night Gold (pictured above, #1) available from Hampden in Charleston, South Carolina, or the Smythe Racing Stripe Blazer available from Rowe Boutique in Columbus, Ohio. “The Dorothee Schumacher silhouette can be worn on a variety of shapes, and I can never get enough of the tailoring done by Smythe,” she says.

Style Expert 2: Christy Walsh, Styling Director // Christy, who holds degrees in fashion merchandising and marketing and communication, follows a personal style philosophy of “casual chic meets edgy.”

Keep it current: Like Elizabeth, Christy favors the sleeve detail trend this spring. “I love the drama of it,” she says. “It can be read as elegant and demure when done simply, or we can take it to the overt extreme. That kind of chameleon-like trend is thrilling to me.” Her picks for making a statement with sleeves include Preen By Thornton Bregazzi’s Cora Blouse and Tibi’s Satin Poplin Boatneck Top, which is available from Hampden.

Invest in a classic: “My investment piece has to be a trench coat,” Christy says. “Not only is it one of the top trending staples of the season, but it is a true classic that will live in your wardrobe for years to come.” Her favorite looks include the Jane Post Downtown Trench Coat (pictured above, #5) available from Tuckernuck in Washington, D.C.

Style Expert 3: Amy Buschar, Senior Stylist // “American sportswear meets French chic” defines the personal approach of the senior stylist, who worked in design direction and product management prior to joining Wardrobe Therapy.

Keep it current: “This spring, the military-inspired options are intoxicatingly gorgeous,” Amy says. At the top of her wish list are Sea’s One-Shoulder Bow Top (pictured above, #2) and Self-Portrait’s Utility Mini Skirt, which she would pair with a simple white tee and sporty kicks or a blue-and-white striped blouse and sandals. Both pieces are available from Hampden.

Invest in a classic. “Back in the day, a chandelier earring was my signature look,” Amy says. Fittingly, Irene Nuewirth’s Yellow Gold 9-Drop Chandelier Earrings (pictured above, #4), available from Vermillion in Raleigh, North Carolina, are at the top of her splurge list for spring. “These simple yet stunning earrings will instantly add style to almost anything, especially a plain white tee and jeans,” she says.

Wardrobe Therapy, a Columbus, Ohio-based fashion consulting firm that provides style and wardrobe services for individuals and organizations, is featured in The Scout Guide Columbus.