Blazers: it looks as if a blazer will be replacing the cardigans and wraps Girlawhirl's become so accustomed to reaching for. Softer and slouchier than the suit jackets she already has in her closet, these toppers took on a decidedly casual look, in contrasting colors, soft fabrics, with sleeves sometimes pushed up and hardly ever buttoned. From Dolce & Gabbana to Stella McCartney and DKNY, they were all over the runways. And Girlawhirl expects to be adding a blazer or two to her spring wardrobe.

Cropped Pants: Something about the look of a cropped slim pant has always appealed to Girlawhirl: perhaps it's the Audrey Hepburn visual reference that instantly makes her feel graceful when she pulls on a pair. For Spring 09, instead of the basic black, cropped pants of all colors hit the runways. From skinny cigarette silhouettes to those that fall straight from the hip, Girlawhirl knows she won't go wrong with these ankle skimming trousers.

Harem Pants: Girlawhirl feels it's necessary to pay special attention to this specific kind of cropped pant: the full draped wide leg with a band at the bottom. When she first saw them in New York, she dismissed them as a fad, but after seeing them turn up on more and more European runways, from Paul Smith to Emporio Armani, she's taking a second look. And truth be told, purchasing a pair makes for an easy wardrobe update.

Jumpsuits: Another piece that Girlawhirl intends to introduce into her world is a jumpsuit. From draped, printed and a perfectly-pretty-dress-alternative at Tracey Reece to sleek, black and with a decidedly edgy look at Chloe, the variety is endless.

Florals and Kooky Prints: It's not just pretty floral patterns and prints that Girlawhirl knows she'll be wearing for spring – she may even mix them. Designers took pattern mixing pretty far on the runways, with graduated stripes, high contrast color combinations, prints that mixed large and small motifs and more.

Controlled Volume: Girlawhirl loves the idea of voluminous draped clothing, but often finds that it ends up being too much of a good thing. For Spring 09, there's fullness – most often in bell shaped skirts that accentuate the curve of the wearer's hip – but by adding a belt, or a series of pleats, it's all under control.

Sheer and Lace: There are always sheer looks for spring, and they're often casual layers. But this spring it's far more ladylike with refined lace inserts in the mix. And even the more typical sheer layers feel less beachy, with much less of the straps-showing looks Girlawhirl usually associates with sheer layers.

Slim Silhouettes: When Girlawhirl puts together an outfit she's used to balance – a full skirt with a slim top, or skinny pant with layers that create interest around her torso. For Spring 09, the slim silhouette worked the runways. Whether it was a lean sheath dress at Michael Kors or a slim pant topped with an equally skinny vest at Costume National, the idea of slim over slim is something Girlawhirl will definitely experiment with.

Necklaces and Neck Details: Just like Project Runway's Korto, designers used chunky necklaces as part of a neckline or as an added accessory. Short or long, come spring it really won't matter, Girlawhirl just needs to make sure she has a few in rotation. In addition to necklaces, there's plenty of other action at the neck, from bows to ruffles and other embellishments.

Leather: Whether she chooses to wear it or not, Girlawhirl saw a lot of leather on the Spring 09 runways. Her “watch” began with a beautifully tailored dress at Bottega Veneta, to a vest and skirt at Just Cavalli to Pucci, Gucci, Hermes and Louis Vuitton.

Black, White and All the Bright Colors In Between: As far as color goes for spring, it looks to Girlawhirl as if almost anything goes. Colors are stronger and pack more of a punch than seasons past, and the greens, blues and purples from fall will continue in lighter, brighter shades. Those shades are balanced by oranges, pinks and peachy-nude colors, and with khaki and brown on the scene, there's still a bit of a neutral vibe.

Print out Girlawhirl's shopping cheat sheet here. Click to open to its full size, then print.

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