After nearly 20 hours of flights and countless reruns of Elite, I’m a born-again Spanish fashion fanatic. Riverside California shirt Although my style veers more towards understated silhouettes, neutral colors, and classic tailoring, two weeks in the Spanish capital of Madrid has breathed life into my closet. To the surprise of no one, the anti–skinny-jean trend remains strong. Spanish women are more receptive to out-there trends than their French neighbors, so baggy styles like cargo pants and ultra-wide trousers made guest appearances as well. Americana goes East. While cowboy boots boomed and slowly faded away among American influencers and celebrities (minus our favorite horse girl, Kendall Jenner), the Western staple still remains strong among Spain’s fashion crowd. Most of the women I spotted wearing them paired their boots with casual knit dresses—a combination I need to try for myself now that I’m back home. While European women are most often associated with dark colors and understated prints in the winter, Spanish women completely throw that rule out of the window. For every elegant Breton-stripe outfit I saw on the streets of Madrid, there was a loud and cheery knit top, cardigan, or sweater following close behind. Who said freezing temperatures have to be boring?

Riverside California shirt, hoodie, sweater, longsleeve and ladies t-shirt

We love jeans. Jeans are our friends. Riverside California shirt They give us endless outfit ideas when our inspiration is running dry, and they even translate to our wardrobes year-round. They’re a true-blue closet staple. However, there are certain trends that jeans just don’t jive with as well as others. Chalk it up to its laid-back associations, but sometimes denim just doesn’t do the trick, which is why it’s helpful to consider the full range of options in front of you. This spring, you may have a trend or two (or seven) that you’re eyeballing. However, investing in a trend is only the first step because as we all know, the hardest part is tackling the styling aspect. This is where today’s denim focus comes into play. While reaching for the closest pair of crop-flare jeans might feel like the best option when test-driving your trend of choice, sometimes it’s worth brainstorming a bit further. Ahead, we’ve highlighted a small pool of pieces that look wonderful paired with non-denim accouterments. Scroll down to find out what they are and to shop the trends. If you’ve yet to try the belt-bag (aka fancy-fanny-pack) trend, rest assured because it’s not too late. Unfortunately, fastening the strap inside of your jean loops might prove too fussy. Instead, layer it over an easy spring dress for a cool look that also happens to be hands-free.