By Angel Feliciano, News Correspondent

Get ready to put away those thick winter coats and cozy boots.

With the first official day of spring next Tuesday, the change in season means a change in wardrobes. Experts said color-blocking, peplum silhouettes and pastels will be popular for women this year.

Color-blocking is pairing bright, solid colors together.

Siobhan Duncan, a sophomore marketing major and an editor for the Northeastern edition of the blog CollegeFashionista, said she expects to see – and wear – lots of color-blocking this season.

“I wear a lot of solid colors and I have a lot of solid pieces,” Duncan said. “Lots of yellow and purple.”

Pastels will also be popular this spring, Duncan said, citing runway collections by Louis Vuitton, Jill Stuart and Chanel.

“They’re popping up everywhere,” Duncan said. “I love bright colors, but I think I’m definitely going to try out the pastels.”

Ashley Tarow, a sales associate at Forever 21 on Newbury Street, agreed color-blocking is in this spring.

“We have a lot of neon and bright colors and flowy shirts,” she said. “Floral prints and crop tops are on our racks right now.”

Tarow said the store also has a variety of crocheted lace and chiffon tops in pastel colors.

Christina Trivelli, a freshman psychology major, said she is excited for the upcoming season’s trends.

“I think [spring] is all about romance and new beginnings, and when I think of that, I think of the pastels and the shades and everything girly – that all sounds good to me,” Trivelli said. “It’s also really fun to experiment and wear bold colors, and color-blocking is definitely fun.”

Christina Esposito, a sales associate at Gap in Copley Place, said people should focus on purchasing pieces that can be transitioned into the summer. She said color-blocking is a safe bet.

“‘Be bright’ is the theme for this year,” Esposito said. “So anything neon is really in. There are a multitude of T-shirts to wear with a bunch of shorts that can stretch right until summer.”

Hayley O’Riordan, a senior psychology and sociology major, said she will be trying some of the new trends out.

“I’m really into pattern mixing, so I’m really excited for that to come up, and also I love the neon color-blocking mixing,” O’Riordan said. “It came up with a bang again this year. I like yellows and hot pinks, teal blues and turquoises.”

However, O’Riordan said she will not be wearing any pastels.

“My complexion doesn’t go with it,” she said. “I’d rather be bright and wear solid colors. I wear a lot of prints and do a lot of mixing and matching.”

Duncan said she is most looking forward to peplum silhouettes this season.

In a peplum silhouette, a flounce – an additional, ornamental band of fabric – is attached to the garment’s waist.

“Peplums are very ’40s, and when I heard that was coming in, I was really excited,” Duncan said. “If you’re bold enough to wear them, it can be really flattering because it does nip in your waist, and creates kind of like an hourglass figure because it accentuates your hips while minimizing your waist.”

Trivelli said although she is willing to try the peplum silhouette, she is not sure it will be appropriate for every day wear.

“I would try the peplums, but probably not to class because it’s so dressy, sophisticated,” she said. “Also, I may be a little out of place. But I would wear it out at night or to an event.”

Duncan conceded the silhouette might not be popular on campus.

“I don’t think we will see a lot of Northeastern students in them,” she said. “But people will definitely see me in them.”

As for men’s fashion, Duncan said leather jackets will be big, as they are every season, as well as pants in bright colors like green, yellow and orange.

“It is definitely northeast style to wear colored jeans,” Duncan said. “Also, when going into spring, when you’re not hiding under layers, leather jackets will always be stylish.”

However, O’Riordan said she does not expect see men to wear leather jackets frequently this spring.

“I think they would be wearing a lot of linen pants and pastels this spring, like button-down shirts,” O’Riordan said.

Duncan said she hopes to see men in more plaid this season, as well as denim-on-denim.

More importantly, however, Duncan said men should focus on fit as they transition their wardrobes.

“I think that’s one of the more important things, not so much what you’re wearing but just that it fits well,” she said. “That’s the biggest mistake for men.”