Spring Trends to Avoid - What to Wear Instead

TREND: Innerwear as Outerwear

"This spring, several designers returned to corsetry, lace and boning—it was a huge trend," says Adam. "I believe in the 9 to 5 girl—how do I say this—not the 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. girl."

HERE TO STAY: SMART LAYERING
Fortunately, says Adam, there's a tasteful way to adapt this trend. (Which is great, because most of us can't pull off Victorian madam, circa 1885, or Madonna, circa 1985.) For a hint of lace, he suggests wearing a pretty camisole under a cardigan or jacket (instead of reaching for your standby cotton T-shirt). Or you might save the pretty corsets and delicate, transparent lace pieces for the bedroom. "The lingerie companies are going to be very inspired by the runway looks, so if you run to Victoria's Secret, you'll find lots of pretty bra-and-panty sets now."

TREND: High-Waisted, Pleated Pants

Although this looked terrific on the runway, Adam is not usually a fan of pleats in the real world. Why? "They're the quickest way to add pounds to your body," he says. "No one needs excess fabric around their waist or belly."

HERE TO STAY: LOOSE TROUSERS
The past few years have seen a lot of extremely low-rise and incredibly tight styles, so Adam understands why women might be tempted by trousers that offer more coverage. But instead of going for a high-waisted style, he recommends a classic shape in this spring's flowy, softer materials. These pants, like the Etro style, right, have more room through the thighs. If you really want to try the pleat trend, he says, "avoid the typical box-pleats and look for inverted styles." These are sewn down—think catholic schoolgirl kilts or cheerleader skirts—and are typically more flattering. (If you have a short torso, any pleat is going to make you look shorter, so this trend may be one you skip entirely.)

TREND: Kooky Footwear

"The styles designers featured this season were eye-catching, true...;," says Adam, "but I think they're way too much of a conversation piece for most women's lives. Also, some of the clunkier styles can make a person look like Fred Flintstone.

HERE TO STAY: PLATFORMS AND WEDGES
"The covered platform is very fashionable and surprisingly wearable," says Adam. He likes shoes that mix textures and fabrics—like this Ralph Lauren espadrille wedge with delicate blue straps. These less-radical but still charming, chic styles will freshen up any neutral—a khaki skirt, a pair of white jeans—already in your closet.

Adam Glassman's crib sheet on which trends won't do you any favors—and which ones have the potential to become classics