Our warm-weather fashion trend exploration began by visiting a variety of women’s clothing shops at The Corners of Brookfield and then browsing several boutiques in downtown Oconomowoc. Each shop featured anything and everything crocheted from tops and tanks to skirts, dresses and shorts. We even spotted crocheted sandals and handbags. Our sentimental favorite was the brightly colored granny square vests. 

Denim has exploded beyond jeans and shorts. Denim skirts, dresses and tops fill the shops’ racks. We found lovely, feminine, tiered dresses and skirts paired with western boots or chunky sandals. Splashes of bling, especially on footwear, complete many outfits. 

The Corners of Brookfield

The shopkeepers at Twigs explained that spring and summer fashion is filled with “playful, light colors and patterns, embellished or embroidery appliqués, silver jewelry and other touches of metal including metallic handbags.” Twigs’ window displays showcase wide-legged jeans paired with structured blazers or floral baby-doll tops. Jeans are also paired with crisp white or cream tuxedo shirts or cap sleeve button blouses. Deep plums and soft violet are popular colors for floral tops and dresses. Ivory trousers, tops and dresses work well for dressier events, while vintage terry midi-skirts or cargo and drawstring pants with espadrilles are comfortable for casual occasions. Trendy accessories include brightly colored woven handbags, raffia clutches and totes, and colorful tortoise sunglasses.

Altar’d State (first and middle photos) displays a wide variety of tiered dresses and crocheted skirts. Arula (last photo) focuses on fashion for plus-sized customers.

If you’re looking for feminine, ruffled or tiered cascade skirts and mini, midi or maxi dresses, check out Altar’d State. The shop offers many vintage options, including babydoll dresses and tops with flutter, bubble and puffy sleeves with lots of lace, eyelet and frills. Soft pinks, pretty purples and light blues add to the overall feminine feel throughout the shop. For a sassy contradiction, denim clothes are paired with bling Western boots. Colorful crocheted skirts, vests, tops and handbags are scattered throughout the shop. There is also an excellent selection of crop tops and tie-waist shorts. Top off your outfit with a glittery headband and platform sandals or sneakers, some with crocheted accents. According to their website, Altar’d State encourages customers to “Help us make the world a better place. Every Monday, you have the opportunity to give back to those who need it most. Ten percent (10%) of net proceeds on Mondays go directly to local charities across the country. Over the years, we have continually supported organizations that feed the hungry, assist service men and women, boost self-esteem, love on those undergoing treatment and house the homeless.”

Arula, a brand in the Altar’d State family, focuses on women’s sizes 10 through 24 to “raise the bar on the mid-and plus-size shopping experience and erase industry standards. Arula celebrates what makes you unique, finds beauty in the details and grace in the small moments of each day.” The shop, located adjacent to Altar’d State, features a selection of floral and monochromatic mini and maxi dresses with tiered, ruffled skirts paired with crystal or rhinestone Western boots and chunky sandals. 

A trip to The Corners of Brookfield is incomplete without wandering through Von Maur’s chic shoe department and checking out their shoe clearance room. We found a wonderful long denim skirt accented by a woven denim handbag and bling-embellished denim platform sneakers. Simply perfection.

Oconomowoc Boutiques

We wrapped up our warm-weather fashion exploration by revisiting a few of our favorite Oconomowoc shops. At Fray Boutique, in addition to fun denim and crocheted selections and a long rack of golden and lemon-yellow casual wear, we discovered the most delightfully soft, knit pastel sweaters bursting with large knit flowers. The sweaters had to be restocked because of their popularity with customers. Fray also offers Steve Madden® jumpsuits and a coordinated blazer and shorts set that can be dressed up or down for work or play.   

Homebody effortlessly pulls together all of this warm-weather season’s fashion trends. We were greeted with a gorgeous, colorful display of denim skirts and jeans, crocheted granny-square sweaters, blue and plum solid and floral feminine tops and cream handbags with gemstone-colored acrylic chain straps. So many fun outfits could be built around that adorable handbag!  

It is true that while styles come and go, they often come back. In my teens, my great-aunt Alma crocheted a granny square vest for me each Christmas. I now wish I had kept those brightly colored, made-with-love treasures.