Lighten up. Spring is back, and colour is in the air. After a winter full of grey, black and blah, it’s nice to return to vivid.

Before you spring forward, take a look back. Remember L’Oreal’s Studio Line commercials from the late ’80s? They featured a Mondrian-style backdrop of canary yellow, cherry red and royal blue, and starred a madcap bunch of hair-sprayed models dancing and playing the saxophone.

This spring take that colour palette and those hip ’80s sensibilities and let them loose on your wardrobe. Do it on your feet in shiny yellow patent, strap it on your shoulder in red leather and wrap yourself in a Technicolor sheath of vibrant blue.

While you’re at it, embrace the new electric you with some tasteful tribal treats. Taking cues from Africa, some of the season’s more interesting prints are influenced by the dashiki. Just be careful not to go overboard — there’s a difference between style maven and crazy hippy.

Another look that dominates this season involves a little role reversal for the ladies. From suits to dress shirts — its time to dig into your man’s closet, steal his suspenders and flaunt your pseudo-masculinity.

With a wide array of bold and boisterous graphic fabrics available, floral and vintage-inspired prints are hot. Ignore your inner shrinking violet and amp up your pattern output with anything from stripes to checkerboard.

And don’t limit your brilliance to just prints — colour is absolutely everywhere. Set your sights on a pair of neon shoes, try a rich gold tunic or a whimsical cantaloupe blouse.

Like last season, voluminous pieces are still very much a part of the fashion landscape, from billowy sleeves in outerwear to Pucci-inspired shift dresses. For your own touch of Mary Quant, sync up this look with bright tights and flats.

Speaking of footwear, definitely stick with metallics this season. Heels and flats in bronze, silver and gold not only look good, but go with everything.

Another emerging footwear trend is the gladiator sandal. Dozens of celebs are already wearing updated versions of the woven leather wonders made popular by fashionistas in the ’80s and the men of Rome in 60 BC.

For accessories, think big necklaces with fabric-wrapped bobbles or chunky elemental pieces. Patchwork pieces are making a strong comeback, appearing in both multicolour stripe and angular square variations.

Also, there were a lot of items in the spring runway shows featuring crocodile and snakeskin leather — from full handbags, to strips and patches on clutches and heels.

For spring 2008 take into consideration what new trends and colours correlate with you and your style, and make it pop — because it’s just a matter of months before we go back to black.