Color, color, and more color! After the drab and dark days of winter, I am so happy to see bright, fun colors taking over my favorite shopping spots.

I wear a LOT of monochromatic colors like black, gray and white, with the occasional pop of navy or taupe, but I am determined to wear a lot of fun colors this spring and summer. And why not? Just looking at the page above from People Style Watch makes me feel better about my day. Imagine a double-page spread of black clothes? Not nearly as exciting.

Check out some of my favorite (and, as always, affordable) finds for spring.

Blue

My favorite spring shade is an eye-popping cobalt blue. Blue with black is no longer taboo, so feel free to match these separates with black accessories or other items at your heart’s content.

Jackie’s Favorite Blue Picks: These deep blue Forever21 slingback platforms are super-inexpensive and have a great glossy patent finish. These could be worn with jeans, pencil skirts, dresses…they’ve got a really versatile quality. I also love this cobalt blue peacoat. Since it’s still a little cold in DC, I’m still gravitating towards warmer clothing!

Turquoise

I must be honest: I’ve not always been a fan of turquoise. Because I’m drawn to “boring” colored clothing, turquoise was–and still is–a little bit “out there” for me. However, I’m going to try my very hardest to circulate a few of the jewel-colored items into my wardrobe.

Jackie’s Favorite Turquoise Picks: A tunic is an easy, casual way to mix in a bright color. Worn with jeans, neutral flats and a spring scarf, this Forever 21 turquoise version is surprisingly wearable. This Victoria’s Secret maxi dress is so stunningly pretty on the model (unsurprisingly) that I feel an urge to try out the style myself.

Red

Red is the color of passion, love, and apparently, springtime. Bright reds, dark reds, wines…every shade of red is in play for spring. Luckily, red is a great color on lots of women, regardless of race or skin tone. Dark skin tones should try a darker, merlot color, while women with a yellow-undertone in their skin should aim for jewel-toned shades. Pale women can wear lighter shades of red, as well as dark shades, but be aware that the brighter your clothing, the more pale you’ll look.

Jackie’s Favorite Red Picks: Forever 21 is really stealing the show where my favorites are concerned! This bright-red, embellished shirt is great. I love the price and the effortless style. This turtleneck dress from Nordstrom is another good piece. It’s a good style to wear year-round, and it has such a good, rich red color.

Pink & Yellow

Pink & yellow bring to mind a certain holiday, that of course, being Easter. But worn separately, each color brings an unexpected, cheery element to an outfit. I’m definitely feeling a mustard-y shade of yellow for spring. Plus, mustard really compliments gray…and I have a lot of gray clothing!

Jackie’s Favorite Pink & Yellow Picks: These mustard heels from CutesyShoes are a no-brainer. They’re inexpensive, patent and have a nifty retro appeal. Would you believe this yellow blouse is from Charlotte Russe? I fell in love with it when I saw it. It’s got a studious vibe going on, making it work-appropriate, but with the right jeans and heels, you could transform this into a pretty great going-out shirt.

Purple

I’ve fallen in love with the color purple. I used to loathe it–I refused to wear it, even try something on if it hinted at “indigo.” But, I’ve come around, and the virtues of purple are many. It’s flattering, easy to pull off and quite the versatile shade. Also, since I was engaged wearing a purple dress, there’s a bit of sentimental feeling left for all purple clothing as a result.

Jackie’s Favorite Purple Picks: BCBG is one of my favorite designers, as you’ll know if you read my Stylefeeder or Tastemaker posts regularly. These BCBGirl heels are a good example of why I dote so on their designs. It’s got a super-chunky heel–always a plus, as they’re easy to walk in. The buckle adds a professional touch, and the darker purple color makes them suitable for work without being loud. I’m also a sucker for anything romantic and ruffle-y, so this indigo dress really caught my eye.

Green & Orange

I’ve grouped these colors together because each one is difficult for a different reason. Orange is not flattering as a general rule. Pumpkin orange, that is. It can wash you out, clash with your coloring…orange is quite problematic. However, I’ve selected some orange items that tend to run more in the direction of coral-y orange, instead of Halloween-orange. Now, green is difficult, because it’s got a bit of a preppy vibe going on at times, and at other times, somewhat of a vintage air that you may not always want to give off. Hopefully I’ve selected enough different shades that you can make up your mind with ease!

Jackie’s Favorite Green & Orange Picks: Tunic shirts are so nice for summer: not too clingy, usually made of light fabrics and, as always, featuring a body-flattering cut. The orange-y/coral shade of this one from Forever 21 would be complimentary to brown leather sandals and skinny jeans. At first, I wasn’t too impressed with this bright green dress from Charlotte Russe, but once I enlarged the photo, I fell in love. It looks like a vintage find, and has a naughty-nurse styling that would look good paired against with demure flats, long, loose hair and minimal jewelry. Another favorite, which is more pricey, is this dress from J. Crew. It’s loose, breezy, wearable and easy to dress up or down.