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Steamboat Springs — Steamboat Springs' spring couture redefines casual. From large Jackie O.-style sunglasses to the new line of Havaianas metallic flip-flops, ski town style has you covered from head to Crocs.

There's no faux in the functionality of Steamboat fashion, and there's no fabric that won't favor your mountain lifestyle.

"Fashion dies a bit in the winter, and when spring comes, we are so excited to wear all the stuff that has been in the back of our closets," Steamboat resident Jen Fritz said.

This spring is all about color, skirts, flip-flops, tank tops, gauchos, board shorts, cowboy hats and the can't-live-without-it hoodie (a cotton sweatshirt with hood attached). After all, fast-changing mountain weather requires a standby extra layer.

"A lot of people do the tank top with a three-quarter-length shirt and jacket or a little hoodie number," Ski Haus sales associate Kristin Kotkas said.

Spring skirts and dresses in white, pastels and bright colors are popular this year.

"Skirts are huge," said Barbi Johnston, manager of Kali's Boutique. "I see lots of mix and match with lots of embellishment and embroidery on tops and skirts."

"I see a lot of girls wearing skirts that you can run up the hill in and can then go to the Rio (Grande Mexican Restaurant) in," Kotkas said. "They are made of synthetic fabrics that look cute and have function."

And shorts, skirts and tank tops are getting longer this season.

"The midriff thing is out," Kotkas said. "Tank tops are longer and go over the pants. Skirts are either a little above or a little below the knee."

Perhaps the only Hollywood influence that can be found in Steamboat are sunglasses with silhouette frames, gradient lens and large, Jackie O.-style frames that now come in browns and reds instead of the standard black.

Flower and island themes can be found on many of this season's tops and bottoms, and brown and turquoise items are popular. Hemp is coming back --s are bangs, Kotkas said.

And at least one style may never die.

"Capris will always be in," Kotkas said

The content of Steamboat's closet is generally timeless.

"We tend to be more casual and not quite as trendy," Steamboat Shoe Market owner Linda Pete said. "Our stuff isn't going to be out of style next summer."

As for footwear, this spring and summer is continuing to see an abundance of Danskos, flip-flops, Crocs, Keens and Birkenstocks.

"Crocs are absolutely huge. We can't get enough of them," Pete said. "Keen is a really good outdoor life shoe. You can do anything in them. And Birkenstocks are still really strong. They are spicing it up with new interesting patterns and colors."

Men notice the difference in the way Steamboat women dress compared to their counterparts in urban areas.

"You don't see a lot of conformity among outfits. If a girl is dressed stylish here, it is different in itself and different from other women," Ski Haus camping department manager Patrick Meyer said. "And women here have the ability to make a pair of Carhartt's look hot."

People don't have to dress up to go out in Steamboat --eans tend to be acceptable at even the most elegant events.

"I love when there is a formal event, because you see everything from T-shirts to gowns," Fritz said.

Johnston is seeing a trend of residents who want to look good in something other than the basic black.

"Most people think that Steamboat is a lot more casual, but there are a lot of people that like to get dressed up," she said.

Some women mix jeans with high-heel sandals to give their outfits a little extra flair.

"I still think people are fashion-conscious and bring the flavor from wherever they moved here from or wherever they vacation to," Fritz said.

Big earrings, chunky jewelry and chandelier earrings aren't the only things that are popular this spring in Steamboat. The lifestyle-oriented approach to fashion trumps any avant-garde runway collection.

"What I like about Steamboat is that there is no norm. We are definitely an active community, and I think that our lifestyles play a huge role in our fashion choices," Fritz said. "There's really not a lot of judgment, and that's the great thing about fashion in Steamboat."

-- To reach Allison Plean, call 871-4204

or e-mail aplean@steamboatpilot.com