NEW YORK (AP) ― It’s still chilly in much of the U.S., but stores are clearing out coats and sweaters to make way for spring’s bright colors and lighter clothing. And if you’re looking to update your wardrobe this season, you’ll need to know about a few key trends: crop tops, high waists and wider pant legs.

But don’t panic just yet about the idea of wearing a top that may not reach your navel. There are several ways to pull off the potentially midriff-baring trend ― whether or not you have great abs, and even if you prefer to dress on the conservative side.

“Crop tops are not the easiest thing to wear,” said Hayley Phelan, fashion features editor at Lucky magazine, acknowledging that skin-baring styles are not always “appropriate” for work or other situations. “But there are so many ways to wear crop tops that we saw on the runway and that we love at Lucky.”

For example, you can layer a crop top over a blouse, Phelan said. Or wear a boxy crop top over high-waisted pants or a high-waisted skirt, and don’t worry about revealing much skin.

“I would say a crop top is a must-have for spring,” Phelan said. “But make it one that you feel comfortable in. With a boxier shape, you can wear it on multiple occasions.”

Another strong trend Lucky editors noticed for spring is the “painterly print,” meaning “bold, graphic brush strokes” and “art-inspired” designs, including portrait art and actual faces or flowers appearing on garments. “We saw faces at Prada and flowers at Dior,” she said.

Finally, get ready for sandals and slides that are more hiker than fashionista ― what Lucky editors call “the ugly shoe.”

“It’s that kind of Birkenstock shape, or even like Tevas,” Phelan said. “But that’s what’s cool about it ― fashionable people wearing a fashionable outfit that’s put together, putting on these sandals.”

Overall, she said, the silhouette for spring is evolving from past seasons: “It’s a tighter, more form-fitting top but looser on the bottom, with high-waisted baggier pants and wide-legged culottes. It’s an interesting shape but what pairs perfectly with culottes is the crop top.”

John Bourgeois, who directs personal shopping in the Midwest for Macy’s By Appointment, said the region is definitely seeing the looser leg look. “Pants are a little softer this year,” Bourgeois said. “The fabrication is very soft and flowy and whimsical.”