Kelly green, lemon yellow and intense turquoise are front and centre, as are bold graphic patterns and animal prints.

The good news is that you'll be able to incorporate a number of trends from seasons past into your 2008 wardrobe, as long as you update them with something new and vibrant.

Zahra Mamdani of Vancouver retailer Wear Else thinks people are ready to consign the almost funeral colour palette of the past few months to the backs of their closets.

"People are tired of it -- it's time to move on and see something fresh," she says.

Expect to see vibrant shades of pink, green, red and lemon yellow, as well as a few colours that may remind you of the time when disco was king.

"We're seeing colours like avocado and tangelo with designers like Trina Turk, which is to me very '70s," Mamdani says. "I kind of relate it to the avocado fridge many of us used to have."

At Banana Republic, the colours for spring look like they've escaped from a fruit basket. Vivid orange, yellow and green take over from winter's blacks and greys, although neutrals like khaki and taupe offer a bit of a breather for those not accustomed to such intense hues.

As spring gives way to summer, colours will be toned down a few notches, with H&M predicting a trend toward paler, sun-bleached shades.

Hemlines also take a trip back to the '70s, when thighs and knees disappeared under midis and maxis. Banana Republic will be bringing in high-waisted skirts that dust the floor, and some mid-calf hemlines will make an appearance at Wear Else.

But retailers realize not all women may be willing to go to those lengths to stay in fashion.

"Quite frankly, we saw that on the runways," Mamdani says. "But when you translate that to ready-to-wear, (most hemlines) are at the knee or above the knee."

The other big news for spring and summer is prints. Animal prints are everywhere, from leopard and python prints in collections from top designers like John Galliano and Marc Jacobs to blocky giraffe prints at Banana Republic.

Bold florals, Pucci-esque prints and colour blocking are also big, and H&M is previewing a "modern ethnic" look incorporating Oriental, Asian and African influences.

Several spring and summer trends are a holdover from seasons past, such as the continuing popularity of metallic finishes.

"We're seeing a lot of metallics in everything, from clothing to footwear and accessories," Mamdani says.

As well, "the wide-leg pant is still very big," she says. "I think people liked it in the fall -- it's a very flattering fit."

The same goes for tunics, which can be worn by women with just about any body type. And shirtdresses, which were on the racks last spring, are another flattering repeat.

You don't have to send your wedge-heeled shoes and oversized handbags to the Sally Ann, either -- both are still right in style. If anything, the bags are even bigger and in colours like jade, mustard and fuchsia, as Matt & Nat is showing for spring, they're hard to ignore.

"I think (designers) have gone with what works -- the wide-leg pant works, wedges work, the tunic works, so they're sticking with that," Mamdani says.

What else should you be on the lookout for this spring and summer? Floaty dresses, three-quarter-length coats, skinny belts, sheer scarves, oversized sunglasses (again), linen, chiffon and embroidery -- they're all in the mix.

Looking further down the road to fall and winter, Mamdani says we'll see colours like aubergine and teal -- "they're rich colours and they're flattering" -- as well as a return of short boots, platforms and wedges.

So it's true -- in fashion, at some point or another, everything old is new again.