By Erika Luft

Those who have worked at the mall know employees are forced to carry those clear plastic bags, as to make sure nothing is removed from the store that shouldn’t be. Well this spring people other than mall employees will be carrying around translucent totes, clothes and accessories. The must-haves for spring are bright, fun and see through: the Jelly Bag, Lucite sandals and sheer elegance in clothing.

One of the most commanding translucent trends walking the streets this season is the Jelly Bag. These bright bags are inspired by the Hermés Birkin Bag. The Birkin Bag, custom made for actress Jane Birkin, made its debut in 1984 and has been a must-have for over a decade. With a five-year waiting list and price tags starting at $6,000, everyone is looking for a Birkin look-a-like. The Jelly bags are versatile and big enough to take on a jaunt around the city, the plane for spring break or to class. They come in two sizes-the smaller Jelly bag is a small tote bag and can hold one or two notebooks, while the larger Jelly bag is able to handle just about anything one could need for class.

Freshman advertising major Jennifer Gettlin said, “My Jelly Bag is the perfect size for carrying my books to class and for clomping around the city.”

These fun totes come in a variety of dazzling colors from a pearly white to an eye-catching magenta. Celebrities are eating these bags up; The Bachelorette’s Trista Rhen included a Jelly Bag in each of her bridesmaid’s gift bags.

It’s not just bags that are translucent this season either. Although the shoes of the season are disappearing before the eye, they are far from stepping out of the spotlight. Designers like Michael Kors and Christian Louboutin are bringing back the 80s with a too-hot-to-handle Lucite sandals. Calvin Klein’s Lucite and Lizard pumps are the must-have shoe of the spring. They are featured in several ads of this month’s issue of Vogue. Although costing a cool $540, these shoes continue to sell out. A die-hard fan can buy a pair of these must-haves that are available in green or brown at Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue.

In a full tribute to the decade of side ponytails, oversized sweatshirts and heavy metal, pair these plastic shoes with some metal jewelry, a leather jacket or a sequined dress, then one can revisit a night of 80s high fashion.

Shoppers this spring are noticing there’s more to see through than to see on the shelves. Everything is made out of sheer this spring. Transparent used to be tacky, but now it’s now stylish. Designers like Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs and Ralph Lauren are adding an element of sheer elegance to their spring collections. Celebrities like Naomi Watts, Lucy Liu and the Hilton Sisters are seen in sheer tanks, skirts and blouses.

While checking out the latest arrivals keep these hot items in mind. There is no doubt transparent is in for this spring and summer.