Vogue has written their A to Z of Spring Summer 2010 trends. I have to warn you, some of these emerging trends may terrify you:
Low Heels
Rejoice as you may now be able to comfortably walk! Hells are getting lower and your chances of arriving somewhere unscathed/ not falling to your death have increased dramatically. They are only losing a few inches but at least the platform trend is subsiding; I know, I love my platforms too but my bruised knees do not.
Cycling Shorts
Seen on the catwalks of Louis Vuitton, Prada and even Topshop Unique, these will be making their way onto the high street soon enough. Leggings are one thing, and shorts are one thing, but I am slightly worried that the combination of the two will cause more faux pas than any other new trend. I could be wrong though because the next new trend is…..
Underwear as Outerwear
This trend is going to be big. Whether it’s a bra top, a lacy negligee style dress or, just wearing a corset as an outfit, it will be inescapable. So it’s either time to embrace your inner harlot, or tut as girls in their underwear walk past you on the street.
Milkmaids
Think wooden heeled clog-like shoes, white pinafore dresses and wide eyes for this look that has been showcased at Chanel, Alexander McQueen and Bottega Veneta.
Bum bags
I don’t think that needs any further comment.
Yellow
With yellow, you have to be really careful with the shade that you go for as they wrong one may go against your skin tone and wash you out. Make sure to try on whatever yellow pieces you like before you buy if you’re a paley like me, but if you have gorgeous dark skin, go crazy for this colour.
So I’ll see you in a couple of months in my yellow cycling shorts, low heeled clogs and lacy black basque.
With winter drawing closer and closer, the cute winter accessories, coats, boots and sophisticated eveningwear is hitting the high street in full force – and I want you to take full advantage of it! Whether you’re on a shopping spree for Christmas gifts (or you need to cure the Christmas blues with a few treats for yourself), there’s always room for a little red lipstick here, a clutch bag there…
From top left and counter clockwise, here’s our top 9 must-haves this season:
1. Faux-Fur:
Faux fur coats are big this season – they are comfortable, warm and stylish…There’s not much more you need to be convinced, but what about the price tag on this gorgeous South Fur Jacket, only £77.00 from Littlewoods.
2. Bold and Chunky Jewellery:
From the bib necklaces to bangles-galore, this season has big statement jewellery written all over it. Why not give this gorgeous flower and bead ring a try. It’s £13 well spent on yourself or a loved one.
3. Stud Ankle Boots:
Studs and leather are everywhere, as we saw on yesterday’s blog post about over the knee boots and the leather bomber jacket is in just about all the shop fronts. Grab a pair of leather ankle boots to pair with the fur coat for only £46.00.
4. Over The Knee Boots:
We’ve been through why these are great – If you love this pair, make them yours for only £49.00. Go for black or try brown – Flat boots always look great in brown!
5. Check-Print Coats:
This gorgeous Ted Baker double breasted coat is comfortable, UK-centric, extremely stylish and most importantly, it’s timeless. That’s why I wouldn’t feel so bad about the hefty price tag of £225.00.
6. Sequined Dresses:
A sequined dress is the must have of the season. Instead of opting for the all over sequin why not try one with trim detailing – just as pretty but less 80s disco – £210 from Unique Boutique.
7. Quirky Clutch:
I have featured this Dune Clutch Bag before, but god it’s amazing – quirky patterns, shapes and colours are big for clutches this season so definitely keep it on your wish list. This one comes with a £65.00 price tag (but I don’t even care!)
8. Bow Accessories:
Along with bunny and mouse ears on headbands, this 5-year-old-gone-20 trend is sweet and fun. Grab these Free Spirit Girls headbands at only £8.00 for a pack of 2.
9. Red, Red and more Red:
From lipstick to dresses, red is definitely the colour of the season. Pick any of the items above in red, accessorise with red jewellery and hair accessories or create the perfect pout with red lips.
Make a statement with a pair of thigh high boots, a playful trend that can be worn with just about anything. See how some of our favourite celebs are pulling them off and draw inspiration for your signature look of the season –
Ashlee Simpson creates a sophisticated monotone look with a gorgeous navy Azzedine Alaia dress and suede navy thigh highs. Get her look keeping it all black, all brown or (if you dare) choose a bright colour like plum and wear a black boyfriend blazer over top to tone down the intensity.
This Moda in Pelle suede number would look great in a similar statement to Ashlee’s:
Jennifer Lopez pulls off the yummy mummy in a clubby (too much?) look with class and a ‘uniquely-hers’ style. Pair them with a short dress but make sure it’s top half isn’t too revealing so the overall effect screams ‘just right ’instead of ‘too much’.
Armed with a 4 inch heels and a similar ruffled ankle to Jo Lo’s these Love Label stretch platform boots have it all – they’re glamorous, comfortable and come with a much friendlier price tag than J Lo’s Louboutins:
Natasha Bedingfield masters rock chic with this sequined mini dress, tights and leather thigh highs. Rock Chic is definitely the look of A/W 09 with celebrities everywhere showing off studs, chains, sequins and all things glitter.
Finally, check out these stunning Love Label over the knew studded boots – they perfect the look and look great worn with a mini dress like NB’s, or roll down the cuff for perfect day-time glam:
Three traditional British brands are in the midst of a style resurrection:
Barbour
Barbour is synonymous with country pursuits like shooting and hunting, but they have now found a new market with trendy festival goers. The wax jackets are waterproof and perfect for protecting and dressing down your glam Glasto outfit; well, you don’t want to look like you’re trying too hard do you? Barbour, which was a menswear brand until 2003, have been concentrating on reducing the weight of their jackets and defining the jacket’s silhouettes, but it seems that their most popular jacket is their traditional heavy, sludgy green coloured jacket. The worn look is key in this country chic trend, and many are taking to making their jackets look more rugged with a penknife; be careful though if you’re doing that, safety first kids. Celebs caught wearing Barbour jackets include Lily Allen, Alexa Chung and the cool Geldof, Peaches.
Harris Tweed
Tweed is all over the catwalks this year, in shows from Vivienne Westwood, Karl Lagerfield and Christian Lacroix. It’s had an urban update as it’s all about salt and pepper shades worn as mini-skirts or oversized boyfriend jackets. In 2004 Nike joined up with Harris Tweed to create a limited edition line of trainers. They were so successful that other designers and manufacturers took note, and now Harris are the only name you need to know in tweed; I bet you never thought you’d need to know a name in tweed.
Hunter
Try and think of a Wellington boot maker that isn’t Hunter…. yeah, I didn’t think you could. The staple boot for country folk has had an injection of style from none other than the iconic shoe brand Jimmy Choo. Now as shoe makers go, you probably couldn’t get more worlds apart than Hunter and Jimmy Choo, however, their website describes the style partnership as the ‘ultimate fusion of fashion and function.’ The Jimmy Choo wellys are designed with their signature crocodile print and lined with leopard print. Tamara Mellon said that the boots were inspired by the girls she’d seen at festivals, but they are the nicest wellington boots that you will probably ever see, so you probably wouldn’t want to get mud on them.
So you don’t need to go hunting, shooting or get muddy to embrace your inner country girl; just take advantage of the new rural trend, even if you live slap bang in the middle of the city.
They are beautiful and they are ridiculous and I want them. These four inch high Givenchy crocodile print beauties are on sale for £865 (sigh). I must remind myself while I stare longingly at them that realistically, if I ever had the unbelievable fortune to wear these magnificent shoes I would a) probably take half an hour to put them on due to all the straps and b) probably severely injure myself due to their constrictive nature and my lack of balance. I think I would be able to suffer through the pain though.
On first look you may think that this is just a very elaborate boxers robe, (is it called a robe or a dressing gown?) but it has nothing to do with boxing. It is Alexander McQueen’s £7360 Hooded Sequin Dress, and it is amazing. Unfortunately I don’t have any award ceremonies or world premieres lined up in the near future, or £7000, but I have never wanted to resemble a spangly over-dressed boxer so much in my life.
This will be the winter of the Snood, well the first winter of the Snood since the 1980s ended anyway. This Cashmere rib- knit Michael Kors number will make you stand out on any wintery street. Sadly it’s £740. I know what you’re thinking, but please do not sacrifice you gas and electricity allowance this winter and buy this Snood instead. It will keep your neck/head area warm but it will not heat your whole house, unfortunately.
I love this Bottega Veneta silver ball pendant and I think it’s because it reminds me of a disco ball. It would perk up any outfit and make anything look edgy and elegant. Look how beautiful the chain is too. And it can be yours for £740. If you buy it though, will you let me borrow it please?
The danger with this Valentino ponyskin hobo bag is that the second I saw it I started thinking of the outfits I own that it would go with… which I decided was all the outfits I own. I think I could even pull this bag off in my pyjamas. The Italian fashion royalty are using it in their current advertising campaign; no surprise there as it’s so eye catching and gorgeous. Guess how much it is… £1500. I honestly don’t know why I even look at these things, it’s just torture.
Ever since YSL hit the catwalk with a sequined pair of Harem pants at the beginning of 2009, high street retailers have embraced the trend and they’re all over the fall collections.
Although they do pose an 80s fashion disaster, the style has been toned down and can be very flattering. The trousers skim the hips and accent the thinnest part of the leg. For pear shapes, the advantage here is that the fabric won’t cling to the largest sections of your hips and bum. On the contrary, those with more athletic figures will appreciate the fullness of the trouser to give a more feminine curve to the hips and bum.
During the day, pair them with shoe-boots, a fitted top and a feminine-cut blazer or cardigan. Shoe boots, with or without a heel, can be taken into night and are one of the season’s essentials. Fitted shirts, vest tops and t-shirts are a must, as draping fabric will only add bulk – showing off your femininity is important in mastering the harem trouser.
At night, stilettos, a fitted tube top or backless top are perfect. Tube tops can be worn in the same colour as the trousers. Add a skinny waist belt to mock the jumpsuit look, or simply tuck the top into your trousers and add a belt around the hips to accessorise.
Don’t be afraid of the harem trousers – once you buy your first pair, you’ll be hooked.
I found this video on YouTube of a quick interview with Julien MacDonald, who’s catwalk show was set in an English Country Garden but reflected ‘under the sea’ materials and colour schemes. Vivienne Westwood also comments about coming back to England for more fashion shows – check out the video and the transcript below:
This is “Scuba Chic” – the latest in the catwalk designs. Set in an English country garden background JUlian MacDonald has revealed his latest spring/summer collection – Underwater Love.
The Welsh Designer said he got his inspiration for the designs from a deep sea diving trip to the Red Sea.
“Well all of a sudden I was diving underneath the ocean with tanks on my bank and basically I really love and got inspired by scuba suits – the suits you wear when you go diving.”
His underwater theme is shown in his bright colours, wet suit designs and outfits designed on fish scales.
“The clothes are expensive but if you got St. Tropez you want to wear very ‘expensive’ colours. The colours are very intense. There are intense reds, washed out pinks and white. White really is the new black of fashion.”
Keen to get a first glimpse of next season’s style were former spice girl Gerry Halliwell, Girls Aloud singers Sarah Harding and Nichola Roberts.
Following on with an English theme was the doyen of fashion Vivien Westwood, choosing her colours to reflect the English weather. She says she may make London Fashion Week a permenent fixture:
“I might come back to England as more and more designers are coming back to England you see.. And it makes a difference who’s there as well.”
We know now from London Fashion Week (and for quite some time before that) that the fashion world has a recyclable nature. It has always baffled me that I saw my mother in skinny jeans, high waist trousers, bee-eye sunglasses and the occasional quiff in her hair. And all those times I saw her, I repeatedly thought to myself that she needed some fashion guidance.
But I was wrong and mum – I’m sorry!!
Although she may not have been wearing them at the peak of their fashionable days, they were pieces that, in her eyes, were timeless – pieces that have been and will be resurrected for years to come. The question of course lies in 1) Who decides when these items come back, and 2) Why do I all of a sudden long for a heavily shouldered blazer when I didn’t about a month ago?
My investigation led me to the Wikipedia article for one James Laver. James laver was a museum curator at the Victoria & Albert as well as a pioneering fashion historian. Although he was not directly involved with the museum’s fashion exhibitions, he had an interest in dating images accurately through the clothing depicted within. He believed patterns of economic and social factors where what developed fashion tastes. So “Laver’s Law” was born, which sought to explain the fashion cycle and the general taste to a timeline. It was first published in 1937 and went as follows –
Indecent – 10 years before its time
Shameless – 5 years before its time
Daring – 1 year before its time
Smart – ‘Current Fashion’
Dowdy – 1 year after its time
Hideous – 10 years after its time
Ridiculous – 20 years after its time
Amusing – 30 years after its time
Quaint – 50 years after its time
Charming – 70 years after its time
Romantic – 100 years after its time
Beautiful – 150 years after its time
Does it work? Seems to – 70 years since the shoulder pads first appeared in Dior’s clothing, they are once again “charming”.
I’ve decided that although I can’t be at London Fashion Week (sigh), I will live vicariously through the LFW website to spot new designs, key autumn/winter pieces and generally ramble on about this year’s designers.
London Fashion Week began this weekend and the first thing to catch my eye was a young, Greek designer named Mary Katrantzou.
The gallery of her catwalk encompasses bold graphics, flattering shapes and most importantly, is very modern and stylish. Find out more about her from her profile information below and be sure to visit londonfashionweek.co.uk for all the latest news at the show.
Designer name:
Mary Katrantzou
Origin:
Athens, Greece
Design background:
Mary attended Rhode Island School of Design and then completed both her BA and MA at Central Saint Martins. She has previously worked for Sophia Kokosalaki and freelanced for Bill Blass, amongst other designers.
Name three things that are inspiring you this season:
“Vintage perfume bottles, 18th century portraits and Victor Skrebneski.”
What are your design signatures?
“A hyperrealist aesthetic, bold graphics and industrial jewellery.”
How would you describe the Mary Katrantzou woman?
“She has a liberated spirit and a strong sense of style.”
What is your most recent London discovery?
“Gordon’s Wine Bar/Cave.”
This year marks London Fashion Week’s 25th anniversary. What were you up to 25 years ago?
“I was about to be born!”
Over the last 25 years, London has built a reputation for outstandingly original fashion. What is it about the capital that makes London fashion so unique?
“It has a great energy and a fantastic support system for new designers to push forward.”
One of the season’s favourite trimmings is sequins and rightfully so – they can go from day to night while always adding a touch of (what I like to call) the triple F’ – fanciness, femininity and fun.
Here are 10 key pieces to keep you in the sequin trend from day…
