However the designers at the fashion shows – New York, London, Paris and Milan – have already set the tone, and the trends, for what we will be wearing next season. And there is one thing for sure – where the designers go, the High Street is sure to follow.
It is wise to be ahead of the game as your knowledge of the trends for next season may influence the purchases that you make now – and in times of a recession it is always pleasing to know that your purchases will have style longevity.
So, what are the trends for s/s ’12 and more importantly, which ones will be accessible and translate well into your Wardrobe?
Shimmer was prevalent on the catwalk at London’s SS12 shows. So whether it’s shiny patent (Richard Nicoll) metallic silver (Giles) or brocades (Christopher Kane) this trend can be easily adopted. In the approach to Christmas there will be plenty of items around which will tap into this trend nicely so the trick is to think ahead – bags, brogues and belts in patent or silver can all be bought now and held onto until next season. Embellished clothes bought in preparation for the festive season can be dressed down come next season and worn in the daytime;
As you might imagine, with the Olympics looming, sportswear featured heavily. From mesh trimmings to racer necklines and slouchy track style pants to bomber jackets. Neoprene featured as a fabric, as did sporty elasticated flats and shift dresses with contrast piping. Whilst comfortable and accessible, this trend needs to be approached with a certain amount of caution to ensure that your look is more city chic than referee geek! This is a trend to which a reference should be made, rather than a full on head to toe look;
As for the shapes of the clothes, Jonathan Saunders showed Fifties style full skirts – fantastic if you carry a little more weight on your hips and thighs but remember to keep your top half fitted. Peplums featured on many pieces and give the illusion of a fantastically small waist but this can be at the expense of adding volume to your hips, so just keep an eye on the proportions. Floaty, pretty, feminine pieces graced the catwalks featuring organza, feathers, ruffles and beading. However fear not – if girly is not for you there is still a trend for loose, sophisticated, mannish tailoring;
Colours were everywhere! Yellow was dominant and of course white, as ever, particularly lace, will be huge. Flouro trousers featured heavily in cuts ranging from mannish(Preen) to loose and pleat fronted (Celine) or cropped and cigarette shaped (Christopher Kane). Pastels are also going to be big in a way that hasn’t been witnessed for many seasons. However to keep pastels chic, rather than childlike, stick to simple pieces with a minimalist silhouette; So, moving on to prints. Mary Katrantzou stole the show with her mismatched prints. Unlike in seasons gone by where prints could be mismatched as long as they had the same “footprint” things have suddenly become a whole lot easier. Next season it is all about eclectic mismatching from floral trousers to tribal motifs.
Remember that prints draw the eye in and can add pounds, so wear them with caution and only on the parts of your body to which you are happy to draw attention. A darker background will always be more flattering.
The good news is that lots of the key pieces are available now so, think about investing in full skirts with nipped in waists, lace tops, petite stilettos or chunky block heels referencing the 1960’s, ladylike handbags, printed trousers, mannish tailoring and don’t forget embellishment, embellishment, embellishment!