Intricacy is set to separate the true fashion designers from the imitators this season. Pin-tucks, pleats, origami esque folds and draping, will seduce the wearer into a wonderland of themes that start from the 40's, worm their way through the strict disciplines of military school, right through to the state-of-the-art embellishments displayed on the metallic fabrics of today. To have so much choice in just one season, is testament to the development of manufacturing technology, that has seen new fabrics emerge offering designers endless fashion possibilities. You can bet, with some of the more sturdy purchases you buy, it will possess a feature that will give it the edgy quality, that sets it apart from the reference piece first created many years ago.
With the unpredictable nature of the weather making it difficult to decide what to wear each day, designers have incorporated this lifestyle change into their designs. In some instances, sleeves on items like coats and junky knitwear, have become cropped or have been avoided altogether, to allow the wearer the option of either layering (with thinner or thicker gauge knitwear underneath), or teaming the look with long leather gloves — depending on the temperature.
Collars on coats too, take a surprising array of forms. The collarless coat, which offers the wearer the opportunity to team with a contrasting colour that protrudes at the top (like e.g. a polo neck jumper or scarf), or the huge enveloping kind, that is perfect for snuggling up in, on cold wintry days — are just two of the options available. More angular shape collars reinforce the military look, complete with shiny medal-like buttons, that parade down the length of the coat, to make the overall appearance polished and distinct.
Maybe in an attempt to mimic the rain when it wets fabric during an unsuspecting downpour, fabric made into items like T-shirt dresses, drainpipe trousers or jeans, have taken on a “wet-look” androgynous appearance, that lends itself to a bit of goth. This goth theme morphs into biker through, super-soft black leather jackets and tunic dresses that are practical on rainy days. As a result, unfortunately, suede doesn't get a look in this season as, it is not practical in these troublesome-weather times.
As though to emphasize the affect cars are having on the environment, designers have taken a reflective look back to the days when people commuted by horse, and have included jodhpurs, high-leg riding boots teamed with asymmetric velvet jackets (with a Crimean War influence) that work well for the season.
To balance this empowered look, dirndls have crept up the leg to just above the knee and are even aided (in eveningwear styles) with a diaphanous underskirt.
The femininity seen in S/S '07 collections continues, with even more embellished tunics and shift dresses. And that's not all. If the thought of having to co-ordinate separates each morning fills you with dread, there are a host of dress shapes to choose from.
Taking inspiration from both the 40's and 80's, cinching the waist with a covetable leather or elastic belt (that still remains one of the key accessory items), is a prominent theme for the season. In fact, the use of wide or skinny belts to cinch waists, are seen on everything from men's trousers to pencil skirts, jackets, coats and knitwear. The theme has exuded a degree of femininity (and class) that has captured the imagination of the high street, so much so that the look has been incorporated into most collections. Colour too plays an important factor this season. Bursting with vibrancy, the purple, fuchsia, cobalt blue, orange, yellow and red colours on offer, would make even the dullest days bright. Seen on anything from day-wear blouses and knitwear to eveningwear, the colours are interspersed with metallic silver (especially in eveningwear collections) to the extent where it almost takes on the appearance of liquid mercury. Dresses of this calibre (i.e. metallic) are worn for one single purpose — impact.
Evening bags used to accompany evening dresses, have been transformed into small barrel clutches whilst the traditional variety, seem as though they have been pumped up with steroids to emerge as bigger yet, less structured versions for the day.
The trend for must-have bags, platform shoes and shoe-boots continue for day-wear. The bigger the bag the more the likelihood that it can carry all the accoutrements of the modern age (i.e. ipod, mobile, woolly hat, sunglasses etc) whilst the platform shoes and shoe-boots have to shield weary feet from the weather.
Remarkably, despite all of this choice, there is even a little bit of All-American Preppy look thrown in too. What remains is for you to decide which look to opt for.
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