Summertrend 2012: the multi-print look

Paisley, animal and floral prints, polka dots, stripes and checks; mixing different prints in one look is one of the biggest trends of this season. We already spotted the multi-print look last season at Dries van Noten and Marni. Yet for spring/summer 2012 many more fashion designers dared to show these clashing prints in their runway looks.

For instance Blugirl, Erdem and Sportmax mixed diverse floral prints in the looks. Loewe, Burberry and Marni opted for prints that were a bit more graphical. Moschino mixed animal with floral, Prada combined polka dots with cars and Dries van Noten showed florals in the mix with some other nature-inspired prints.

It seems with this trend there are no boundaries or rules. Just pick your favorite prints and start mixing. And remember you don’t need all designer prints. Mixing your H&M printed pants with your Zara top can be just as charming, prints charming that is.

Summertrend 2012: Go Sporty!

Not a very athletic person yourself? No worries! This sporty summer trend can be worn to any occasion, not just the gym. The sport -influences are everywhere; in the materials, the details and certain items.

When it comes to materials we see thick surfer’s fabrics like neoprene popping up, lots of jersey and mesh details (Alexander Wang). Elegant items are given sporty details too, like large pockets (Versus), hoodies (Rag & Bone, Kenzo) and eye-catching zippers (Blumarine). Then there are the classic sports items like the baseball jacket (Victoria Beckham) and cycling shorts making a huge comeback. And let’s not forget the Isabel Marant wedge sneaker hype that has been going on for the last couple of months.

When it comes to color black and white – the usual suspects – are a solid option, perhaps mixed with bright tones and touches of neon. Add your sexiest heels and some sparkling jewelry and you’re ready for a chic night out. There’s always tomorrow for the real working out…

Summertrend 2012: In Your Finest PJ’s

Ever felt like skipping the fuss of getting dressed and just going out in your nightwear? Than we’ve got good news for you, ’cause hitting the streets in your finest PJ’s in the latest fashion trend. Brands like Stella McCartney and Jil Sander showed the coolest pajama’s by combining sloughy tops with lean trousers. Also, Jonathan Saunders and Antonio Marras joined in on the trend as they mixed loose fitting silky printed blouses and pants together.

Small polka dots, checks and paisley prints definitely are the way to go with this new summer look. Color-wise it seems best to opt for old-school pajama-worthy shades like gray, light blue and deep blue. Stella mixed hers with flat flip flops, yet as Jil Sander proved a chunky heel can be pretty chic with this look as well. Just don’t over-accessorize this nighttime ensemble. In fact, as shown on the runway this look doesn’t need any extras at all!

Let’s hope this ‘Bedtime Chic’ look stays around a little longer, ’cause looking on trend was never this easy.

Giambattista Valli Catwalk Fashion Show Paris FW2012

For next winter Giambattista Valli presented quite a sober collection. He showed knit dresses, checked coats, knee length skirts and sleeveless tops all with one and the same focus point; a wide belt around the models’ waists. Perhaps the designs were a little less sexy than in a average Valli collection, but it definitely fit right in with today’s trends. Looks were cosy and appeared perfect for a cold winter day. Yet some of these looks can be deceiving since some of the knits were actually trompe l’oeil effect printed on airy fabrics. Still, no matter what choice of fabric all outfits were perfectly balanced. Tops looked as great with fur-ish skirts as they did with transparent pleated ones. Some full on graphical printed (and colored) looks (Marni-ish) and a golden croc leather coot stayed classy. And the sheer evening gowns which ended the show mixed covered sexiness with sophistication in a unique way. Now that is how you present a wearable cohesive collection.

 

Chloé Catwalk Fashion Show Paris FW2012

Pastels for winter, you gotta love it. Elaborating on this year’s major summer trend Clare Waight Keller brought on pastel blues, yellows and shades of pink. Inspired by London and Paris she mixed outdoor with elegance, sporty with sophistication, bold with subtle and grunge with grace. Belted woolen coats and large kable knit sweaters are bound to become the ‘most wanted’ pieces of the collection. As enormous kneelength shorts and beautiful lace items proved to have some showstopping power of their own. It’s definitely over with the minimalistic designs for Chloe, yet this French fashion house still doesn’t need a lot of fuzz to make a mind blowing impression.

Jean Paul Gaultier Catwalk Fashion Show FW2012

Tough, funky, crazy, grungy, four words to describe the Jean Paul Gaultier that was a little bit of everything. The French artist showed suits, leather jacket, lots of coats and some evening dressed.

Dark leather looks were followed by bright animal details (snake prints and fur) and later changed into metallic velvet pieces. All looks were very much layered. And the strangest clothing combinations popped up. Like a leather jacket worn over a suit, a parka combined with a LBD and his beloved trench coat turned into a skirt.

The collection felt young, indicated by the models duo colored hair, graffiti printed outfits and in your face fur. On the catwalk looks might seem a little over the top, but if you leave out the crazy JPG styling you’ll end up with some great, quite wearable show stopping pieces.

 

 

Nina Ricci Catwalk Fashion Show Paris FW2012

‘Nostalgia for the present’ was the theme of the Nina Ricci collection. It was about young girls playing dress-up in their mother’s and grandmother’s clothes, as Peter Copping told the press. This translated through tops with too long sleeves, extra large skirts and some of the dresses which were one size too big.

It made the models look like dolls. Dolls dressed in chic, but scruffy designs. Like slipdresses patched together with tweed and lace. Or somewhat destroyed jackets with fringes all over.

Though most of the looks were very ladylike, we also got a bit of a sporty vibe. Especially one of the last outfits, a sheer houndtooth skirt and jacket had sporty chic written all over it.

In this collection too it was all about mixing different materials, patchwork really. Wool and fur, lace and tweed, leather and satin, for the ultimate luxury looks with a bit of an edge.

 

 

Balenciaga Catwalk Fashion Show Paris FW2012

At Balenciaga we were high in the sky. Because the show took place on the 27th floor of the Paris skyscraper ‘Tour Cristal’ and since we fell in love with it’s beautiful fall collection. One shown by a complete Balenciaga Inc. company, including employees, interns and an IT department.

Ghesquière introduced new silhouettes and new proportions (coats with big rounded shoulders and padded sweaters with puffy sleeves).

Sheer dresses were presented in different shades with asymmetric metallic and animal printed accents. Knee high skirts were matched with thick stiff sweaters and short jackets. He even showed his sense of humor, by introducing parachute pants and sweatshirts with crazy slogans like “JOIN A WEIRD TRIP” and “OUT OF THE BLUE”. At the end those same parachute pants were elongated till the models’ waists and worn with V-neck sleeved tops and corset-like variations.

So many different looks and yet each one so strong and unique. Working at this Balenciaga office seems like a dream job to us. We can already picture ourselves behind our clean desks just daydreaming as a real life catwalk takes place in front of your eyes everyday.

Balmain Catwalk Fashion Show Paris FW2012

Balmain’s fall will be all about boxy jackets, small pants and tight dresses. Oh and let’s not forget the dazzling detailed Faberge egg-like embroideries that popped up throughout  the show. Especially those highly decorated pieces were the most remarkable ones. Even though there won’t be many women who can afford those thousands of hand embroidered pearls and crystals.

Yet as delicate as those pieces were, designer Rousteing still made it look cool and effortless, in line with what Balmain stands for. Besides his gorgeous creations there was not a lot of fuss going on at the show. Models barely wore any make-up, had their hair down (slightly messy) and walked around on their low(er) heels with their hands in their pockets. It’s the easy chic that works so well on the streets and it’s the cool effortless vibe that makes young women love the brand so much.

Though the Balmain look has been quite the same for a few seasons, Rousteing carefully introduced some changes. Jackets became boxier, some flared (velvet) pants were added to the mix of skinnies and even a 7/8 skirt made it’s appearance. It will be hard for the brand to step away from it’s success formula of skinnies and pointed shoulders, but today’s collection proved Balmain is right on track.

 

 

 

Mugler Catwalk Fashion Show Paris FW2012

At Mugler, the creative director Nicola Formichetti and designer Sébastien Peigné,  linked directly to Thierry Mugler. Their point of reference was the designer’s 1997 “insects” couture collection, with supermodels in patent leather and bug-eyed masks. It resulted in a subtle translation  like in the pattern of a black and white dress with super-sized shoulders and glossy black croc appliqués on a sheer form-fitting dress.

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