Trend Report Fall/Winter 2012/2013: Military Inspired

Since girls love to look like they can run the world; strong military looks are a trend every few seasons. This year labels like Victoria Beckham, Gucci, MaxMara and Salvatore Ferragamo took the army theme to a new level.

They kept their ladylike silhouettes, yet added military accents like epaulets, large buttons and breast pockets. They opted for military shades too; army green, black, navy and mustard making up the perfect military color palette.

Subtle details added some the extra feminine factor, like red lips and a double waist belt (Victoria Beckham), colored nails and tiny jewelry (Salvatore Ferragamo) and a fluffy clutch (Moschino Cheap & Chic).

Going through these images we’re already craving for one of those statement jackets.

Trend Report Fall/Winter 2012/2013: Lace it up

Last season it was all about the bondage theme. This year only the bondage boots have stayed. Shiny, leather lace up boots are an unexpected trend for fall.

Now you might never want to take it to the Versus level (all the way to the hips), but there’s nothing wrong with a little lace up.

Custo created a fringed boot, the models at Dolce & Gabbana sported some patent leather versions, Donna Karan’s were red croc printed, Karl designed hairy ones for Fendi and Nina Ricci left out the laces.

So more than enough options to choose from and remember you don’t need to look like a SM fanatic; you can style them any way you like.

Trend Report Fall/Winter 2012/2013: Blooming Winter Florals

Not fun and flirty like in summer, but gorgeous and luxurious is the feeling we got from the floral prints on this year’s fall collection. Especially Dolce & Gabbana’s embroidered winter florals (on the skirts, tops, bags and in the models’hair) looked mesmerizing. Yet Erdem, Christopher Kane and Peter Pilotto stunningly put the catwalk in bloom as well.

McQ attached fabric flowers to a black lace dress as Marni created one of it’s signature printed suits with golden flowers. Antonio Marras and Preen opted for autumn shades as the rest took the theme a little darker.

Whether eastern-inspired, tropical or pure fantasy; every single flower put a smile on our faces. Winter in bloom, we like!

Trend Report Fall/Winter 2012/2013: Hat Factor

Every single season hats pop up during the collection presentations. Yet we can’t remember having seen hats as big as they were for fall/winter 2012/2013. Marc Jacobs clearly seems to have had some kind of hat obsession during his designing process. In every single one of his collections (Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs and Marc by Marc Jacobs) there was a hat-overkill.

Models stepping of the Louis Vuitton train wore colored felt versions as the young girls at  Marc Jacobs sported the most hideous (if we may say so) colored fur examples. They might never be worn by a living soul again, yet they made up for a nice show gimmick.

More modest hats that will in fact generate sales are the ones designed by Max Mara, Donna Karan, Roberto Cavalli and Burberry. We did not recognize any particular hat trend, but hats definitely add that wow-factor to any fall look.

Trend Report Fall/Winter 2012/2013: Countrystyle

Quilted jackets, tweed suits, leather boots and jodhpurs; dressing like the English Elite was never this fashionable. Designers, from Burberry and Lacoste to Ralph Lauren and MaxMara all reinterpreted these country classics.

Done is earthy tones like army green, beige, camel and brown the traditionally tailored designs made up for some wearable looks topped off by tweed hats and knee high riding boots.

While more classic brand like Tommy Hilfiger, Lacoste and Ralph Lauren stayed on the save side; brands like Burberry and Chloé experimented with shapes and materials to create modern countryside looks that would work excellent in the city’s streets.

Trend Report Fall/Winter 2012/2013: Ginormous bags

Remember the tiny designer bags in which we could barely put a set of keys and a cell phone at the same time? Well they’ve gone for good (ehh..for a few seasons). This fall it’s all about the ginormous bags.

According to Alexander Wang, DKNY, Chloé, Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs having to fit all your items in one bag is no longer a concern. What you need to start worrying about is the risk of packing way too much. Because the big fall/winter bags seem large enough for an entire weekend break.

We couldn’t be more excited. Now we just need to learn how to pack efficiently and neat, so we’re not searching and grabbing for our keys for over half an our.

Trend Report Fall/Winter 2012/2013: Funky Sweaters

Forget those Nordic printed knitted sweaters we’ve seen the last couple of years; upcoming fall it’s all about the cool printed ones. And the crazier the print, the more popular the sweater, so it seems…

Balenciaga introduced multiple versions of a space printed jumper, while Humberto Leon and Carol Lim created a tiger printed sweater for Kenzo. We spotted horses at Altazurra and a spooky creature at Diesel. Jeremy Scott and Asish took it even further by showing knitted smileys and Bart Simpson tops. Add a few outstanding graphic prints from brands like Sportmax, Moschino and Stella McCartney and you’re sure there will never be a dull moment this fall… fashion wise, that is.

Trend Report Fall/Winter 2012/2013: Hourglass chic

As a result of last season’s peplum hype this fall it is all about the accentuated waistline again. At Etro and Dior we still spotted some gorgeous peplums, yet other brands (Oscar de la Renta, Salvatore Ferragamo, Prada, Rodarte) created the same hourglass effect by  belting tops, jackets and even big winter coats.

This brings the waistbelt back in the picture after a few years of absence. And guess what, it’s getting bigger again. Sonia Rykiel and Victoria Beckham may still have opted for smaller belts, yet as seen at Michael Kors, Yves Saint Laurent (Saint Laurent Paris), Acne and Fendi big belts are back. Wear yours in a shade matching your outfit and create that elegant super feminine figure.

Catwalk Fashion Show Amsterdam Claes Iversen FW2012

After a few super feminine, glamorous collections designer Claes Iversen decided to opt for a slightly darker, tougher fall winter feeling. In de Oude Kerk in the city center of Amsterdam, yet another great and unique show area picked by the Danish designer, he presented his new range of clothes he has worked on for the last six months.

Inspired by a tea cup turned upside down Claes came up with beautifully shaped dresses and coats. They portrayed feminine silhouettes in contrast with lots of volume at the upper body.

More contrast came in the dynamic between masculinity and femininity, gorgeous highly embroidered, items versus minimalistic pieces and dark shades like burgundy, deep green and black combined with light, fresh tones like orange, white and mint.

Still the overall dark feeling came through in every single look, emphasized by the models’ dark lips, their hair in their faces and long, black leather gloves. It felt kind of Gothic (good match with the show location), yet Claes managed to still keep it beautiful.

He surprised us by presenting a white smoking as a wedding‘dress’ and a suit jacket as an evening gown. He woke us up by showing something different than just beautiful and feminine. Yet he stayed true to his detailed craftsmanship and his excellent taste. Hats off for Claes for taking a risk, but not taking it too far.

www.claesiversen.com

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.

 

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