Summertrend 2012: Bangles & Bracelets

As the seasons change and every once in a while we go from skinny to flared jeans and from round to pointed shoes, we also change from subtle bracelets to chunky bangles. And this summer, so it seems, it’s all about chunky jewelry.

We saw the eye-catching necklaces at Marni and the larger than life earrings at Blumarine and now it’s time to cover your wrists with big bangles. Choose for multiple ones like Bottega Veneta, Hermes and Carolina Herrera. Also, opt for color (we spotted orange, red and green ones) and maybe add a touch of gold (like we saw at Balmain) to bring it all together.

Whether they’re made out of leather, wool, metallic or wood; whatever suits your look the best is just fine. They don’t even need to be rounded; Gianfranco Ferré proved a square bangle can be just as much fun. Also, Giambattista Valli showed a few animal inspired examples that were even more creative.

Whatever bracelet you pick, there’s only one rule: don’t hold back! The brighter, the bolder, the better.

Summertrend 2012: Bare Belly

It was a definite no-go for several years, but the bare belly is back! Designers have taken last season’s cut-out-trend a little further and have created all kinds of belly-revealing fashion pieces. The bare part varies from upper stomach (Blumarine, Prada, Emilio Pucci, Dolce & Gabbana) to lower belly (Roberto Cavalli, Acne, Gaultier, Missoni), from modest to slightly tacky.

The how-to-wear part is actually quite easy. Mix your cropped top with long pants (Roberto Cavalli), shorts (D&G), pencil skirts (Prada) or maxi skirts (Emilio Pucci); everything is possible.

And though the bare belly isn’t quite the office look, there surely is no harm in showing of your abs at a fancy cocktail party. On the contrary! Finally you can show off that hidden six pack of yours. Or ehh.. at least you have a good reason to start working on that.

If you’re not so sure about this trend yet, just opt for last season’s cut-out trend, which is still very chic as well.

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…

Louis Vuitton Catwalk Fashion Show Paris SS2012

A carousel with 48 horses filled the Louis Vuitton stage on the last day of Paris fashion week. On each horse was a model, including miss Kate Moss, who apparently asked Marc Jacobs if she could be part of the show herself.

All girls were dressed in super sweet pastel colored looks with lace details. They looked girly and ladylike at the same time, combining cute white colors with parts of sheerness.

Skirts were right at knee-length, (crocodile leather) jackets and (fully buttoned) blouses all had 7/8 sleeves. Every lace flower, appliquéd rosette, button and zipper was perfection. Silver colored shoes, tiara’s and lace umbrella’s seemed like the perfect touch to Jacobs’ sun kissed looks.

The rumor on Jacobs leaving Vuitton for was Dior not be discussed and the show didn’t indicate anything in any direction either. So rumors can continue on, it just would be a damn shame if we would have to miss out on these kind of fairytale-like shows.

Valentino Catwalk Fashion Show Paris ss2012

It was their best Valentino collection so far. Piccioli and Chiuri keep on getting better at their job. For spring/summer they came up with the most beautiful collection of lace, embroidered, floral printed dresses.

They presented a perfect picture; romantic, sophisticated, fairy tale like. With looks most women dream of. “Fashion is a dream, and in this moment we need dreams,” were Piccioli’s words before the show.

Dresses were the perfect mix of short & cute and floor sweeping & romantic. The models waists were highlighted by thin belts, which together with the accentuated shoulders created the perfect silhouette. Flat sandals and loose French braids completed the fantasy look.

Perhaps the dresses were all a little too perfect for our everyday lives. But if we don’t buy them, there sure will be more than enough A-lister (like front rower Jessica Biel) to strut around in them at some fancy premiere party.

John Galliano Catwalk Fashion Show Paris ss2012

At Galliano it felt as if John never really left. The collection, designed by his successor Bill Gaytten, had the same kind of vibe Galliano shows used to have. Although the over the top styling, the layers of make-up and the theatrical hairdo’s were gone.

There still was a lot going on in the looks, but this time around the story was more clear than before. Printed blouses and dresses with corsages were seen throughout the whole collection. The models wore them with flared skirts, knee length shorts,  feminine jackets and boaters.

All looks had a very vintage feeling to them, but had enough of a modern twist to make women want to buy it. The collection might not be the most trend setting of this fashion season, but at least were glad the John Galliano line lives on.

 

Comme des Garcons Catwalk Fashion Show Paris ss2012

In a season with an overload of prints and color  Rei Kawakubo decided to go with pure white. “White drama” was her description of her spring collection, which opened with an ivory satin long-sleeved dress, straight at front and a full bouffant skirt in the back. The model, veiled and with a high white headpiece had her hands folded in front and tied together at the wrists with a big bow.

The rest of the show all dresses were white and all models looked like prisoners in skirts like padded cages and capes done in grand couture shapes but no armholes. Some dresses were tight and completely restrictive. This was a true Kawakubo-collection: provocative, beautiful and sometimes shocking.

Jean Paul Gaultier Catwalk Fashion Show Paris SS2012

Seeing a nice outfit you’d like to buy? Just write down the number the model was holding. The Jean Paul Gaultier show went on like shows back in the days; narration in French and English and models holding cards with look numbers on it. They even got dressed where everyone could see them; at the backdrop of the show.

The collection was signature JPG; trench coats, stripes and lingerie. This time he made many of his looks oversize with flare maxi-lengths.

The pieces all had a lot going. Never was a pair of pants just a pair of pants. JPG added unexpected (but fun) details to every look, like pockets, slits, cutouts, draping, sheerness and asymmetry. Not to mention the extreme accessories (nose piercings, multiple earrings, necklaces and bracelets with black pearls and crosses and tattoos.

It was the grungiest JPG collection we’ve seen in a long time, but we kinda liked it.

Sonia Rykiel Catwalk Fashion Show Paris SS2012

On a bright yellow catwalk Sonia Rykiel’s models appeared in looks more subtle than in the past few collection. It started with creamcolored skirts, knitted tops and dresses, which all had a black strip attached to them. They were followed by some lace items (a suit, a pair of pants). Then some pops of yellow, nude, orange and ochre came on. All pretty and perfect for spring.

The collection was mostly the work of her daughther Nathalie and the new creative director April Chrichton, but Sonia made damn sure her signature look was portrayed. The Sonia style was visible in the knitwear, the stripes and the choice of color. So nothing to unexpected, but just the right amount of change to make women hit the stores again.

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