DESIGNER COLLECTION ANALYSIS FALL/WINTER 2017/18 MILAN

DESIGNER COLLECTION ANALYSIS FALL/WINTER 2017/18 MILAN

No. 1 Colour Flashes in Milan

Shots of colour flashed on Milan’s runways making the point that there will be room for optimism next fall. Blues ranged from deep midnight to brighter, royal tints. Reds were represented in most collections, often from head to toe. Whereas the yellow-cast olive green family continued strongly, new, lighter shades of spring-like greens emerged. Yellow, usually associated with spring segued into fall in interesting ways. Another spring/summer favourite, pink, made impact often in almost fluorescent versions. More traditional fall shades, purple and peacock teal, lightened up.

Read More

DESIGNER COLLECTION ANALYSIS: FALL/WINTER 2017/18 LONDON

DESIGNER COLLECTION ANALYSIS: FALL/WINTER 2017/18 LONDON

No.3: Print & Pattern

It would not be London Fashion Week without designers acknowledging British heritage classic prints and patterns. There were plenty of tartans, traditional checks, club stripes, and garden florals, even Fair Isles sweater patterns. That said, the garments looked anything but classic. London designers re-affirmed their place as heirs of Swinging London with kicky designs reminiscent of the youth quake.

Read More

DESIGNER COLLECTION ANALYSIS: FALL/WINTER 2017/18 LONDON

DESIGNER COLLECTION ANALYSIS: FALL/WINTER 2017/18 LONDON

No.2: Materials & Treatments

As it is often the case, newness in fashion is not about re-inventing basic silhouettes, but rather it is achieved with exciting new materials and treatments. London designers, particularly the talent incubator, Central Saint Martins took full advantage of technical fabric developments and experimented with wearable plastics. Many designers opted also for extreme lightweight tech satins, sometimes iridescent, and used them for dress and casual looks alike.

Read More

DESIGNER COLLECTION ANALYSIS: FALL/WINTER 2017/18 LONDON

DESIGNER COLLECTION ANALYSIS: FALL/WINTER 2017/18 LONDON

No.1: Colour

London fall/winter 2017/18 collections could easily be taken to be “buy now/wear now” spring designs. (And, indeed, some of them were, notably Burberry) Designers simply ignored traditional seasonal colour delivery cut-off dates and continued to show whites and pales for winter with a heavy dose of bright highlight shades as well.

Read More

LINEAPELLE IS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT SPRING/SUMMER 2018

LINEAPELLE IS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT SPRING/SUMMER 2018

Leather and material collections presented at Lineapelle, the Milan trade fair, offered a preview of what designers will get inspired by for their spring/summer 2018 footwear and leather accessory designs. And there was plenty of inspiration to be found! Leather was still the main attraction with a multitude of new patterns and finishes. But the rise of non-leathers could not be ignored. New mesh and neoprene versions catapulted materials into the future, whereas natural straws, raffia and hemp promoted eco-friendliness and sustainability.

Read More

MILAN SHOPS ARE EXUBERANT THIS SPRING

MILAN SHOPS ARE EXUBERANT THIS SPRING

Sparkly sequins, silky fringe, colourful stones, elaborate embroideries and patches as well as a multitude of bold prints are the essence of Milan shop windows this spring. Ready-to-wear fashions in colourful floral prints project an exuberant mood. Shoes and accessories follow the trend. One of the most popular items is a sky-blue Gucci bag with floral embroidered patches, prominently displayed in windows and already worn by many on the street.

Read More

WATCHES GO MAD FOR PLAID

WATCHES GO MAD FOR PLAID

Traditional Brit-style checks and plaids never seem to go out of fashion. They always seem to be there, classic, demure and somewhat in the background. Not so going forward! Plaid-clad fashionistas have been spotted everywhere this season, in London, Stockholm, Paris and New York. And judging by the fall/winter 2017/18 designer collections we can expect to see everyone and everything going mad for plaid next fall.

Read More

DESIGNER COLLECTION ANALYSIS FALL/WINTER 2017/18: NEW YORK

No.4 Strong Silhouettes Emerged as Must-Have Items for fall

Images/Imaxtree

Showing off a bit of skin was definitely a major statement on the New York runways. However, it was accomplished in different ways, from extremely cropped tops, to split open skirts, bare shoulders as well as creatively placed cutouts. Interesting sleeve treatments (sometimes transparent) added definitely another level of newness to top silhouettes.

Dresses featured predominately longer hemlines, and pantsuits looked equally good with narrow or wide-legged trousers.  The fur chubby jacket was a favourite cover-up. Exaggerated shoulder treatments on jackets, dresses and puffer outerwear added a futuristic edge.