Spring Trend Report 2011

The start of spring means a new wardrobe to think about. We're looking ahead at the warmer months and taking a look at the season's hottest trends. There's no one "must-have" item for women this spring. Rather, there are multiple routes to follow, depending on personal inclination. So what to expect for 2011? Here's a few of my favourite looks.

Seventies style



SO SEVENTIES: The 1970s, the years of flares, maxi dresses, Biba and Halston - are very much back in vogue. Thanks to a renewed sense of feminine glamour on the spring/summer 2011 catwalks the classic, camel-loving, wedge-wearing, 70s girl has once again become our style heroine. That's right, while the high street is occupied with candy coloured prom dresses and military inspired daywear, next season they'll be going for all-out seventies-style glamour.

One of the most reviled - and, ironically, revisited - periods in fashion, the seventies is often called "the decade taste forgot, " but it wasn't all crimplene and the colour orange - there's actually plenty to love about the seventies look. This season, likes of Gucci, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and, well, just about any other trend-inspired designer worth his or her salt, have once again plundered what many still regard as the most unashamedly riotous of decades - in style terms at least.

Come summer, once the high street has picked up on the new styles, we'll all be doing it.

There were flares (MaxMara), and maxi dresses (snake-print chiffon at Cavalli, scarf-print at Etro, floral chiffon at D&G), while peasant blouses (Fendi, Moschino), jumpsuits and hippy influences all added to the revival. And, of course, these looks have trickled down to many of the high street stores such as - Topshop (high-waisted flares, floppy hats and jumpsuits) and River Island (platform shoes and denim shirts).

One of the more glamorous seventies-inspired trends to appear on the catwalks was the return of leopard print. This is certainly not a trend for the nervous, yet when it's printed onto a fluttering chiffon blouse; it's probably the most modern way you can play homage to the 1970s this season. Think suede boot-leg trousers, billowing jumpsuits and gigantic hair - and finish your look glitter platforms, chain bags and wide-brimmed hats à la Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver.

Chambray



CHAMBRAY: An easy workaday trend that will slot into every woman's wardrobe. Modest long culottes made a quiet return to the catwalk this week and looks best teamed with tones of blush and camel, as seen at Mulberry.



Belted



GET WAISTED: The natural waistline will be well defined - be it a dress, a skirt or trousers. All silhouettes will accentuate the natural waist. This trend makes for a feminine and elegant look.



Hot colour



BOLD COLOURS:

The first months of the year seem so long don't they? And there are some days the sun is simply too weary to come out at all. We need a cheery look at what's in store as soon as the sales are over. Spring is going to be so bright, brighter than it's been for many seasons, and if not in full blocks of colour verging on acid, then also neon, and that's something that hasn't really been done to great effect since the '80s. It started on the major catwalk shows.

 In New York, Marc Jacobs went 1970s with shades of orange, purple, red and mustard, Karen Walker's Perfect Day collection featured acid bright colours contrasted with muted shades, while in Milan Miuccia Prada went bananas, literally, with a collection featuring bold blocks of bright colour sitting next to jungle and banana prints and acid bright stripes; she described it as "brave colour"'. When the economic forecast looks bleak, we can always rely on fashion designers to come up trumps with colours that can't fail to put a smile on our faces.







Prints

 

ABSTRACT PRINTS: A regular where London's catwalks are concerned, digital prints are where it's at this season. This season, Mary Katrantzou made use of Helmut Newton's photography to create her collection while Irish designer, Frank Usher, used an abstract floral effect that looked as light as air.



Wide leg pants



WIDE-LEGGED TROUSERS: What's to like about the new shape? It's the way they skim (rather than hug) the thigh that makes them so flattering. This and the fact that the wider hem balances out any top heaviness, much in the same way that the bootcut jean did. Remember the beloved bootcut jean? What a loss to our wardrobes that it has looked so wrong for so long now. Ladies, the wide trouser is your modern alternative. To wear on a day-to-day basis, look out for cuts which are more tailored around the hips and waist. Black and grey will also flatter the figure, although bold prints should be given a wide berth unless you've got the legs of a gazelle.

 Just remember proportion. A short crop top with wide bottoms is fine as long as a cinched in waist is visible. A tailored jacket is excellent as long as the shoulders are not too wide, while both fine and chunky long knits, left loose with a tucked-in blouse, are the most elegant and casual way to wear them. Chunky heels and platforms work best and the bigger the handbag the better. If Irish girls are voting with their feet (or should that be thighs?) and snapping up the new trouser shape in droves, it seems that, after an unnaturally long reign, the skinny jeans' days are finally numbered.

Stripes

 STRIPES:Bright, bold, fat or thin, stripes are all over the map this spring. Whether they turn up on playful skirts, fitted blazers or slim pants, the effect is fun and flirtatious. They're on everything from funky bags to glamorous evening dresses and will get you lots of admiring glances.
Stores such as Monsoon and Hobbs have a great range of striped eveningwear in store.
For a dressy look, check out Monsoon for their stunning mauve and pink striped maxi - match with a floppy hat for a seventies inspired look. And at Marks & Spencer, there's a wonderful selection of 50's inspired striped dresses, designed to make the best of any figure. 

Neutrals

 
NEUTRALS: Neutrals are back (did they ever leave?) and this season they're anything but boring. A stylish alternative to this season's bold prints and neon shades, nudes and neutrals are another huge trend that's hit the high street. First spotted on the catwalk by the likes of MaxMara, Chanel, Chloe, YSL and Gucci, it's a fresh and modern look for spring. From second-skin nudes to greys and creams, the palette is subtle, but vast.

 

Crochet

 CROCHET: Your grandma might have done it, but don't be fooled: Crochet is hip, and in a big way. From nautical knots to delicate needlepoint - crochet is set to make a comeback this spring. But forget the homemade-grandma-knitted craft feel, as a 2011 fashion trend it's all about intricacy, quality and a luxury edge.

This spring it looks like anything crocheted is the darling of the moment and that includes garments trimmed with crocheted lace, crocheted dresses and tops, and even shoes and bags adorned with or made of crochet.

The look is romantic, with a distinctive 70's feel.Classic crochet - made from loops of yarn, created using a single hooked needle, is a very delicate look. But in heavier yarns, this knit will help perfect the '70s image which is all the rage this year. This season - think earthy tones in browns and oranges, creams and whites based on festival chic, if you want to look bang on trend.



Safari

 Safari;When Sydney Pollack's Out of Africa swept the board at the 1986 Academy Awards, it sparked a global trend for the safari look, and Meryl Streep's wardrobe of crisp safari suits teamed with light, wispy blouses were soon spotted in nearly all the designer collections.
The film brought back classic such as safari shirts, jodhpurs, bush jackets, trench coats and long skirts and, since then trend has never quite gone away, forever hovering on fashions periphery.


The safari look is the fashion world's cockroach: no matter what you do to get rid of it, it keeps scuttling back. Which is amazing when you consider how completely daft it is, when dressing to go to work, to dress as if you are about to jump in the back of a Jeep and drive around looking for buffalo. It can be hard to wear the look - and you could end up looking like you are on a two-week tour of the African bush. So, when it comes to this particular style of dressing, remember that a little goes a long, long way.


This year's version of the trend was spearheaded by the khaki safari style jackets, spotted on the catwalk at Gucci and Ralph Lauren.Now, fashion retailers such as A|wear, Dunnes, Marks & Spencer, Wallis and even Tesco are all doing their own, low cost versions of the tend; making it accessible to all and sundry.Shirt dresses, dresses, jackets and slim-fitting skirts are a key feature of safari style and should be teamed with loose-woven linen, cotton or even chiffon tops in earthy, natural shades. Mix loose linens with animal prints to update the trend.


Although it isn't sizzling, you can keep warm by layering with parkas and tribal-print tops. New Look is great for cheap, casual separates. You can even adapt the look for the evening by ditching the sandals and shorts for a sexier print dress.Natural, earthy tones look spectacular when teamed with leopard or zebra prints and they work particularly when you team them with basics such as infantry-inspired jackets, cargo pants and safari shirt dresses.


Accessorise your look with bangles, particularly ethnic or wooden styles, Layer different styles for a really modern look. If you are worried about what styles suit you, here are a few pointers: Delicate wrists and long fingers should wear minimal styles which won't make them look out of proportion. Small hands should go for ornaments that won't overpower them with too much clutter. Broader hands can choose chunkier, beaded bracelets as well as a chunky cuff.
Once you've your safari look styled to perfection, you might just feel tempted to go on the hunt for a prey of your very own.






Florals

 FLORALS: Fashion is positively blooming this spring - and the best way to make a statement through your wardrobe is to say it with a rose. The floral inspiration on the high street has taken over and rose-print dresses, shirts and tops are everywhere. And the men to blame for the abundance of flora? Step forward Dolce and Gabanna - the designers who sent a riot of roses sauntering down the spring catwalks. The rose print is, of course, a summer staple - just like it's more sober counterpoint French navy - but the way each designer chooses to handle such a time-honoured theme speaks volumes.
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Of all the flowers that capture the imagination of designers, none is as popular as the rose. From decadent silk prints on couture gowns and pretty organza corsages to the faded Liberty print florals that everyone has somewhere in their wardrobe, roses are the most versatile flowers in fashion - and the most enduring.

Flower prints might have been popular since the 1920s, but this summer's rose patterns are big, bright and floral -wallflowers need not apply. As far as prints are concerned, the bolder the better. The trend started on the catwalk but now celebs including Kylie Minogue, Sarah Jessica Parker, Anna Wintour, and Mary-Kate Olsen have been spotted wearing rose printed tea dresses and fitted blazers.


Get your own affordable rose buds on everything from scarves to skirts at stores like H&M, Topshop, River Island and New Look. Update that plain boyfriend blazer with one in this season's soft pastel colours or a delicate rose print. Team it with some extra short shorts and a simple white jersey T-shirt for a chic summer look. Complementing this flowery fashion statement is a crop of rosy cosmetics to suit everyone - from the delicately pale to the most shocking.

But be warned: don't use pink eye shadow if you have blue or light green eyes, and never smudge pink around the eyes or you'll look as though you have conjunctivitis. Instead, limit pink shades to lips and you'll look as pretty as a rose in bloom.


Maxi dresses



MAXI DRESSES;For those of us without the celebrity lifestyle, the maxi is one of the most flattering styles on the highstreet and that is probably one of the reasons why women love to wear it..If you are longing for a change to the mini skirt, then try the maxi. In the Seventies, floor-length frocks were cutting-edge cool, making the Sixties mini old news. Maxi dresses are brilliant for those with less than perfect pins and lumpy tums. But beware - they can drown small frames. The secret is to belt in under the boobs to highlight slender areas.


When it comes to fashion no item of clothing ever stays out of style for too long and already this season we've witnessed the return of the shoulder pad and stonewashed denim - now it's the turn of the maxi. Believe it or not this is predicted to be one of summer's key trends. The fashion magazines keep going on and on about how easy it is to wear, how flattering, how knowing.
The maxi is, according to Vogue, part of a new way of dressing this season called 'The New Feminine'.


I have always loved the maxi because it is the ultimate conceal-and-reveal garment, showing off curves and giving impressions of leanness while skimming over lumps and bumps. For the petite, it's leg lengthening and for the pear shaped, it slims down the hips; what's not to like.
But why is the maxi suddenly back in style?

Of course, it all started with a celebrity. About three years stylist to the stars Rachel Zoë started to dress her clients in long flowing maxi dresses teamed suddenly a trend was born. The unholy trinity of Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and Mischa Barton popularised the garment but now they are being worn by everyone from Sienna Millar and Lindsey Lohan to Oprah.


 Hollywood provided the perfect sun-drenched backdrop for this kind of dressed-down glamour. Even Kate Moss, perhaps the world's most copied fashionista, has succumbed to the trend and has included a version in her must-have range for Topshop. The empire line silhouette accentuates the narrowest part of our bodies, flattering most shapes. And that full length skirt keeps any lumps and bumps well hidden. Floor-length in cool chiffon or flowing silk is this season's ultimate look.


A printed chiffon maxi dress from Wallis is great with gold sandals from Topshop, while Pennys are Grecian style Maxi's with in black and khaki for only €19. In terms of footwear, you can keep things flat with flip-flops and sandals or, if you like a bit of extra height, platforms or wedges. Accessorise with oversized shades and a headscarf and you'll be working the LA look like a local.

"Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.‟ Coco Chanel








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