Spring 2009 Fashion Arrives
What’s hot
While news reports all around the world keep screaming about the crisis, designers stubbornly continue to declare that nothing can stop ladies from shining. One of the main trends of the season is all things expensive and sparkly, including gold and silver, gems and crystals.
This trend is best celebrated by Prada’s dresses of crumpled brocade that look like they are made of solid gold, slinky tricots and armor-like rigid dresses by Alexander McQueen, dresses studded with colorful gems by Emilio Pucci, and Yves Saint Laurent’s monochrome shimmering gowns of emerald green and claret colors.
By the way, shiny fabrics are not just meant for evening wear: nude-golden and silver skirts, trousers or harem pants can be worn any time of day. A gold-colored trench coat by DSquared2 became one of the hottest items this season. But if you don’t dare to wear so much “gold,” at least make sure to get a golden or silver-colored clutch bag or sandals.
The trend for ultimate chic was developed further by Dolce & Gabbana who offered an absolute royal look with Tudor-style dresses with big lantern-shaped short sleeves and belts of ribbons, bows and gems. Etro and Blumarine richly adorned collars of their dresses with beads and gems, cutting a need to wear any additional jewelry.
Those truly elegant ladies will appreciate the suit becoming a top fashion. Whether you prefer to wear a tight skirt or pants with the jacket just make sure to look less office-style and more sexy. Dolce & Gabbana and Marc Jacobs presented a 30s movie star look with black jackets and skirts, belts and hats, while Givenchy’s pantsuit resembled a tuxedo.
By the way, even if the full suit is too official for you, you cannot avoid buying jackets. This season it has to be slightly oversize and long with wide shoulders, as if tailored for a man.
One of the true must-haves of the season is overalls. These are mostly offered in white, black or neutral colors, with loose tops and wide trousers or harem pants. Max Mara’s version resembled an elegant evening gown, while Stella McCartney’s was a combined pantsuit.
Get ready for the biggest fashion surprise of the season – pajamas and nighties suddenly made their way into everyday wear. Dolce & Gabbana presented luxurious silk pyjamas-like suits, while Etro and Vivienne Westwood went ahead with much more casual and bold pajamas.
If this is too much for you, try on a nighty-like dress, the sort designed by Isabel Marant – those look very grunge if worn with leather boots. Another element of nightwear style is cream-colored silk shorts (like the ones from Nina Ricci).
Denim, colors and more
The classical American style of denim, leather and T-shirts is making a big comeback. Surely it will make everyone happy – this is the ultimate combination of cool and comfort, and is loved by all.
You can manifest a real free spirit in a white top and an unbuttoned blue denim shirt (Alexander Wang), or by combining blue denim and black leather (Givenchy). Otherwise, try on a military-style jeans jacket by Balmain.
Famous for their love of denim, DSquared2 dressed models in bell-bottom dark blue jeans, jackets and skirts. To make your denim look more cowboy-like, get a leather or suede bag adorned with tassels, or boots with tassels.
In fact, tassels and fringe are a great trend in itself this season, spotted in dresses by Jil Sander, Escada and Alessandro Dell’Aqua, among others.
Other dominating trends feature strikingly bright colors, especially blue, and colorful leopard print – straight from the 1980s. Color combinations have also gotten bold – you can dare to wear yellow with purple or green with pink, as well as match different prints – stripes with peas or checkers.
As far as prints go, it looks like the ethnic style is here to stay, though this year it acquired more of an African twist (Alexander McQueen, Miu Miu, Just Cavalli) – complete the impression with large ear-rings or a turban.
Ladies are encouraged to show more of their body in tight dresses with revealing slits (Herve Leger, Givenchy), short, bra-like tops (Prada, Chanel) and chiffon dresses and blouses, like the ones from Sonya Rykiel and Christopher Kane.
Futurism keeps strengthening its positions in the fashion world – asymmetry, straight lines and strange shapes are seen on the catwalk more and more. This season you cannot do without an asymmetric top, dress or even a bathing suit – be inspired by Hermes, Luella, and Herve Leger.
The most daring futurist, Gareth Pugh, created wild dresses that make a woman look like an alien from another planet.
As for accessories, have a closer look at hats. It can be the 1970s kind with a wide floppy brim (Diane von Furstenberg), a tablet straw-hat (Marc Jacobs) or a classical fedora (Gucci). Another headwear article is a hair band with a bow (see a Gucci).
Make sure to get a reptile skin clutch or a big bag that can be rolled (see Louis Vuitton). Jewelry has to be bulky and bold – big plastic bracelets, beads and chains that run down to your waste, and large ear-rings.
As far as shoes go, heals this season are super high, and their straps are eclectic, made of leather, strings, feathers and beads. The signature shoes this season are Yves Saint Laurent’s black net-boots and amazing glam-rock sandals adorned with bits of metal and white crystals from Balmain.
What about men?
It’s always harder to talk about male fashion, since it doesn’t change so dramatically every season, and very few gentlemen follow it religiously. However, there are a few fashion tips for them too. Shirts of crumpled fabric are not only practical, but also in style this season.
The 1980s trend for washed jeans and glam-rock elements would look most appropriate at a club, and T-shirts with colorful stripes can be worn for any occasion. Pajamas trend concerns men as well – try on a baggy checkered suit.
While women wear oversized jackets, men are offered slim versions with narrowed shoulders.As for colors – a classy combination of black and white, shades of pink and nay blue are very much in style.
A few Kyiv shopping tips
Spring collections are already in store in many Kyiv shops and some of them have the super trendy items – just as seen in pret-a-porter collections in New York, Paris and Milan.
Mango offers a selection harem pants– black, grey and nude, as well as overalls – a funky substitute for a dress. It also has masculine-style jackets with shoulder pads. Dresses with ethnic prints and single-shoulder straps, numerous jeans, shirts, and skirts are all there too.
As usual, Mango carries lots of hats and bags, including clutches – glam-rock style and reptile-skin imitations, take your pick.
Oasis has some one-shoulder asymmetric dresses, chiffon blouses, jeans and harem trousers.
At Castro, keep your eyes peeled for washed denim overalls and black overalls with a strapless top – it would make a cool evening outfit.
Promod offers a range of pretty romantic skirts, many with floral and African prints, as well as wide denim jeans, carrot-shaped pants and a selection of harem and sarouel, or Turkish-style, trousers. Also, don’t miss stylish long jackets, and various dresses – from checkered and striped to chiffon with ethnic prints.
Zara has something from every trend popular this spring and summer. There are sarouel pants, cool leather sandals with strings and wide ankle straps, bags with tassels, futuristic jackets, boots of fake reptile skin, oversized jackets and shimmering dresses, rocker leather jackets, etc. Mexx is a place to look for monochrome outfits of blazing colors, safari dresses and African-prints.
Taken From KYIVPost.com
