Still processing Fall 2012 collections and what new “must haves” to add to your closet? Then a Spring 2013 forecast just might give you information overload. It can be a confusing time, really.
While fall/winter merchandise are quickly sneaking their way onto the racks (maybe your malls and shopping centers already have holiday décor), the anticipation for what spring has to offer is growing. Blame it on the “want it now” mentality – live streaming/Tweeting/Instagramming fashion shows has clearly diminished our level of patience. Unless the title, “editor”, is anywhere near your name (or you have special connections to the designer), the next season’s merchandise is, unfortunately, out of reach. You’ll just have to wait six months like the rest of the population.
However, transitioning fall wardrobes into spring– or even starting from a blank slate – isn’t as complicated as it seems. It truly boils down to knowing and understanding the key silhouettes. Trends, in terms of color, prints, and patterns may change throughout the course of a season, but major silhouettes carry over and remain relevant for a longer period of time.
Although the peplum is hardly groundbreaking (a dominant silhouette in the 19th century and were usually accompanied by bustiers and extremely full skirts, then revived again during the 1940’s through Christian Dior’s iconic “New Look”), this playful shape has been interpreted in some way by most, if not all, designers and retailers. From Jason Wu to H&M, no top, dress, or tunic, has gone un-peplumed – it was the year’s pièce de résistance. Spring 2012 offered airy, bright, and colorful versions; Fall 2012 is going the way of leather, wool, and mixed media. So what is Spring 2013’s take?
Drop Waist and Fluted Hem
Make way for the drop waist and fluted hem. The peplum has sisters! While the nipped and flared effect of the peplum is ultra girly – and not to mention, very flattering on all body types – lowering the peplum a few inches can procure the same results. Perhaps it’s the excitement over Baz Luhrmann’s reboot of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic, The Great Gatsby, and wanting to emulate Carey Mulligan’s Daisy Buchanan. Drop waists, a silhouette influenced by 1920’s flappers and 60’s mod, feels more contemporary – rebellious even – against the almost-saccharine peplum. Fluted hems, with its slim fit along the waist and hips and a mini kick-flare at the skirt’s hemline, are certainly flirtier than drop waists and evoke old-Hollywood glamour. Whether ruffled or pleated, the likes of Miu Miu, Stella McCartney, Proenza Schouler, and even Topshop have versions of these feminine silhouettes. A few available for purchase now, if you simply can’t wait.
Wide Leg Pants
While skinnies continue to be the dominant go-to silhouette for denim (separation anxiety from easy-to-wear, easy-to-pair skinnies maybe?), wide legs have been making quite the appearance both on and off the runways for a few seasons now. Full-length palazzos are chic, sophisticated, and magically leg-lengthening. Think YSL “Le Smoking” and Bianca Jagger. If wide legs aren’t up your alley, there are variations in lengths and widths in the non-denim department. It might be the Jenna Lyons-creatively-directing-J.Crew effect. Trousers ranging from wide to cigarette, full-length to cropped, are having their day. Even Miuccia Prada, self-professed skirt-wearer, has been seen in (gasp!) trousers more frequently.
Exaggeration
Exaggeration is also the name of the game come springtime. This year, designers from Marc Jacobs to Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons had tremendous fun showing panniers that fully accentuated and extended the hips to two-dimensional, cartoon-like dresses (resembling those placed on paper dolls). Granted, these designs lie on the more extreme scale of the fashion spectrum, there is no doubt that during the upcoming Spring 2013 shows in September and October, editors and fashion insiders will be wearing something of the sort. Perhaps not as avant-garde, but certainly more on the Céline side of things with similar voluminous, luxe, and louche shapes. Such architecturally inspired, borderline-insane silhouettes will take some getting used to. Still, by the time March rolls around, watered-down versions will be tempting previous naysayers into trying it for themselves.
Then again, what’s fashion if it isn’t experimental?
By Monique
Images via actofstyle.com, alltheprettybirds.blogspot.com, style.com, marieclaire.com
