By Chevaun Jackson
A lot of trends were underway this season at all of the Fashion Weeks. A few were emerging, not done very often but done well. These include: fur accents—a typical staple of the fall season— plaid (a quite popular pattern), and capes (which I definitely hope to see more of in the future. However, there were five trends that were so prominent and done so well that not to acknowledge them would be a fashion disservice. So, for all the fashionistas out there who are looking to be up on the trends for Fall 2011— prepping the wardrobe now—here are the top 5 trends that should be a part of your wardrobe.
Sheer: It’s safe to say that 90% of designers incorporated sheer fabric into their designs. The list is extensive. Trust me! From Balenciaga and Jason Wu, Betsey Johnson and Prada, to Chloé, Alexander McQueen, Jean-Pierre Braganza, Givenchy, Monqiue Lhuillier and Marc Jacobs—and that’s only the tip of the fashion iceberg of sheer. It was found in all four cities and incorporated in shirts, dresses, skirts as a statement, or as an accent on sleeves and necklines.
Bold Colorful Prints/Patterns: To add a pop of color in the dreary fall months a brighter color is essential. And it doesn’t have to be a plain white shirt, a pair of purple dress pants or a teal jacket. It can be much more fun. Thanks to the creatively bold statements of Hermès, Givenchy, Matthew Williamson, Diane Von Furstenberg, Tory Burch, Emanuel Ungaro, and Cynthia Rowley (among others), bright and bold colorful prints and patterns—symmetrical, asymmetrical and more graphic—are coming into play this fall.
High neck lines: One of my personal favorite trends of the season as per Max Mara, Carolina Herrera, Céline, Christian Siriano, Alexander McQueen, Giorgio Armani, and Marc Jacobs is the high neck line. This includes the basic turtleneck, but can be expanded to a larger group that includes: petal collars (high in the back and comes to a V in the front), and bowl collars (about an inch away from the neck but still come to the jaw line).
Skinny belts: Particularly around the waist although a couple designers dropped them to the hips, the skinny belt is a way to take any look that may be a bit boxy or large and tightening it up. The fact that it’s thin means you can pin point the waist, the narrowest part of the torso, and attack it without having to worry about slack that you would with a larger belt. Carolina Herrera, Marc Jacobs, Prabal Gurung, Rebecca Taylor, and Luca Luca used the skinny belt, primarily in black, though any fashionista can have fun with it in a variety of colors and materials, from woven to metal, to get this affect; and it works well for all body types.
Animal Print: Actually, we’re a bit surprised to see the animal print return. In the past, it’s been basic and heavy. But this season the animal print is found in sheer fabric, on loose pieces and also has been revamped to not be traditional but modern in that it’s found in a variety of colors. Also, many designers have blended different animal prints—two or three at a time—and found interesting ways to be cohesive. Designers that have welcomed the animal print for fall include: Chloé, Betsey Johnson, Bottega Veneta, Giorgio Armani, Marc Jacobs, Monqiue Lhuillier, and Rebecca Minkoff.