As much as I abhor the very idea of physical activity (I wrote a one-thousand word email this week to my school, complaining about the PE department… don’t ask), the uniforms that the sporty-types are wearing are actually bang-on trend this season, with a refined athleticism coming through in a number of the international collections. Although these creations are the very opposite of their gym bag-ish, sweat-covered high-school origins, their roots in the sportif come through in a mixture of relaxed and restrained lines and the typically athletic colour palette.
Alexander Wang, RTW SS10
At Wang, the socks were pulled high and the sweater hems stretched low. It would be wrong for me to compare the slouchy, soft leather shoulders shown in the picture to military epaulettes, but that would probably be an accurate mirror of my thoughts on sport. However, if you’re a cleaner, more minimal kind of girl, then some of the basics at Maison Martin Margiela rose particularly well to the occassion, with paper used alongside grey jersey to create a kind of trashy, lithe-y agility.
Lacoste, RTW SS10
Lacoste is always good for a laugh, with the Bloody Mary-drinking tennis set humoured by the traditional $200 polos, whilst their somewhat languorous cable-knit sweaters gave the brand its preppy zest. For a more European style, hit up Hermés- for his last collection with the brand, Jean-Paul Gaultier produced tennis-tasia in an almost Paris-meets-Ivy League move. A more glamorous take on the ball-and-rackets theme could be found at Isaac Mizrahi, where striped polos were paired with sequins and sex appeal.
Hermés, RTW SS10
So, however you respond to the sportwear trend- whether it’s dashing to Net-a-Porter or stealing your boyfriend’s baseball jacket- the winning combination seems to be sportif, confidence and a smile that screams joie de vivre. Sport is competitive, so be quick to act and embrace this genuinely forgiving trend!
Yeah, OK, so I’m kind of stealing (building upon) the idea I had in my previous post, about wearing yellow to support the Liberal Democrats in the Prime Ministerial elections. You’ve got to admit though, yellow’s everywhere. The colour is exceptionally versatile and the Spring collections show this, from the vibrancy of Proenza Schouler to the flashings of dream-like, mellow shades at Rodarte and finally to the luscious sorbet quality of Chanel Haute Couture.
Chanel, CTR SS10
Particularly strong ‘yellow’ looks include pieces by Holly Fulton at Fashion East, whose vinyl-like citric yellow dress was an adapted nod to the past, and by Jean Paul Gaultier, who, with stripes, opted for a more rugged, bohemian aesthetic.
Jean Paul Gaultier, RTW SS10
Enjoy this summer by throwing some brights in your wardrobe, especially if you, like me, are normally confined to a palette of dark blues, greys and blacks. It can look great and will make you look perhaps a little more carefree in the sunshine!
Imagine you’re scaling Mount Kilimanjaro, rowing along the Amazon or playing polo on elephants in Africa: you’ll need to be well kitted out. Forget practical and think skin-clinging prints, earthy influences and a multitude of textures and shapes. Designers have created an escapist ideal of tribalism in some of their Spring collections, so you’ve got no excuse not to venture far into the depths of Zanzibar or to establish your very own spice trail.
Rodarte, RTW SS10
I was reading POP a few days ago and noticed an editorial of tribeswomen wearing some extremely un-African labels: Maison Martin Margiela, bohemian designs from Vivienne Westwood and a variety of other tribe-inspired pieces from brands including Missoni, Comme des Garçons and John Galliano. Despite thinking that all of this was slightly culturally insensitive, the photographs were undoubtedly thrilling: each one was a journey into Swaziland and the lives of its citizens. Moving past the slightly warped message of poverty-stricken individuals wearing some of the planet’s most expensive clothing, the article brought about a significant style pointer: tribal was big, bold and back.
Stella McCartney, RTW SS10
Dries van Noten, RTW SS10
Karl Lagerfeld produced some excellent accessories at Fendi, with his bags and shoes having a definitively ethnic feel. The futuristic effect of Nicolas Ghesquière’s collection for Balenciaga was practically electric- vibrant colours were combined with a backwash of moody, thoughtful grey. Stella McCartney produced a wooden handbag that retracted as it opened, perfect for keeping seashells and flowers in, whilst her wedged sandals wouldn’t look amiss on a glamorous high priestess in the rainforest. Jewellery from Bally, shoulder bags at Marc Jacobs and patchwork prints by Trussardi shaped an altogether African feel for Spring, cementing that tribal is one trend you shouldn’t miss. Here are some of the best looks from the international collections:
Givenchy, RTW SS10
Jean Paul Gaultier, CTR SS10
Balenciaga, RTW SS10
So, why not? Fashion is about a journey- sometimes a very personal journey- and, in more ways than one, Spring 2010 is the perfect season for travelling: it was the theme of many of the shows and marked the idea that tropical tribalism and the concept of new and exciting cultures can be fun, sophisticated or breezy- it’s up to you.
The time for cute is now. Think limes, lemons, baby pinks, baby blues- if it’s a shade you’d see in a nursery, wear it! Some of the designers have run into the fields for Spring and have created collections that are feminine, soft and dreamy.
Pair pastels with metallics ergo Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel Haute Couture, or think printed pretties at Louis Vuitton. Miuccia’s gone mad at Mui Miu (yes, alliteration) for delightful prints- I’m sure you’ve seen them splashed everywhere, and if you haven’t: imagine white kitties on pink skirts or indeed lemon-sherbet cats on a high-waisted sorbet blue skirt. Even Burberry has joined in, over at Burberry Prorsum the trench is available in light pink alongside the more conservative tans.
Ralph Lauren, RTW SS10
Viktor & Rolf, RTW SS10
Christopher Kane, RTW SS10
Rejoice and throw your light-colour-clad body into that haystack! Have fun with pastels and take a moment or two to celebrate your gentle side!
It’s a relief when the designers are kind to their consumers and, thankfully, the new Spring is one of those seasons. International designers have featured copious amounts of denim in their SS10 collections, so embrace the trend and enjoy a casual comfort, whilst still being at height of fashion. Double denim? Do it. We’ve seen it at Chloé, House of Holland and Jeremy Scott, so don’t be afraid of committing a faux pas: it may seem a tad passé, but trust me- it’ll work. To get the best results, pair distinctly different shades of denim to avoid the toddler look.
Jeans, shirts, skirts- whatever, go for it in denim. For jeans, choose either super-skinny (see pieces from Twenty8Twelve), cropped (see Dsquared²) or a baggier straight-cut jean (good examples come from Ralph Lauren and D&G). Try some loose fitting shirts or invest in a classic denim jacket. Here are some shots from the runway:
Stella McCartney, RTW SS10
Unique, RTW SS10
Mulberry, RTW SS10
