Spring comes alive at Brown Thomas
According to our own retail ‘jewel in the crown’, Brown Thomas, high fashion is telling us a story of optimism, vibrancy and new-stalgia. It’s a season to love
As a season, spring/summer fashion can be underwhelming, prone to faddishness, and not much real change.
But according to Brown Thomas Fashion Director Shelly Corkery, spring/summer 2018 is one of the most joyous and uplifting fashion seasons she has seen.
When we meet to discuss the key trends, international fashion news, and the discerning and knowledgeable young adult customer, Shelly’s enthusiasm is palpable — and infectious.
“Spring/summer is always a very feminine season and, if anything, this season is even more so. There is an air of fun about and a lot of that is attributable to Gucci, and how [its creative director] Alessandro Michele has changed the face of fashion,” says Shelly. “There is a lot of optimism and ease in the mix. It is all about wearing your pieces now, not saving them for special occasions.
“The sports influence that we have been discussing these last few seasons is having an even greater impact on fashion than we all would have thought. Women are loving the ease and comfort that it is bringing to dressing each day. New technologies and fabric innovations mean even more comfort. Women are loving the freedom of not having to wear high heels and form-fitting clothes — things that take effort to wear — to work, or events. Now, they can wear stylish trainers, or elegant mules, with their new, easy pieces, and still look ‘dressed’.”
That is a lot of social change just right there. And that is before we assess the influence of young consumers on international fashion. They have so much spending power, and are such logo-maniacs, that the high-visibility placement of a brand name is as significant as actual garment design. Not to do so is to tempt the fates. As Prada learned, and is now remedying.
“The new generation know what they want. They do their research. If they want their Chanel backpack, or the Gucci double-G belt, that is what they want,” explains Shelly. “As a business, we have to be able to get it for them.”
For spring/summer, fashion is still working the story of strong contrasts, be it length, print, tailoring, volume, eras, age, accessories and even occasionwear.
Excitingly, Calvin Klein’s much-lauded catwalk collection, designed by Raf Simons, hits Brown Thomas’s International Room floor any day now. Also new is Rosie Assoulin, a New York designer who worked at Oscar de la Renta (and at Lanvin, under Alber Elbaz); and Dodo Bar Or, an ethnic-cool designer who is going to make you defect from Isabel Marant. No wonder Shelly is so confident and upbeat. There is a lot to enjoy.