A Trendy Balancing Act
Every season, designers from across the globe present a fantastical vision of colours and styles, the fruits of their creativity, in an attempt to help us make a sartorial impact. They give free reign to their imagination, mesmerising us with glamour to a point where it becomes nearly impossible for us mere mortals to understand what it is we should be wearing.
If we’re honest, it is rarely easy to be simultaneously fashionable and sensible. While there should be a healthy tension between wanting to emerge from our abodes every morning looking as haute couture as possible and still being practical about our daily wears, some trends are quite simply problematic.
If the trends from the world’s catwalks are anything to go by, we really do have a problem. A perfect example is the bra-top or, in some instances, consumers being advised to wear bras as outerwear. While certainly a fun look for beach days, late-afternoon lounging at the pool or exploring the great outdoors, it’s a trend that is impractical for everyday wear – especially in corporate or professional settings.
In reality, you can expect to see this trend manifest through blouses and tops with more pronounced bodices, likely paired with other, easier-to-implement trends like waistcoats, as well as suiting. In fact, the timeless suit makes another strong comeback this season, preferably in white, lighter pastels (specifically shades of green), metallic leather and power prints (think exaggerated florals and ’60s wallpaper, plus a fair share of animal print).
Other major trends for Spring/summer this year include fringes, ruffles, pleats, ruching, draping and tiering – all reinforcing a return to a looser-fitting, more laid-back, quasiboho aesthetic. A carefree summer, if you will. Puffed sleeves will be added to everything from casual to formal, with the odd statement bow, a few feathers and some drawstring detail also featuring here and there.
It’s also wise to rope in the friends and relatives who are skilled with a crochet needle, as crocheted items – especially bratype tops, or shirts with crochet detailing – is a massive trend for the coming months. This is ideally paired with hot pants, which also make a strong comeback. If the idea of hot pants make you hyperventilate, fear not: The humble Bermuda short is also bang on trend.
The one trend you will definitely see everywhere is polka-dots. Whether big, small, monochrome, or neon colours, polkadot is without a doubt this season’s biggest trend. It’s so big, in fact, that it has crossed over to menswear as well, already to be seen on shorts, shirts, and T-shirts.
For men, polka-dots will be supplemented with stripes of various shapes and sizes, while tropical and leopard print remains. A big trend for Spring/summer is “Co-ord”, which means wearing a matching top and bottom for a uniform, co-ordinated look. This was seen on catwalks predominantly with prints and stripes, but made the biggest impact with a fresh “denim-on-denim” look.
Red and pink will feature prominently as the colours of Spring/summer, complemented by interesting paint-splatter prints. The nautical theme returns, although in a toneddown form, while monochrome looks win for both day and night. Rugby shirts make a comeback in limited numbers, with bowling shirts continuing its reign of popularity. If you’re brave, go for sheer fabrics, or just leave half the shirt unbuttoned to be bang on trend.
Oversized shirts are another big trend this season, as are baggy pants. Pockets are also a huge trend, so you’re bound to see many versions of ’90s cargo pants on shelves. Leather pants featured in many a catwalk collection, as did tank tops and biker jackets. Satin seems to be a key fabric for Spring/ Summer, which makes for a bold if not slightly awkward aesthetic when combined with the bizarre short-shorts trend.
Ultimately, whatever the season’s hottest trends are, the most important thing is to dress according to your own, authentic style. Know your body and what kind of clothing works with it, and you will find it much easier to incorporate some of the latest trends into your wardrobe. You need not leave the house every day as if you’ve just stepped off the catwalk – but you can still make a statement.