FROM RUNWAY TO REAL LIFE
Fashion editor EMMA JOHNSON reveals the 10 most stylish looks for spring and how to recreate them on the high street
PRECIOUS METALS
Luxurious metallic shades appeared at Tom Ford, Fendi and Paul & Joe, to name a few. At Versace, Madonna’s daughter Lourdes (above) shimmered in a chainmail number that looked straight from the fashion house’s archive. Don’t go digging out your Christmas party dress though, this season it is about shimmer not sequins.
SWIPE WHITE
Nothing says spring/summer like a fresh white look. Pretty white shirt dresses in cut-work lace were on display at Erdem, while Michael Kors showed lacy shorts sets and shifts. But if you buy just one white item this season, make it a suit. As seen at Hermes, Valentino and Chloe, it’s a classic and sophisticated choice.
SHEER GENIUS
Post-pandemic, we could all do with some serious glamour – and you don’t get more glamorous than spring’s sheer trend. Unlike the models on the catwalks, most of us won’t be hitting the town with our knickers on show, but there was much to love among the gorgeous gauzy dresses from Rejina Pyo, Coperni and Valentino.
MINI MAGIC
The thigh’s the limit when it comes to hemlines this spring, with the welcome return of the mini skirt. Micro minis and dresses were a hit at some of the biggest fashion houses, including Dior, Versace, Max Mara and Moschino. For a grown-up take on the trend, channel Chanel and team your mini with a ladylike jacket.
THE RIGHT STRIPES
Get in line because this flattering favourite is back. At Fendi, lines came diagonally in candy shades, while Schiaparelli served up traditional deckchair-style stripes, and Marni clashed horizontal and vertical ones for dramatic effect.
For a bold but wearable take on the trend, try Balmain’s black and white humbug stripes.
CUT IT OUT
From flashes of midriff, to cold shoulders and cleavage keyholes, cutouts were a big trend from the spring/summer shows. David Koma’s mini dresses featured dramatic slashes, while Saint Laurent went for a criss-cross approach and Stella McCartney showed shoulder-baring all-in-ones and bodysuits that revealed the models’ waists
NEON DREAMS
After the darkness of Covid, it was hardly surprising that bright colours featured heavily in most of the collections. And they don’t come much brighter than neon yellow. Richard Quinn, Erdem and Valentino all featured fluoro designs, while David Koma’s highlighter pen-inspired mini and midi dresses featured fabulous feather trims.
NOUGHTIES BUT NICE
The Noughties, or Y2K trend as it is known, returned to the spring catwalks of designers like Blumarine, Roberto Cavalli and Miu Miu. Tom Ford mined some of his own most iconic looks from the late 90s and early Noughties, sending models down the runway in bralettes, low-rise cargo pants and skyscraper sandals.
HELL FOR LEATHER
Leather and warm weather may not seem like the best combination, but the material is hot property this season. Oversized biker jackets were shown by Simone Rocha and Prada, while a head-to-toe leather suit featured at Richard Quinn. A leather-look dress like this 1980s-style number at Saint Laurent is a wearable take on this trend.
MAXIMUM IMPACT
Maxi dresses and sunny days are a match made in heaven, and there were plenty of glamorous floorsweeping gowns from designers like Giambattista Valli and Alberta Ferretti.
Paul & Joe showed pretty floral maxis, while over at Fendi, silky 1970sstyle bandeau dresses channelled Jerry Hall twirling around the dancefloor at Studio 54.