While it has not even warmed up across much of the U.S for us to do our best Summer shopping….the Fall 2011 preview collections are already hitting designer floors. The good news is that Fall trends are wearable and sophisticated and seem to reflect an overall optimism in the retail marketplace. Following is a breakdown of what will be showing up on the best dressed and on retail floors starting in July:
Ready-to-Wear:
- Dots/Dotted Patterns/Pailettes (as seen at Marc Jacobs and Stella McCartney)
- Menswear-inspired styling and tailoring (as seen at Yves Saint Laurent and Ralph Lauren)
- Outwear in various forms including oversized sweaters and knits, puffers and parkas, anoraks and coats (as seen at Hermes, Prabal Gurung, Thakoon, and Alexander Wang)
- Graphic prints, checks and plaids (as seen at Valentino and Burberry Prorsum)
- Patchworking, collaged prints and mix-and-match fabrics (as seen at Alexander Wang and Proenza Schouler)
- Gold/flaxen shades, both subtle and bright (as seen at Balmain, Dolce & Gabbana and Jason Wu)
- Snakeskin all over, and as accents (as seen at Chloe, Gucci and Prada)
- Volume and Proportion (as seen at Calvin Klein and Stella McCartney)
- 60’s Inspiration (Alberta Ferretti and Bottega Venetta)
- COLOR! Rich and luxurious on fabrics, furs and in prints…blues, Bordeaux, greens and golds pop! (as seen at Fendi, Gucci, DVF, Derek Lam and Haider Ackermann)
Denim:
Spring shapes and trends evolve to feel more fresh and innovative for Fall than we have seen in denim in a few seasons.
- Color continues, both denim and non-denim
- Coated denim becomes important for women, not just for the guys anymore
- Evolution of the spring bell bottom and wide leg to the cleaner, more sophisticated trouser leg
- Branch out from bottoms: denim will show up in dresses, shirts, pencil skirts and jackets
- Embellishments are important, including buttons, off-the-pocket treatments and interesting wash variation
- Innovation in fabric: softer, more feminine in drape and feel. Changing up fiber content, incorporating Tencel and Cupro to achieve more elegance and femininity
