UK- LONDON- Done with your list of New Year’s resolutions yet? Well, whilst you reflect on all those busy days left until you can hit the beach (again), do not despair. Besides, as summer 2014 collections reach stores next month, your spring wardrobe is practically begging for attention. To both full-time and part-time fashionistas alike: although trends seem to have somehow ‘resigned’ and personal style is cherished above all else, here’s what’s been creeping its way into top catwalks and glossy editorials and is sure to catch your eye next spring.
Fresh daisy meets minimal-go-getter as pastel tones and delicate prints contrast geometric crop tops and super mini skirts. Silky and diaphanous fabrics soften bold collar statement necklaces and sharp garçonne cuts or sleekly combed back hairstyles.
To begin with, the pastel and prune opening ensembles of Alexander Wang’s collection for Balenciaga had a distinctive sportswear edge. Short, square T-shirts and shorts conveyed a youthfully cute spirit, while broad-shouldered leather jackets and dresses took a slightly stricter tone. Likewise, tight striped sporty tops paired with foliage printed minis and pants also gave off that tough-sweet impression. The combination of tennis, baseball, discreet Sci-Fi influences and the Maison’s stark architectural codes had an explosive effect as futurism gave Wang’s smart collection an interesting turn.
Furthermore, Carol Lim and Humberto Leon’s Kenzo digital prints had a certain virtual appeal with ‘noisy’ screensaver colours and motifs. The Los Angeles duo’s joyful cool sportswear style is definitely du moment.
For his Christian Dior collection, Raf Simmons paired his signature minimal style with the house’s classical ladylike aesthetic. The Belgian designer’s taste for sober but contemporary elegance was mainly expressed through slim black impeccably cut pantsuits, vibrant sporty colours, and male wardrobe-inspired outfits in light fabrics. Simmons reworked the Dior codes by combining pop neon colours with romantic tones and crispy modern fabrics with lean, long silhouettes. For instance, he matched baby pink with masculine-influenced silk vests and sun-pleated dresses and skirts, while pale blue was used for tops and short jackets with college type insignia. As for the evening, wear Dior’s New Look style took the form of silvery short ball gowns and sharp minimal tube dresses – while toying with the boundaries of classicism and modernity.
Giambattista Valli’s collection was also an ode to young delicate beauty with a raw edge – or fashion for trendy 2014 Ophelias. Black and white super short ensembles and luxurious undergarments worn over long dresses prevailed, as modern romantic floral prints and embroidery contrasted strict geometric cuts.
As for serial ‘cute-ster’ Carven, designer Guillaume Henry showed a collection of short dresses both with and without capes, and jackets with floral, Vichy and colourful camouflage prints, along with platform heels and choker necklaces, thus expressing the true spirit of next spring.
For his innovative, ultra contemporary collection, J.W. Anderson presented ethereal, seemingly seamless crop tops, ‘twisted’ skirts, pleated, pressed and folded fabrics: our personal favourite? The mini ensembles with a maxi pocket-like sleeve!
Miuccia Prada’s 60s inspired Miu Miu collection owned a Cardin-like futuristic edge, with typical minis, preppy collars, knee-length boots, large front buttons and oversized geometrical pockets. The pastel palette and vintage cartoon kitten prints gave the whole a distinctive Miu Miu girly tone.
Last but not least, Fendi designers Silvia Fendi and Karl Lagerfeld showed a very modernistic collection inspired by the digital world. Models with a cyber bob haircut, futuristic shades and the brand’s signature fur accessories paraded down the catwalk wearing sharp layered and carved laser cut dresses that resembled computer circuit boards and other digital motifs, while the lightness of the fabrics mimicked the transparency of screens and sequined evening bustier dresses gave off a dazzling pixelated effect.
Watch Kingdom M by Louise Kissa, a new animated fashion film featuring MAWI’s Spring 2014 collection on New Europe Studios’ YouTube Channel.