Fashion trends for even the next five years, let alone ten
years are always impossible to predict, but these are the
fashion trends many of us look for when refreshing our
2010 fashion wardrobe.
This list of top twenty fashion looks combines main and micro
fashion trends for 2010.
Each of the latest looks
listed below is examined in more detail on this and other pages of the
Fashion-era.com website.
NEW PASTELS
- The Sherbet Tones - Pink, peach, banana, lemon, lilac,
powder blue, eau de nil, mint, jade, aqua. See right: Gerry
Weber trench.
COLOUR BLOCKING - Bold Brights - Striking colours
e.g. orange coral/fuchsia or yellow/turquoise. Acid
brights,
brilliant clear blues.
FASHION LOOKS - THE NEW PRETTY WOMAN - The Romantics -
Petal print dresses, silk lace camis,
scallop edges, satin, lace, flounces, ribbons, bows, soft nude tones of shell pink,
lace bra effects. Black on pink blush.
UNDERWEAR WORN AS OUTERWEAR
- Corsetry Underpinning
- Applied tapes/lace, cut outs. Negligee dresses. Printed Tanks.
LACE - Lace is used as a contrast and also as a
base fabric. Often worked in flesh tones or creams. See right: Long Sleeve Lace Body, £15
- Yogoego.com.
TRENCHCOATS - REWORKED CLASSICS - Trench coats
in beige and creams, bold brights and pretty pastels. Above knee Macs in every colour.
Short cropped Macs.
UTILITY CHIC - Utility is nothing like 90's grunge.
This is modern utility chic for the twentens with chinos, cargo pants,
utility summer trousers. SPORTS STARS LOOKS - Baggie Trackies in
luxury fabrics. JUMPSUITS -
Military fashion styling.
NAUTICAL STRIPES - Red, blue or black with white. Wide/Narrow Striped Knits. Striped tops, dresses
and
outerwear.
Perennial DENIM DAYS - Distressed denim dresses, shorts,
military jackets, jeans. Washed out
looks. Closely aligned to utility chic and nautical.
LOOSE TAILORING - Chic loose blazers and trousers.
The long leaner blazer is relaxed and loose - but not oversized.
Right - Ivory Boyfriend Blazer Jacket by
Mint Velvet jacket, £85.
ANIMAL PRINTS -
Digitally Enhanced
Animal
patterns in colours or neutrals - grey + black + white.
TRIBAL BEAT - Safari, khaki and batik looks.
Primitive/Jungle prints, clashing abstract print mixes. OTT chunky
jewellery. See dress right: ASOS.com Africa Collection.
EXOTIC TRAVELLER - GYPSY/ROMANY/SPANISH/TURKISH NOMAD
LOOKS -
Bizarre Bazaar Exotic Materials.
WOMAN IN WHITE
- Summer days - cool architectural
linen, torn edge looks, blazers, jersey draping, gypsy flounces.
HAREM INSPIRED TROUSERS - FLAT and Peg-top
trousers. Narrower legs balance wider top silhouette.
Baggie Trackies. TREGGINGS. Skeggings.
ROSES/FLORALS - Superimposed flower forms as textured dress necklines,
flower
hemlines, floral sandal and corsage decoration. PETAL PRINTS, TEXTURED GRAPHIC STATEMENT
PRINTS UTILISING FLORAL FORMS - See right - Floral
border print dress - Uttam Pink Lilyana
Summer Dress, £55.00, Uttam Hot Pink Maya Cropped Cardigan, £39.50, Uttam London
at ColourfulFashion.com.
FABRIC
PRINTS & FABRIC TEXTURES Digitally Enhanced Fabric Prints - Petal Prints - Clashing Prints - Firework
Bursts -1970s Prints - Spots - Animal Patterns. Border
prints. Raw edges, natural ecrus
and torn paper looks in fabrics. Short/long tassel and fringe trims.
COLOURS - MAIN PANTONE COLOUR PALETTE SPRING 2010 - Turquoise,
Tomato Puree,
Fusion Coral,
Violet, Tuscany,
Aurora
(Yellow),
Amparo
Blue, Pink Champagne, Dried Herb and Eucalyptus. See more on
colours on the colour trends page for 2010. Especially note
- Turquoise - Cobalt Blue - Lilac Violet - Green, plus the rise of
rose coral/orange red.
IMPORTANT SUBTLE
COLOURS FOR 2010 -
Solid Soft Blush Pink with Black. NEUTRALS - Café Latté, beige, cream, stone, warm ecru
and soft khaki. MONOCHROME MIXES - GREYS, BLACK, WHITE. GLOSSY GOLD
TONES - Glittery gleaming lames, heirloom chic morphing
to copper burnishing for fall 2010.
KNITWEAR - Printed Knitwear, intarsia patterned knits, rib
knits, cable knits, uneven draping and cardigans. Pattern,
stripes and cable combos in knits. Corsage flowers on knit
necklines. Knee length cardigan
coats - watch this knit coat trend develop next winter.
»
ACCESSORIES -
JEWELLERY - TEXTURED BIB NECKLACES - Tribal and nomadic
influence in jewellery. Colourful layered bangles and cuffs.
Multi row necklaces. Chandelier earrings, teardrop gem earrings with pave
surround.
BAGS to BUMBAGS - Coloured bags all
colours, quilted with ladylike chain braided handles compete
with neat clutches, denim bags. BAGS AND BELTS FEATURING
FLOWER FORMS - Appliqué corsage effects.
BELTS - Studded and spiked belts. Coloured 6 and
7cm deep, belts with massive Boho disc closures. Bow belts. METAL HARDWARE - VISIBLE ZIPS, STUDS, BIKER BUCKLES -
all are used to enhance the surface texture of shoe boots
and clogs.
LEATHERWORK - Leatherwork featuring stencil and
cutwork punchwork lace effects.
FABULOUS FOOTWEAR -
Strapped biker boot cut out sandals. Shaped carved geometric
heels. Clogs, wedges, chunky platforms. Hot colours,
stripes, spots and animal print footwear with bows, buckles,
roses and primary colour contrast bindings.
Wider Shoulders The shoulder has been a focus of interest throughout the
noughties. Now in 2010 the high street has settled on the
extended cap shoulder piece sleeve, often little more than a wide band. Some
dresses also have a small neat shoulder pad to elevate the seam
and help keep the shape of the designer intended shoulder line
silhouette. Sleeve styles are interesting and there are many
sleeves with soft upper fullness either blouse or structured,
stiffened puffs and draped puff waterfall styles.
Volume Sleeves - Watch for classic leg-of-mutton and other
blowsy puff sleeve styles.
Above Right - Monsoon Fusion Spring Summer 2010 -
Blue Cosmic Dress £65/€110 Eire.
Above Left - Monsoon Spring Summer 2010 - Blue Portobello Jacket
£120/€285 Eire.
Focus on the Waist and curviness is created with fitted
darts and structured seams and drapery.
Near Right - Mauve dress with all the fashion silhouette
features to look out for this year. This dress is from the F&F Couture
range at Tesco. F&F Couture Textured Pagoda
Dress Magenta - £140 from Tesco Clothing - Stockist Number: 0800
505555 or tesco.com/clothing
.
Nipped in Waists This body conscious interest focuses on the waist and curviness
created with drapery or fitted darts and structured seams.
Look for:- Swelling Skirt Silhouettes - Domed Bell Like Stiffened Fuller
Wider Skirts.
Focus
on the hemline is achieved with bell skirts, bubble and tulip
lines as shown on this page.
Swathed Grecian Goddess Drapery Drapery in dress is a strong silhouette statement again this
summer. Drapery in fashion has grown from micro trend to mass
trend.
Draped dress styles are sometimes split and draw
attention to the legs, and when well cut at the same time
cause the eye to also focus on the curviness of the bust and waistline.
Well designed drapery can cover many figure faults, especially around the tummy area. Drapery can
also and enhance curviness.
Left - Neutral draped blush dress - Blush J Grecian Dress
£60/€93 by Jasper Conran at Debenhams. Note the little cap
sleeve mentioned above and the ladylike quality of the dress. This fashionable dress
does have a deep V neckline, yet has not been styled with the
overflowing bosom look so familiar a few years ago. The overall
effect is fascinating, but not vulgar.
Draping works classically in Grecian goddess mode when the
material is smooth silky and plain.
Prints of the moment such
as tribal digital and striped prints are all used to great
effect with draped fashion styles and create a more funky edgy
look.
Near Right - One Shoulder Dress £30 ASOS April Clothing
Centre - New Nautical Striped Draped Dress, Limited
Edition T69 2978F £29.50 at Marks & Spencer.
Far Right - YOGO EGO Double Layer Jersey Wrap Neck Blush Dress
£35 www.Yogoego.com . Yogo
Ego is a young fashion company with lots of fresh ideas like
this dress which is hot on trend.
Drapery is also apparent in the skirts, knitwear and trousers shown
further below.
Hemlines for 2010 are on the knee and
above the knee as well as calf length and maxi skirts. Take your pick as many
manufacturers may advertise women modelling shorter skirts, but
so often those models are quite tall. The average woman in UK at
5'4" will often find those same shorter looking modelled skirts fall on their
knee. These skirts shown feature plain and patterned fabrics.
Two of them show digital prints and the longer skirt has
bunches of roses, a popular 50s print theme for floral looks as
Mad Men themes take us by storm.
Far Left Top - Marks and Spencer Draped Skirt - A classy top of
the league summer skirts style.
Centre Left Top - Matalan SS10 - Key Shapes - Be Beau Nautical
Skirt £16. This style is very typical of short skirts that have a
bit of bubble and tulip about them.
Centre Right Top - Matalan SS10 - Key Shapes - Be Beau Smudge
Check Bubble tulip Skirt £16 - Another on trend basic skirt
shape.
Far Right - FEVER Cezanne Pleat Floral Skirt - £48.99
Fever Designs. A longer length skirt and set on a hip yoke basque.
Centre Left Bottom - River Island - Pink Draped Skirt.
Centre Right Bottom - Pink Vero Moda Mini Peplum Skirt £28 -
Peplum hip detail in abstract print Cat.No:26J210WB9 from Oli.
This skirt is a take on some of the layered flounced or frilled
skirts.
Trouser Volume and Width
Narrower Pant Styles with Added Volume....
Draping is is used everywhere to enhance the
fashion silhouette. Notice how many of these images show
knee to ankle trousers. There has been a growing trend to
adopt narrower leg pants. Most of these narrower pants also have
SOME peg top fullness. This fashion trend has been picking up
speed the past two years. Women get very attached to their
trouser shape and often hang onto several leg styles, when an
alternative fashion style can flatter a woman so much more than
the current pants fashion. If narrower pants are hard for you to
wear consider teaming them with a longer line blazer or tunic
top and which covers the hips. Don't worry too much if this
fashion trend has never felt right for you and you think never
will - Autumn 2010 looks set to have a good mix of wider leg and
palazzo pants.
Far Left - Spring Summer 2010 Womenswear White Jacket £20, Tailored
Taupe Trousers £18, Pointed Courts £12 and Coral
Studded Clutch £25 all by F&F. Orange Vest £16 by F&F Collection
at Tesco Clothing.
Centre Left - WW ASOS SS10 Printed Top £16, Navy Trousers £40,
Bag £75, Bracelet £18, Shoes £48 all ASOS.com.
Centre - House of Fraser - Black & White Stripe Crop Top £15/€18,
Black Ribbon & Pearl Necklace £14/€17, Bracelet £10/€12 Beige
Trousers £30/€36 Black
& White ‘Bow’ Bag £29/€35 Therapy White Ankle Socks £6, CK by
Calvin Klein.
Centre Right - River Island SS10 WW - 80s Biker Jacket £49.99,
Hook and Eye Vest £12.99, Chrissy Harems £29.99, Helene Shoe
Boots £49.99.
»
Far Right - Warehouse Silky Hareems £45/€60, Scarf £18/€24, Lace
Fringe Vest £50/€65, Traveller Tie Dye Tassel Top.
Baggier Pants
Even baggier pant versions, harem ankle band
styles or cropped versions and utility chic trousers satisfy all
tastes.
Utility trackie/tracky/tracksuit bottoms have their place for
casual wear and
sporting activities. They come in various leg widths from narrow
to wider to baggy harem style. This is the sort of trouser that
women buy for slopping around at home and doing chores, then
dash out to do a last minute supermarket shop. Make sure yours
look good enough to wear out and that they flatter your figure
rather than destroy it!
Above Left - Marks & Spencer Indigo Khaki Combat Trousers
T54/5314 £35.00.
Far Right - Marisota Hareem Pant, Camel, From £23.
Centre - Plumo - Pocket harem pants in putty coloured soft
jersey £49. This has been teamed with a Plumo coin belt £98.
Plumo say their sash style belt with tie ribbons is made from
slightly quilted, colourful, embroidered vintage fabrics and
trims. The belt is beautifully tasselled with Indian coins and
beads but due to the vintage nature, each belt will differ slightly.
The size is L140cm and adjustable. If you like this coin belt as much as I do, maybe the style
will become the new
Boho belt of 2010!
Wide Leg & Nautical Sailor Silhouette Pants
In total contrast for those who prefer wider leg looser formal
more tailored pants, retailers are
still producing many styles especially nautical influenced wide
leg pants.
Wider leg trousers and palazzo pants fit well with
cruise wear and the nautical holiday themed collections. And
Autumn 2010 looks set to have a good mix of wider leg and
palazzo pants so in darker colours they may become an investment
piece.
Near Right - Hobbs Seymour Trousers, £119 - Hobbs Spring Summer 2010 Clothing.
Far Left - Take a closer look at Philip Green's BHS clothing
ranges. This well made value for money outfit will suit those on
a tight budget.
Far Left -
Bhs Blazer £40, Striped Top £20, Linen Blend Trousers £25, Bag
£22 & Necklace £18. All BHS Spring Summer 2010 Clothing.
If you want a rest from
all the nipped in waist then cover up in style with a blouson
casual or smock top. Pregnant women, the pleasantly plump and plus sizes
will also be delighted with this blouse smock look. The line between blouse,
smock, tunic and dress
will often be hard to fathom. But this is a pretty look and will
suit many women who long for the alternative comfort of a loose
top over their midriff. Loose smock and blouson tops like these are especially
comfortable on warm balmy days. They stretch your wardrobe by
enabling mix and match combinations that can go from day into
evening.
Above Left - Royal Blue/Sapphire Bloused Top from Religion.
Centre Left - Bloused Planet Digital Print Ruched Silk Blouse,
Blue - £99. Available at John Lewis.
Centre Right - Matalan SS10 - Be Beau Print Halter Top £14 -
Stockist Tel. 0845 330 3330
Far Right - Matalan Spring Summer 2010 Clothing - Et Vous Citrus Block Print Blouse
£18.
˚
Bloused Tunic Dresses
Blouses and tunics drop past the waist to the hip, with some
blousing to just above knee. Plenty of dresses are above the
knee, but just as many below it. Tunics have never looked
more likely to morph into a dress. You will ask yourself
more than once this 2010, 'Is it a dress or a tunic I am
buying?'
Left - Evans - Aztel Printed Top- Available in Plus Sizes
£27/€42 - Evans Spring Summer 2010 Clothing.
Centre - Monsoon Fusion Spring Summer 2010 - Multi Posie
Dress £50/€85 Eire.
Right - Republic Spring Summer 2010 Clothing - Womenswear Miso Collection.
The latest fashion looks on offer this Summer 2010
concentrate on the continued trend for feminine dresses and
associated pieces. These garments are in either soft sherbet pastels
and bold brights, like
those further below, or monochrome mixes making the best of contrasting
black, white and grey.
Colour, texture and print express femininity through soft
patterns, abundant floral forms, lace surfaces and 3D appliqué
flowers.
Envisage sherbet colours, dresses, silk lace camisoles,
pretty scallop edges, satin, lace, flounces, ribbons, bows and soft
tones of shell pink. Black set against pink blush all helps create see through lacy bra
and corset
effects and must-have underwear outerwear fashion looks. Right - Pretty Romantic Designer Dress from Ralph Lauren -
Available at select stores USA.
Picture champagne tones, diaphanous floating dresses, washed
parachute silk and pretty girlish looks.
Think of Plisse
fabrics, chiffon, cloque, and Chantilly lace. Every material can help create fairytale
frocks with frothy frills, frou frou ruffles and flounces.
Sweetshop pastels, candy floss, sugar fondant, sorbet ice and cupcake
colours, are all part of the new
pretty. But cute is not always edgy, so you may need to harden
this look a little by bringing it back down to earth with
utility touches for the modern world. Studded accessories help
harden up peachy looks.
Far Left - Republic SS10 Miso Collection - Pink Draped Dress -
Republic Spring Summer 2010 Miso.
Centre Left - Rare Spring Summer 2010 - Three Colour Ruched Tube Dress
REF:DG-RY22 at RARE.
Centre - Cream Dress with Decorative Bodice by Marks & Spencer
- No details.
Centre Right - River Island Pink Dress - No details.
Far Right - Matalan - Et Vous Lace Detail Dress £25 - Matalan
SS10 - Key Shapes. Stockist Tel. 0845 330 3330.
The dress - is clearly still with us and Mad Men sheath dresses in
Betty Draper & Christina Hendricks styles now abound. But
body con hugging fabrics and body con cuts dress use a multitude
of fabrics that pull and push the figure into hour glass shapes.
An underlying trend for some years has been that of soft peach
blush pink an expensive colour tone in the near neutrals range.
One of the strong micro trends this year is the fashion look
'underwear as outwear' pieces. Black, white, blush, cream and
charcoal are all used in these underwear outerwear fashion
designs.
Whatever the colour/pattern scheme all these hues are often
found artfully placed in the natural construction sections of
dresses. Read more on the
Underwear worn as Outerwear page.
Left - New Look Limited Edition Corset Lace Dress £45-€59.
Centre - Marks & Spencer, Grey and White Dress £49.50. Due
May-June.
Far
Right - Marks & Spencer Black Lace Dress. T421923. £65 Due
May-July.
Monochrome Neutrals Trend
»
Some micro fashion trends float past unnoticed by the
majority. Other looks catch the imagination of fashion
followers and hang on for years.
Monochrome is one of these looks. Now after being cocooned
in black and grey for far too many years, new generations are
rediscovering bright and lively colour combinations as earlier
vibrant examples show.
Bold fashion colours are just that BOLD - they are foiled by
everyday sensibility and monochrome black/white, neutral grey,
taupe and cream. Neutral fashion pieces are never very far
away from any fashion story this season.
For 2010 the most important block bright colour of the 2010
fashion colour palette is
turquoise shown right.
Melissa George favoured a hue in this colour range when she
attended the Golden Globe Awards.
Image courtesy of the 66th Annual Golden Globes Awards.
Vivid brights, pastel
sherbet tones, neutrals and monochrome palettes satisfy every
taste.
Pantone's top 10 spring 2010 fashion colours for
women are:- Turquoise, Tomato Puree, Fusion Coral, Violet, Tuscany, Aurora, Amparo
Blue, Pink Champagne, Dried Herb and Eucalyptus. For more
details of the actual Pantone colour numbers for 2010.
Cool Blues - The most important fashion colour
contenders for 2010 are the blues with vibrant turquoise, inky
sapphire through cobalt to cornflower blue and faded denim blue.
Warm Tones - Pink, red and coral have been hot colours for
several years. These dresses below reveal some of the
interesting warm combinations. One challenge to the blues, to pastels and monochromes is to be bold and juxtapose bright block colours like hot
orange, tangerine, coral and tomato red, against
fuchsia pink and magenta.
The effect is electric, but stunning when coral red and
orange is teamed with
a strongly competing fiery shocking fuchsia pink. Dresses
based on coral orange
tangerine tones and worn as the sole colour are right on trend.
Above Left - John Lewis Women Linen Colour Block Dress - John
Lewis SS10 COLLECTION, £65.
Centre Left - Marks & Spencer Autograph Summer 2010
Collection - Autograph Lined Silk Dress - £69.
Centre Right - Jaeger Matador Red Waterfall Dress, £199 - 100%
Silk. Jaeger at John Lewis.
Far Right
- Push the boat out with this luxurious designer dress -
Vintage in the making. Gorgeous Donna Karan Bi-Colour Drape Dress from Harvey Nichols
- £1,755.00.
The rise of orange based light coral red. One noticeable colour seen to be a rising star is that of an
orange based light coral red. This is very different rosier
orange tone than the hard orange colours of
the 1970s. This 2010
orange is warm and blushes more than the cooler, harsher 1970s
orange.
Left - Lanvin Kimono Belted Hot Tangerine Dress at Harvey
Nichols - £1,285.00.
Centre - Blood Orange Peplum Dress by Tesco SS10.
Far Right - Limited Edition Orange Silk Dress by Marks &
Spencer.
Violet and purple based colours have been incredibly popular
sellers with women throughout 2009.
There is still high demand
for these rich vibrant shades that lift a woman's face. Note how
the purples are often meeting the blues.
Right - Blue violet purple lavender necklace from Phase Eight
Pebble Necklace in Thistle £25.
As well as the stronger important bright colours such as turquoise,
cobalt
blue, lilac violet, there are the neutrals and softer
sherbet colours. The neutrals include café Latté, beige, cream, stone, warm ecru
and soft khaki. They offer a safe palette for those who
resist intense colour.
The correct colour choice for that summer jacket or parka will
lift your skin tone more than any unfashionable sun-baked
mahogany tan.
IMPORTANT BRIGHT COLOURS FOR 2010 Turquoise
Cobalt Blue
Cornflower Blue
Mauve
Lilac, Lavender to Blues.
Digitally Enhanced Fabric Prints
Digitally Enhanced Fabric Prints create a whole new world of
up-to-the-minute fabrics. These are sometimes mixed with other
equally demanding prints to create clashing print mixes that
dazzle and confound whilst crying out novelty. This feature extends
from jersey knit dresses through into knitwear.
Below digital watercolour effect fabrics and
sculptural forms from brilliant young designer Mary
Katrantzou. Image courtesy Swarovski.
Far Right - Value for Money Print Dress from George at
Asda.
Tribal Structured Dress £16 George at ASDA.
Petal Prints
Petal Prints - This uses large fulsome blooms to pinhead
prints and mystical blurred watercolour effect flora, to form fabrics
of ethereal beauty. This is an exceptionally pretty girly look,
feminine and easily made more edgy with statement jewellery in
bold designs and shoes that shock.
Whilst purple is still having its
moment make way too for blue - the colour of the year. Stock up
on anything turquoise through to cobalt blue and cornflower.
The marine blues add a cool calm elegant sophisticated
aura to a woman. Like an image of sea breezes the tones are
naturally expensive looking so make a good colour choice for new
investment pieces.
Right - M&Co Ladieswear SS10 Jewelled Floral Shift Dress £40.
Left - Hobbs Summer 2010 - Vaudeville Dress £159.
If
you are now ten years older since you last wore one
of the
richer royal blue tones, then this colour may appear harsher
against your skin tone
than you first recall. So select the colour and fabric carefully to maximise the
wondrous effect blue can have on a woman. Deeper cobalt blues
are especially suited to the business and evening environment as
they make a refined, yet glamorous in control alternative hue to black.
The iris/electric blue/purple/violet colour spectrum has stayed in
favour and so there are still plenty of mauve tones filtering
down through lavender to cornflower blue for spring.
Still in the blue green spectrum the sea greens, turquoise
and aqua have
once again made us more comfortable with the green family. The
rise of blue based accessories in bags and jewellery reflect
this.
Right - John Lewis Collection Turquoise Cuff - £20.
The
brights, acid green, lime, citron yellow tones all remain popular colour
choices especially in summer cotton and linens, but now move toward warmer
khaki, olive green and yolk gold.
»
Shimmering brocades are glam and make for perfect occasion
wear as summer weddings make their mark. Glimmer and a
burnished glossy mirror shine are easily achieved with glossy
bags, metallic footwear or the gold cuff just shown above.
Textures - Check out the Dolce and Gabbana crochet dresses
and watch out for macramé bags and casual layering pieces. Look
out for torn edges, frill layers, crunchy lace, Cornelli tape
work, and 3D floral forms on dresses jackets and knitwear.
For an easy to wear fashion trend check out the blazer too, but note this year a more loosely
tailored jacket.
Designers have pandered to investment dressing creating bread
and butter styles that are universally recognised. Wearable
basics are commercial in a society still careful with income in
the aftermath of global financial chaos. Consider the new blazer
especially in white or neutral tones.
Left - Spring Summer 2010 Womenswear - Light Grey Boyfriend
Blazer £30, Playsuit £20, Woven Clutch £10, Bracelet £7,
Pointed Courts £12 - F&F at Tesco Clothing.
Centre - WW ASOS SS10 Jacket £60, Vest £6, Shorts £35, Necklace
£12 ASOS.com SS 2010.
Far Right - WW ASOS SS10 Jacket £55, Scarf £22, Shorts £22, Vest
£25 ASOS.com SS2010.
Take a look at the revamped trench coat variations as starting points to an
investment wardrobe update.
Designers have excelled by producing
softer loosened up tailoring reflected in the cropped trench coats and colourful brighter colours.
Far left we have an above knee monochrome trend Mac with black
and white spots overlay. Beside it a knee length trench coat in
the hottest rising colour of tangerine orange.
Near Left - Star by Julien Macdonald - Orange Trench Coat £80/€124 at Debenhams.
Far Left - Retro Sweetheart S/S 10 Monochrome Spot Coat at boohoo.com.
The neutral tone Mac as supplied by Burberry and Aquascutum for
generations is the traditional trench coat that most people think of
along with scenes from old movies like Casablanca. It
suits women and men and the choice of a neutral tone is a classic and timeless
piece that will hang in your closet ready for a rainy day any year,
anytime. This one near right is from - Hobbs SS10 Collections.
Hobbs Riviera Rainmac, £149, Gaiety Top, £69, Vincente Shorts,
£69, Gina Bangle, £49, Rocas Double T-Bar, £189.
Utility chic is a sporty military
styling that targets younger followers. But for Summer 2010 utilitarian looks
are frequently a contradiction - boots have open cut outs,
whilst sandals
climb the leg like boot forms.
Centre Right - M&S Spring/Summer 2010 - Military Jacket
£89/€120, Top £59/€80, Shorts £49.50/€67, Bag T83
£39.50/€54, Shoes £29.50/€40.
Above Left/Centre Left and Far Right - Images - Utility Looks from
Warehouse Collections.
Contrary fashion creates
notice-me options that decoders always love. Hard edged military
jackets are softened with decorative elements. Soft jerseys make
for relaxed practical utility daywear.
Above Far left - Marks & Spencer - M&S Spring/Summer 2010
- Jumper £39.50/€54, Top £32/€43, Skirt £35/€47.50, Bag
£35/€47.50, Shoes £29.50/€40.
Centre Left - Betty Barclay Spring Summer 2010 - Betty Barclay
Outdoor "Soft Pastells". Short coat, Style No. 4385/2630.UK
₤210/€245.00.
Centre Right - J by Jasper Conran at Debenhams Summer 2010 - Denim Rivet
Shirt £40/€62.
Far Right - Monsoon Fusion Spring Summer 2010 - Grey Pixie Shirt
Dress £50/€85 Eire.
Many of us are slowing down to pause and consider more
carefully how we spend our money on new fashion pieces. We buy
just about everything now in a more considered manner.
What we buy, what we wear, how and from where we buy are for
many well thought over before the final considered purchase. A
considered purchase was once regarded as an item that cost over
£100 and consumers gave little though to spending money on
purchases under that figure. The recession and the knowledge of
the reality or possibility of a future restricted fixed income
have created angst among those who feel threatened. Those people
now take careful note of every expenditure and pride themselves
on savings.
The new all embracing fashion mantra encapsulates the
concepts of quality, recycling, eco awareness, handcrafting,
fashion swishing/swapping and wardrobe longevity. This doesn't
mean the pieces have to be ultra classic, but it does mean that
women are dressing their bodies to enhance them. Women thinking
in terms of chiconomics and building personality wardrobes that
show the world their individual style dictated by their own body
form. It's not just a case of buying clothes to cover the
body or ape someone else its more a case of purchasing items
that define your individuality and address your statement style.
So fashion has slowed a little.
Clearly the recession of the last two years of the noughties
set a new mood globally of more thoughtfulness. Through 2008 and
2009 the majority of consumers quietly set themselves new
standards. Now designers recognise that women wish to build
groups of wearable outfits that span the seasons. Those existing
wardrobes with the addition or removal of a new layer can
incorporate new items seamlessly and fashionably. Classic no
longer means dull safe and boring, but timeless quality
materials and elegant figure flattering cuts. Accessories
especially shoes and chunky statement jewellery can add a modern
funky touch to any understated look.
When budgets remain tight assess the key fashion items you
really need. Check the themes that appeal to your
personality. If you like classic looks consider for example the stripes
or spots themes as they come in and out of fashion with
regularity, so can be stored rather than ditched if the fad
passes. If you like feminine soft outfits go for sherbet colours
or floral fashions. Note that burgeoning skirt as it get
wider, sort out a pair of slimmer pants, assess your suitability
to the well defined shoulder line, statement sleeves or
emphasised waistline.
Then either reject or adopt these elementary changes.
Incorporate
some on-trend colourful footwear, add a fashionable bag and you
will be set to go.
After a decade of increasingly speeded up fast fashion,
personally styled investment dressing has been creeping back into
women's wardrobes. With the noughties well and truly gone I think of this
new decade as the Twentens rather than the teens, tweens,
teensies, tweensies or tenteens. Whatever it finally gets
called, I'm sure it will survive endless fashion must-have
pieces or wannabe outfits.
Decades, like trends come and go, but these days fashion
trends are taking a new path as laptop shopping has rapidly
become the new effortless way to buy the latest fashion pieces.
Women love trying on garments in the comfort of their own home
with their own jewellery, bags and shoes to hand. Shopping
online means women have instant access to the latest looks
knowing some really will suit their particular body shape and personal
style. Women are making online fashion selections at leisure
because it not only makes their lives easier, but enables them
to grab the hard to track down size, length or colour. This is
the ultimate self treat in a box and all
without the hassle of queuing at a till.
In 2010 women are dipping into a variety of looks and
pleasing themselves. With the rise of internet shopping the
majority of women have become their own fashion buyers and
fashion editors, selecting from a wide range of clothing pieces
that appeal to their sense of personal style. They are more
aware of the self esteem value that thoughtful grooming and
styling brings. They have absorbed the makeover advice of Gok,
Trinny and Susannah and countless other fashion gurus and taken on board that
other
people do look at them, what they wear and how they present
themselves to the world. Nothing is more boosting to personal
self esteem than to be told by an acquaintance 'you look great
today, but then you always do look lovely'.
By absorbing some fashion do's and don'ts women are finding
their own style and fashion level whilst becoming more clued up
about appropriate fit for purpose underwear. Many now know
that to appear fabulous, fit and fashionable they need to be
aware not only of the latest fashion stock, but also know the
corresponding underwear fashion fixes. All this plus also
understand that no fashion look should be slavishly followed,
but personalised with custom selected edited fashion elements.
The new pick and mix for grown women is fashion shopping online.
These are the latest top-to-toe developments of the
silhouette trend for 2010. The shoulder has been a focus of interest throughout the
noughties. Now in 2010 the high street has settled on the
soft, but fuller upper sleeve. Also, continue to pay attention to the skirt width and shoulder
silhouette and bring colour into your wardrobe.
Another of the latest fashion looks on offer this Summer 2010
concentrate is the trend for feminine dresses inspired by the
'Mad Men' television programme.
As for colours, Pantone's top 10 2010 fashion colours for
women are:- Turquoise, Tomato Puree, Fusion Coral, Violet, Tuscany, Aurora, Amparo
Blue, Pink Champagne, Dried Herb and Eucalyptus.
Fashion trends for even the next five years are difficult to
predict, but this article highlights the
fashion trends many of us will add this year when refreshing our
2010 fashion wardrobe.
Header Image courtesy ColourfulFashion.com
Floral border print dress - Uttam Pink Lilyana
Summer Dress, £55.00, Uttam Hot Pink Maya Cropped Cardigan, £39.50, Uttam London
all at ColourfulFashion.com.
Copyright of images courtesy of Prshots,
Marks & Spencer, Harvey Nichols, House of Fraser,
Colourfulfashion.com, John Lewis, Oli, Rare, Evans, Monsoon, Debenhams,
Freemans,
River Island, Monsoon, Tesco, M&Co, Marisota, Phase Eight,
Jaeger, T.K.Maxx, George at Asda, NEXT, Matalan, BHS, ASOS, Warehouse, Pantone, Very.co.uk,
Hobbs and Swarovski.
Fashion-Era.com looks at women's costume and fashion history and analyses the mood of an era. Changes in technology, leisure, work, cultural and moral values. Homelife and politics also
contribute to lifestyle trends, which in turn influence the clothes we wear. These are the changes that make any era of society special in relation to the study of the costume of a period.
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PETAL PRINTS, TEXTURED GRAPHIC STATEMENT
PRINTS UTILISING FLORAL FORMS - See right - Floral
border print dress - Uttam Pink Lilyana
Summer Dress, £55.00, Uttam Hot Pink Maya Cropped Cardigan, £39.50, Uttam London
at ColourfulFashion.com. 
The shoulder has been a focus of interest throughout the
noughties. Now in 2010 the high street has settled on the
extended cap shoulder piece sleeve, often little more than a wide band. Some
dresses also have a small neat shoulder pad to elevate the seam
and help keep the shape of the designer intended shoulder line
silhouette. Sleeve styles are interesting and there are many
sleeves with soft upper fullness either blouse or structured,
stiffened puffs and draped puff waterfall styles.
Focus
on the hemline is achieved with bell skirts, bubble and tulip
lines as shown on this page.
Violet and purple based colours have been incredibly popular
sellers with women throughout 2009.
There is still high demand
for these rich vibrant shades that lift a woman's face. Note how
the purples are often meeting the blues.
