It’s that time of year again. Over the past month, the world’s top designers have pulled out all the stops to unveil their new lines for spring/summer 2013. Let’s recap the styles that dominated the catwalks in London and Paris this season.
London
No matter which trends you latch onto, the important lesson that London fashion week taught us is to be bold. There, we saw a shift away from the regal colors and fabrics of fall toward a more underground style. We also saw very little of the black and white trend that has emerged from the runways of New York and Paris. Instead, designers such as Paul Smith, Moschino Cheap and Chic, and Roksanda Ilincic played around with color blocking in some fun oranges, marigolds, and purples for the sunnier spring and summer weather. Prints also made a powerful statement on the London runways, especially in the collection of Mary Katrantzou, whose pieces were inspired by old-world postage stamps and currencies.
London’s models often looked like they came straight from the pages of a sci-fi novel this season: Erdem’s models wore traditional florals with a florescent twist, while Preen models sported dresses and trousers patched together from python skins and suit fabrics. Meanwhile, futuristic metallic shine was a staple of the Burberry, Jonathan Saunders, and Antipodium collections.
Paris became a catwalk of contrasts this season, with two distinct trends emerging over the week—even within the same collections! On the one hand, we spotted sexy silhouettes in the Isabel Marant line, as well as ultra-feminine ruffles in the collections of Chloe, Balenciaga, and Givenchy.
But many designers took an opposing view, drawing inspiration from the more masculinized trend that emerged with the military and equestrian look of fall/winter 2012. Tailored tomboy shorts that fall at or below the knee made appearances in such collections as Hermes, Paul & Joe, and Maiyet, while disproportional—at times seemingly shapeless—tops and jackets were seen in the Balmain, Stella McCartney, and Roland Mouret collections. Denim redux turned up in everything from suits to maxis this season, with Miu Miu, Balmain, and Chanel putting interesting twists on this classic look.
Unlike London, the City of Light was somewhat color-starved on the runways this season, but when it did make an appearance, it often showed up in blue. We spotted nice sea blues in the collection of Barbara Bui, as well as a stunning cobalt dress from Stella McCartney and a metallic blue in the Jean Paul Gaultier collection.
What’s Ahead
Although the spring/summer 2013 fashion weeks have just wrapped, designers have already begun the furious race to complete their fall/winter 2013 collections. Word on the street is that we might see the futuristic fabric trend continue, as well as the emergence of moody dark romance trend and a down-to-earth nature trend. Don’t miss your chance to see the latest styles make their debuts next year. Head to London Fashion Week from February 15 – 19, then take the train from London to Paris to attend the highly anticipated closing Fashion Week in Paris from February 26 – March 6, 2013.
