Fall into Spring: Wear NYFW ‘12 trends now! (Like right now).
by Raveena Parmar, AAS Fashion Marketing
New York Fashion Week Fall ’12 came and went, and unless you live in a bubble that rejects all access to Starbucks Wi-Fi and products that are named after a biblical fruit (or just Gwyneth’s kid), I’m sure you noticed.
However, I have a bit of a gripe to pick with the veritable fashion lords during this holiest of times. With the advent of this silly little thing we call the internet, and its gold-star children Twitter, Tumblr and Blog, fashion has been severely democratized. This is great for us plebeians, who now have instant access and can drool over images literally before they walk the runway. However, the flipside is that these beauteous items won’t be within our reach until 6 months from now. There needs to be a change, no? It’s been said before, but I’ll say it again–the fashion cycle needs a good ol’ revamp. One where our designers don’t have to work themselves to the brink of exhaustion by churning out collection after collection to satiate the public’s demand for newness yet at the same time also tempers the beast that is our internet-addled-age, the age of instant gratification. Perhaps one where a collection seems fresh rather than tired upon its actual arrival on the store floor!
Altogether now, let’s take our lattes and stare at our computers with an Ivy League frown and let this percolate.
Well, despite the modernity fashion represents, behind its façade tends to be a stalwart industry firm in the face of dissidence. So as we wait for hell to freeze over, let’s attempt to show our rebellion by incorporating fall trends for spring! (Huzzah! That’ll show the fashion (wo)man!) In an effort to help you insurgents, I collaborated with my talented friend El Lewis, Stylist Assistant to the Mary Alice Stephenson (oft described as the Rachel Zoe of the East Coast), to bring you the lowdown on how to wear Fall ’12 trends now.
Style.com
Wearable Art
First up, wear your art. Next season the worlds of art and fashion will collide, in the most literal of ways. “Designers are pulling from artists for inspiration, recreating imagery from painters; Marchesa pulled from William-Adolphe Bouguereau’s A Soul Brought to Heaven and Prabal Gurung recreated Georgia O’Keeffe’s Skulls in his designs”, says El. I for one hope these pieces come with an informational tag; it’s no use acting irreverent if you can’t name the art piece you’re showcasing around your mid-section. To wear this look now, attempt to pair a top or blouse that references an art piece, it’s a great way to show some knowledge fashionably. Pop art will do.
Style.com
Heavy Duty Texture
Leathers, fur and heavy fabrics are exceptionally prominent for next fall. Designers such as Alexander Wang and Proenza Schouler took a complex approach to heavy fabrics and reworked them through the use of waxing, patenting and lacquering. El advises to wear it now, that we ‘mismatch our fabrics by mixing our wools and cottons with leathers to give a heavy duty look. Layering with complimentary fabrics will give you that edge!”
Style.com
White on White
It’s official: white is now a year round colour folks. This fall designers sent down look after look that would make the makers of Tide-to-go pens squeal with delight. From Proenza to Band of Outsiders it was a Proctor and Gamble dream. This one is a no brainer, just pair your favorite whites together this spring and you’re good to go. (FYI: just don’t do anything fun, you know involving rolling around in the grass, BBQs and ketchup, muddy music festivals—no big deal).
Style.com
Color Wheeling
Everyone take out your color wheel and let’s get analogous. El is a fan: “Thakoon played with analogous coloring by combining reds with hot pinks and different values of oranges and reds.” To wear it now just take your color wheel for a spin and start pairing up the neighbors; ex. pair your blues with navys and ceruleans. For spring start with this skirt and work your analogous skills from there.
and, last but not least, Sheer, Sheer, Sheer
Running rampant on the runways (alliteration oh my!) was sheer everything. From blouses, to see through dresses to flowing trains, sheer, netted fabrics dominated the shows this season. Attempt the look for these warmer months (which it may be more suited for) by trying to pair sheer blouses with cut off shorts for a casual look, or perhaps a high waisted skirt for something a bit more ladylike.
Voila! You’ve successfully fallen into spring and can call yourself a fashionista with a platform. Fashion cycle who?
Visit the blog Bon Vivant to see more Fashion Week tips from Raveena…
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