Trends

Spring 2010

        
This spring is all about the LAYERS.

Layer your clothes with cardis, tee's, tanks, dresses, top and don't forget to stack on the statement necklaces and bold bangles.

KEY COLORS are green & blue(think shades of Turquoise), HOT pink and orange.

PRINTS are animal or original graphics. And the more prints, the better! Mix and match with stripes and graphics, animals and color, and on and on.

KEY TRENDS AND ITEMS are oversize jackets, Breton stripes (see Brandy's blog for more info there), and shorts. Designers also revisited Cavali and Laurent's days of Safari/Military, so look for neutrals, field coats, cargo pockets, etc.

Spring 2010 is going to be fun, inventive, and as always, like no other, at blonde!



Fall 2009

        
Fashion is a cycle and the 80’s have officially made their return. We have seen glimpses of this decadent era for the past few seasons, first with the arrival of leggings, the presence of graphic prints (geometric shapes were the height of hipster fashion), the wayfarer sunglasses, and the strong shoulder appearing this past spring.

The 80’s are now back in full force and have been remixed with this season being a season of EXCESS, in various forms. Not only do we see excess of luxe that the eighties was known to embody, bold sequin, embroidery, lace, and beading, that has been refined to touches of opulence and lush materials such as velvet, but many designers incorporated excess of material with large amounts of fabric being used to create designs of beautiful drapery, origami garments, and the newest aesthetic “slouchy chic”. An excess of color was seen as day-glo popped out on many runways. The eighties was also the birth of punk in the United States and the hardware of the punk rockers have also made a belated encore performance this season, making an appearance on everything from gowns to shoes.

The 80’s are back and not in a cliché eighties aerobics fashion but as a celebration of glamour and feminine power. The time has come again to be BOLD!

The 80’s (era of Excess):
o Neon colors: hot pink, this season’s cobalt blue (also yellow [in all its shades] is making a sunny
appearance as a pop of color)

o Form fitting designs: bondage dresses and boots

o Strong shoulders: structured, heavy, and winged

o Innerwear as
outerwear: not a return of the Madonna cone bra but a prevalence of corsets

o Luxury: velvet, sequin, metallics, even glitter (and the sparkle and shine is no longer restricted to the night but can be seen shining all day long)

o Exposure of skin: get a peek-a-boo of skin through slits and cutouts at the shoulder (the altered exposed shoulder of Flash-dance)

o Elsa Schiaparelli: embodiment of extremes and bold design with strong shoulders, eclectic prints, ornamented elements, and the original use of zippers in high fashion


Excess of Material:
• Structured, origami pieces (incorporated primarily in dresses)

• Drapery

• Oversized garments: “slouchy chic”- clean sophisticated sportswear (meticulously cut pieces with clean lines and simple shapes in oversized proportions)


Hardware (Excess of ornamentation):
o Studs=sophistication

o Chains

o Zippers

o Snaps

Essential Pieces:
• The blazer

• Loose basic tee

• Long sweater

• “Your” jean: boyfriend, skinny, tapered, even wide-legged, whichever best fits you

• Perfect pant: high-waisted, either pleated or cropped, and for the fashion braveheart, the harem pant

• Sweeping skirt

• Accessorizing scarf

• The boot: bootie to thigh-high bondage boot



Spring 2009

        
Spring Trends 2009

All we have to say is: ease.

Easy styles, easy colors, easy fabric.

Just easy, easy, easy.

And who couldn’t use a dose of that?


Key Looks

Safari: Look for the great neutral colors of nude, tan, and olive green. But this season, you’ll be seeing these styles in silks with texture and embellishment as opposed to the cotton blends of the past.

Boho: Flowy dresses, tops, and skirts in solids, prints and patterns. Easy breezy.

Structure: Whether you are creating an overall shape (hourglass is the shape of the season) or having one piece stand out…structure is seen in every type of clothing in the form of ruffles, tiers, and pleats.


Key Trends

In keeping with the overall theme of ease, this seasons trends lend themselves perfectly and easily to be blended with your current wardrobe and wardrobes of the future…lucky us.

Neon or neutral: Those seem to be the two options available…either “Hello, look at me!” or “I’m so fabulously blendable, I go with everything!”

Silky: Silk shows up everywhere this spring, and who can complain? We get to look fabulous while being in the same un-encumbering comfort level of our PJ’s.

Texture: Crinkled, sculptured and ruffled…we’ll see texture updates even our basic t-shirts.

Embellishment: Whether it’s a full-on sequined mini or a little something added to a neckline, we see beads, feathers, rhinestones and sequins show up on lots. Don’t fret…it’s not the formal kind, but rather the funky kind. You’ll be seeing pieces that can be thrown on without the blink of the eye, but have a little something, something to make them stand apart from the crowd.


Print Blouses: Floral, stripes, patterns, prints and sheer, these flowy blouses can be slipped on with jeans or made uber-trendy by being paired with a mini skirt and a classic cut or boyfriend blazer.

Shorts: Please do dare to wear! Shorts make a huge comeback this season by appearing in every shape, form and function imaginable. Casual, dressy, business appropriate. High waisted, low waisted, tie waisted. Long, short, medium leg. Get at least one pair to experiment with.

Full Skirts: Not the full that immediately pops into your mind, but rather, just a little extra volume. Looks for a tiered version to keep this look manageable.

Mini Dresses: Not terribly short, but a little shorter than seasons past. Mini dresses are an easy way to get in the season’s mood; pick one that encompasses your most favorite look of the moment.

Accessories

Accessory trends mostly fall in line with those for clothes. Look for lots of fringe and embellishment.

Our favorite jewelry trend is the sphere factor. Balls of all colors, fabrications and sizes are present in rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

Scarves are also staying strong. Look for silky versions in sheer fabrics or fabulous patterns. These are especially great with all the neutral clothes as a pop of personality.



Fall Fashion 2008

        
The Bottom Line:

Mixing conservative with cutting edge; new takes on the classics.



Here are the dominating factors:

TWEEDS
But not just boring blacks and browns, look for infusions of color and metallics.

PLAID
Whether a classic tartan or a new graphic, plaids are all over skirts, shirts and jackets.

BLOUSES
Classic whites, colorful silks, and chiffon florals feature bow-ties and other frills, but still maintain grown up structure.

CARDIGANS
Boyfriend sweaters, cardi-vests, and mini shrugs, oh my! Look for every shape, size and color of cardigans.

PANTS
After endless seasons being dominated by the dress, dressing is now going back to seperates, and the pant (finally) dominates. Wide leg, skinny, high waist, whatever...anything goes!

DARK PALLETTE
Fall is mainly dominated by blacks and grays (shocking, right?), but don't be afraid to add a splash color (see below).

COLOR POPS
When you are ready to add your splash of color this season, the color to add is purple, and any version of it. Magenta, fushcia, plum, aubergine, eggplant. Other prominant colors are the jewel tones-blues, greens and mustards.



Overall Look:

With the return of dressing in seperates, this season we will be romanced by looks of structure and eclecticism.


TAILORED
Think sexy masculine, sexy secretary, sexy English professor. Look for high waisted wide leg trousers, pencil skirts and well fitted blazers and layer them with your feminine "sexy" peice--a chiffon, lace or silk blouse.

ROCK 'N ROLL
This is where it pays to know the tricks of eclecticism. This look is all about mixing, matching and layering. Use skinny pants, leather bombers, and those cardi-vests to mix with your all time favorite
t-shirts and jewelry and you'll be living the rock star's dream.

SHIFT DRESSING
When a dress does show itself this season, it is in the all-flattering shape of a shift. Dresses will come in all of the current trends--neutrals, tweeds and pop colors, and will be accessorized to the max with belts, chunky necklaces and blazers.



Our thoughts:

We love the comeback of seperates...the more clothes the better! Have fun, be experimental and never be grounded by the rules--
always dress "like no other"!