Fashion is art to me – the gorgeous trends I see for this season, like the stunning art deco dresses, are an inspiration. Thankfully, Spring/Summer of 2012 offers us a fun flavor in the multitude of colors and shapes that anyone can try. Below is my list of the top style trends for this spring.
Art Deco
A little bit jazz and a little bit exotic, the art deco geometric lines of this Spring’s dresses and skirts are pure magic. Their black, white, and gold (mostly) prints add a dramatic flair and make a striking statement. Gucci dresses are the best example of this season’s roaring 20s art deco trend.
Pastels
Pastels are not an unusual occurrence right around Easter, but this season they are accepted throughout Spring and Summer. Subdued, almost doll-like dresses and skirt suits by Louis Vuitton stood out on the Spring runways. Carolina Herrera and Balmain pastel dresses mixed in metallics for a more striking look. After all, the brights have lasted a long time!
Wild Prints
From the polka-dotted Ann Taylor Loft dresses to the leopard Michael Kors short set, Hugo Boss stripes to the amazing Etro prints, the prints are wild and not just the animal kind (yes, leopard, cheetah, zebra, and all included). I love the dizzying prints of the watercolor-like sweaters at BCBG and the artistic strikes of the designer silk blouses on the Spring runways. The prints this season are the artistic blend.
Florals
The Florals are almost a pre-requisite trend of Spring. It’s hard to imagine everything in bloom outside without seeing the flowers pop up on skirts, dresses and trenches. A few standouts for me are the Miu Miu floral trench, Alexander Wang pants, Roberto Cavalli jackets and pleated dresses and Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino dresses. It’s very feminine and almost bohemian, which is why the flower power is always at the top of my list.
Three-Quarter Sleeve Floral Dress
A chic floral design adds a summery touch to this three-quarter sleeve dress from Cynthia Steffe. Features a round neckline; three-quarter length sleeves and a floral overlay. Falls above the knee
The Dress
Dresses are really hot right now because of their comfort, coolness in warm weather, and I think because Kate Middleton’s wardrobe picks have made them skyrocket too. Women are going to showers, graduations, brunches, etc. this time of year. “With dresses, it’s all about color this year,” says Jeanne Hennessey, owner of Lorraine Roy Designer Collections in Danvers, MA. “Bright colors are showing up everywhere – bold greens, vibrant fuschias, rich corals. The yellow and navy combination is big this year Lots of prints; it’s a fabulously fun year to embrace the dress trend!”
Lace
Romantic, feminine, elegant, lace is a recurring theme in the Spring fashion. It goes beautifully on dresses – a great example is in the Oscar de la Renta and Ralph Lauren collections for Spring 2012. What I find especially beautiful about lace is the unique level of craftsmanship it requires, making each piece look more original.
Pleats
Another nod to the romanticism of Spring is the multitude of pleats visible in this season’s dresses, skirts and even shirts. Championed largely by Prada, pleats are a beautiful feature of this season’s fashion, in line with their focus on the 50s culture.
