My work recently pushed all of the employees to actively participate in a social network, which our IT team developed to promote communication between various departments and our many locations. One of the features included in the site is a blog feature, available for each employee to create and share ideas with colleagues. About a month ago, I started a blog, Five, featuring ideas which might lead to improvements within my branch and also throughout the country. The format of Five is simple: I frame a list of five ideas into a short post that can be read in about five minutes. While I post regularly on work-related topics, I also give myself the liberty to write about topics that interest me, and as you know, I am very interested in fashion.
I called my latest post, which I published this afternoon, "Five Ways to Update your Winter Wardrobe." Here it is, for your viewing pleasure. Feel free to comment and critique:
I spend most of my day in my cubical entering data into my computer and chatting with people whom I will never meet. My work wardrobe reflects my situation: oversized sweaters, an occasional skirt, and heels that live under my desk. But on the weekends….I match, complement, contrast and accessorize. Now that fall has arrived, I’ve begun to eliminate certain pieces from my professional wardrobe, replacing them with new and interesting interpretations.
I love the novelty of fashion. I love the changing trends and haute couture clothes, valued more as artistic expressions than for their practicality. And I love how, as consumers, we can express ourselves through the garments we choose to purchase and how we choose to wear them. I’m not so shallow to believe that fashionable clothing is an important aspect of daily life, but I do believe that fashion can provide a fun, interesting way for a person to express her creativity and personality. As our personalities evolve and as we grow closer to our creative potential, our wardrobe should evolve too.
When I’m watching a runway show or flipping through a recent stylebook, I always look for continuations from the last season. I also look for absent styles to determine what cuts and colors will be considered passé the next season. Over the past month, I spent some time comparing fall styles with looks from the recent runway shows in New York, London, Milan, and Paris.
Here are five trends from the Women’s RTW shows that will remain popular next Spring:
1. Color, Color, Color: Pastels, neons, and saturated brights remained a staple on the Spring runway shows. Pastels were a surprising addition to the Fall 2011 shows, complementing the intensity of the orange and pinks. Color-block these brights or pair them with popular neutrals including navy, almond, and shades of grey. You may want to avoid pairing black with the brighter colors, which can look dated.
2. Fabrics: Natural fabrics are still stealing the spotlight:silks, wools, and satin. These fabrics give an upscale look and feel to the brighter colors, which can appear cheap when produced in a polyester. Look for translucent blouses (to layer), seasonless wool blazers, and pieces with a hand-crafted quality – think hand-woven, hand-knit, and artisanal. For contrast, pair these knits and handcrafted items with very simply pieces; also look for high-tech fabrics created using traditional methods.
3. Shoes: What to wear with bright skirts and tops? Brightly-colored heels or flats in matte leather, vivid prints, and distinct leather finishes like faux-ostrich and perforated leather. Prints and color make sensible shoes more fun!
4. Fit: Think balance, volume, and structure. Look for voluminous tops to wear with slim-leg pants and pencil skirts. Wide leg pants and long skirts are also popular both this fall and spring 2012. Pair these with a fitted blazer or a fitted shirt. The spring runway even featured several hoop skirts. How brave are you?
5. Prints, Prints, Prints: Prints remain popular this fall, but the designs have begun to shift. Digital prints, popular for the last few seasons, have shared the stage with tribal prints like ikat and shibori. This spring, bold geometric prints and loud florals will also be widely available, so look for blouses and skirts sharing the same pattern, or for a more demure look, find a scarf or garment in a partially-printed fabric.
Obviously, if you’re partial to a certain look, don’t alter your personal style based on trends, but do consider ways you might be able to update your wardrobe without spending more than you’ve budgeted. Need a new pair of jeans? Purchase a pair with a current cut. Need a new sweater? Shop around a bit and find a modern look.
Remember to have fun and explore new styles; while trends change, it is possible to buy updated looks that will last more than one season.
I called my latest post, which I published this afternoon, "Five Ways to Update your Winter Wardrobe." Here it is, for your viewing pleasure. Feel free to comment and critique:
I spend most of my day in my cubical entering data into my computer and chatting with people whom I will never meet. My work wardrobe reflects my situation: oversized sweaters, an occasional skirt, and heels that live under my desk. But on the weekends….I match, complement, contrast and accessorize. Now that fall has arrived, I’ve begun to eliminate certain pieces from my professional wardrobe, replacing them with new and interesting interpretations.
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| Photos from Style.com |
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