Trends shown for spring 2008 can hardly be called “new” – in fact, the most prevalent looks so far are downright cliché. The abundance of floral-printed garments on the runway brings to mind fictional magazine editor Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) as she dryly admonishes an employee, “Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.”
The only upside to the has-been trends for 2008 is the fact that they are being worn a bit differently. After all, these aren’t last years flowers… or brights, or…
Floral
Instead of such obvious or “girlie” flowers, many designers are showing floral prints that are more blurred than usual. Some even have a “watermark” look to them, as if the flowers were painted with watercolor. Anne Klein and Marc Jacobs presented this look on below-the-knee, lightweight dresses, but similar prints can be found on any piece of clothing. Consider investing in a floral-print cardigan that can be dressed down with jeans or worn over a solid-color dress.
Brights
Bright colors are listed as a “trend” every spring, but this year, the runways have backed up that statement. While some designers such as Derek Lam countered their brightly colored dresses with neutral outfits within the same runway show, others found that brights teamed well with patterns -- Thakoon showed a bright yellow top with floral skirt. Certain bright colors look better on some skin tones than others, so be sure to spend time in front of the mirror – and in different types of light. Remember that bright colors call attention, and sometimes a bright accessory (necklace or clutch purse) can achieve the look.
White
Numerous all-white outfits were shown on the runway. Erin Featherstone (the same designer who recently designed a line for Target) and Michael Kors presented all-white fitted pantsuits, while others opted for more feminine dresses. While all-white seems like an easy trend to copy, one should keep in mind that white is similar to a bright. A white dress is pretty and white capri pants and a sweater is beach-inspired and refreshing. But beware of too many layers of white seeming too bulky.
Be sure to keep in mind…
A benefit of such generic spring trends is that one may already own much of what is deemed “fashionable” for this season. Look for new ways to wear old pieces – for instance, wear slip dresses over T-shirts or with sweaters. Layer bright tank tops over neutral ones. Study runway photographs for inspiration, then head to the closet!
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