Transparency Fashion Trend
Spring 2008 Styles Feature Sheer Fabrics in Washed-Out Colors
Spring styles show their softer side by playing with transparent clothes, silky fabrics and curve-skimming silhouettes in pale, pastel colors.
Sheer Fabrics on the Runways
After a season of bold jewel tones and almost-blinding blingy metallics shocking the wardrobes of women everywhere, designers have swept the runways for Spring 2008 with a refreshing breeze of softer, neutral and washed-out hues in transparent, gauzy fabrics that play with the light of the new season.
Inspired by panels of stained glass, designer Luca Luca used delicious, luminous sherbet colors like sea-foam green, blush, mauve, and washed-out violet and turquoise in creamy silk organza, taffeta, linen and chiffon fabrics to create an entire collection of sophisticated, feminine dresses, skirts and slim pants following the translucency trend of Spring/Summer 2008.
BCBG Max Azria's collection for Spring/Summer 2008 also emphasized a palette of breezy pales and cool, washed neutrals, highlighting themes of luminosity and layers of transparency. Belts cinched flowing fabrics, highlighting a distinctly grown-up – yet still playful – hour-glass silhouette, with both knee-length and ultra-mini hemlines.
Italian designer Alberta Ferretti went with the flow-friendly, romantic trend and steered her collection in the direction of Greco-Roman imagery with interpretations ranging from fluid goddess dresses to filmy mini-gladiator skirts.
Principles of the Transparency Trend:
1. Sheer Fabrics
Ladies of spring will be draped in yard upon yard of airy organza, sheer tulle, and liquid jersey. In the fashion confections of the season, sheer fabrics are gathered, blown, pleated and draped to create ethereal forms and delicate texture.
How to Wear It Well
While transparent pants, shirts and sheer peek-a-boo cut-outs may be all the range on the runways for Spring 2008, they're not exactly the most appropriate selection for Wednesday morning's staff meeting.
You've got to exercise a little judgment when incorporating the transparency trend into your wardrobe. For everyday wear, sheer fabrics are best worn in a manner that doesn't reveal undergarments; transparent blouses should be worn over camisoles or under jackets or vests. And see-through skirts or dresses should be worn over opaque layers: slips, pants, skirts or shorts.
Infuse transparency into eveningwear with sheer fabric panels covering open-back and low-v tops or dresses. Full or fluid skirts made of layers of transparent fabric are perfect for formal attire, and sheer wraps are an easy, low-commitment way to follow the trend.
2. Figure-Conscious Silhouettes
Say goodbye to the infantile a-line (baby doll) dresses of the past many seasons and look for feminine, body-skimming, belted dresses in diaphanous, milky fabrics. Last year's trapeze tops and maternity-friendly silhouettes have been streamlined into spring's all-grown-up, waist-cinched styles.
How to Wear It Well
Follow this trend by playing up your feminine curves with hour-glass accentuating accessories like thick and thin belts or obi style sashes. Also, wrap dresses are fabulous for women of all shapes and sizes, making body-skimming wrap dresses sheathed in gauzy fabric a must-have this season.
3. Faded Colors
Pretty, light and cloudy colors – infiltrated by light – softly dominate the translucency trend playing up the sheerness of the season's favorite fabrics.
How to Wear It Well
Washed out colors can wash you out if you're not careful. Opt for faded colors in lucent fabrics with a touch of metallic sheen. And punctuate pastels and faded hues with crisp white or iridescent accessories. Finish your look with the ultimate accessory of glowing skin, smoky eyes and soft lips with a nude gloss.
