In Line With Stripes

Trends come and go but classics remain. Doubtlessly stripes are one such print that is ageless and can never go out of our wardrobes. The versatility of stripes got proved on the 2013 Spring/Summer runways. Fall 2012 trends turned out to be a diverse collection of numerous styles. New, old and remixed fashion heated up the runway all over the world but stripe again stole the charm.

As the new graphic fever has caught up the fashionistas, stripe print too morphed itself. Starting from straight lines to Op Art (optical illusion print), 2013 graphics have geometric influences. If worn individually, lines and stripes are still simpler than what it used to be but uncannily they are all to be worn together!

Here’s how you can style the lines:

Mix them well: Yes, the chaotic web that we are living in has given rise to mixed geometry. Dizzying prints are in and monotonous gapping between the lines is out.

Let Them Merge: Pick both top and bottom in stripe. It would be best if there’s a difference in the gapping between the lines. The idea is to let different stripes mish-mash. The look turns out to be simple yet striking.

Make It Official: For work pair a simple striped pencil skirt with a denim blouse and side hair parting. This sets a perfect example of classic chic.

Check and Stripes Combo: Miniature checks with wide stripes are the hero style of this season. Try wearing both if you are experimental enough. Keep the rest of the look simple. It will never fail to draw attention. Take cue from the runway trends of Oscar De La Renta, Hermes and Marni and Etro’s Spring/Summer 2013.

Go For Bold Nautical Stripes: Work the look with a striped skirt, wing-tip liner on your eyes and side parting. After all it is stripes; we have been romanticizing with it since we don’t even remember when!

Parading In Prints

If you think that printed pants are a passé, think again! Print mania hit the runway in spring 2012 and ever since it has been on trial by all fashion biggies. Printed trousers are now far from over. Swooned over by these quirkily printed pants are the celebrities who have successfully spread the print fever to the fashion-conscious public. Vivaciously bold and super versatile, these are stylish enough to take you from day to evening parties.

No longer limited to monotones, trousers have now become statement-making separates. Be it floral, sharp graphics, animal skin or geometric print; they all are a reminiscence of the 80’s print fashion. Mentioned below are some of the tricks to adorn this long-staying trend.

Pair with solid colours: Club your statement pants with a monotone Tee for an off-work appeal. You can also pair them with a jacket in solid colour to get a chic formal look.

One print does it all: Although print-on-print is the latest thing in fashion but it’s equally tricky to style. So don’t clash multiple prints in your look. Turn all heads with one striking printed pair of bottoms while the top being in a single tone.

Accessorize it: Throw a contemporary kaleidoscopic crystal neckpiece on the look or punctuate it with the signature multi-strand necklace. Adding a statement jewellery piece would amplify the appeal of the print. For maximum impact, wear the accessory with your hair swept back.

Play with silhouettes: Don’t stop yourself when adding multiple silhouetted pants to your wardrobe. Pick from pegged, skin-fit, palazzo, high-waisted, cropped or bell-bottoms trousers to transform your everyday look.

Pick the right shoes: Experiment with your bottoms and shoes. Printed sneakers, quirky flats, androgynous-looking booties or sky-high stilettos, adding statement footwear along with bold graphic prints make the look classy and sophisticated.

Leather Lust!

Great news for leather lovers! This Spring/Summer flaunt a high fashion statement with warm-weather leather. Yes it is officially a summer thing now! Once used to be a winter wear fabric, leather has evolved into a cool, luxurious, rich material for evening wear, no matter what season it is. Leather is now a year-round fashion staple. PU panelled leggings to slouchy jackets, trousers, tops and even dresses have a hint of leather in them.

Pretty is not cool anymore! Androgynous elements like leather, epaulettes, loose fit trousers, padded shoulders have successfully replaced the pretty things in fashion. Leather tops the list when it comes to creating a warrior look. Surprisingly the designers have started experimenting more with rare fabric unlike using more breathable materials such as, cotton and rayon.  Fashion leaders like Kanye West, Kim Kardashian and Halle Berry have confirmed that leather (or leather-look fabric) is definitely going to stay in this Spring/Summer.

Now it is a must for every designer to include at least a few leather creations in their collections for Fall/Winter 2013. 

Leather Dresses are one such trends of leather that fashionistas can’t get away without trying. Big names like Jason Wu, Mandy Coon, and Alexander Wang displayed amazingly unique versions of leather dresses. Wisely designed cuts, clean lines and sharp silhouettes made the runway blaze with sheer hotness of this thick luxurious fabric.

Coloured leather too was one of the biggest things that took over the Spring/Summer runway collections. Breaking all rules of fashion designers not only used leather in understated blacks and browns, they took it out of the box by introducing red, mustard and mint green faux leather pieces. Top designers like Reem Acra and Derek Lam were at their best when creations like bright red dresses, perforated skirts, and asymmetrical leather tops hit the runway of S/S 2013!