This Not That || Fashion Tweaks You Need to Know About

Spring is almost here, although looking out the window may convince you otherwise.  Nonetheless, we scroll through pages and pages of e-commerce feasting our eyes on new styles, colors and designs.  This season is a tricky one, in that there are subtle changes, nothing outwardly, yet these changes  reflect a paradigm shift in terms of appreciation for fashion and sustainability.

1.  The Weave

Ever since Jacquemus introduced the panier basket  a few seasons ago, and it would be hard to think of Spring without a nice raffia handbag, in a variety of iterations to hold your belongings.  This season there has been a concerted shift away from raffia (although there is still plenty of it around) to a weaved basket of a different material.  Balenciaga introduced their mini baskets in a patent leather tubing  that puts a modern spin on the straw basket.  Miu Miu has also given the weave trend a spin with deconstructed leather weaved handbag in black, an unconventional color for straw bags.  Anya Hindmarch also gave It a go with a multi-colored leather raffia weave fold-over bag which is perfect for Spring’s playful vibe.  So, the bottom line is, if you are in the market for a weaved handbag, we suggest you think ‘out-of-the-basket’ 😉

2. Think Ruffles and Layers

For a pretty long time the fashion world has intrigued us with twists and gathers, design elements that create interest.  Well if there is a single dramatic departure this season it is that these elements have been replaced by 80’s style ruffles and layers.  Midi-skirts are fitted around the hip, with circular layers of fabric beyond that, as seen at Zimmermann . The waists are hit with peplums, and sleeves with poufy shoulders.  This festive direction is seen in both daywear and evening.  For casual it comes across a little Western actually, (as in cowboy 😉 check out Loveshack Fancy’s iteration on the trend and for evening it has a particular Pat Benatar vibe to it, check out Oscar de La Renta 

So let’s put our asymmetric tops aside, and ruched dresses and let’s give this new/old direction a go!

3. Denim on Top

For the longest time, we have focused on denim on the bottom.  Jeans, skirts and even boiler suits.  This season the focus is on well-tailored blouses and jackets.  Think Saville Row but in denim.  What of the bottom you ask?  Again it does seem to be veering towards a Western vibe with layered skirts (as mentioned above) matched to well-structured blouses in a dark or at times faded blue denim.  Chloe tried their hand at a girly style blouse , and Zimmermann opted for a belted blouse option that is quite interesting. Carolina Herrera on the other hand opted for a poufy-sleeved bolero denim jacket with matching pant 

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4.  The Leather Belt Accent

It’s been a while since we strapped on a belt onto an outfit.. Well all of that is about to change.  In place of the self-belts in a similar color as the outfit worn there is a strong direction towards a brown or black belt, usually of medium width.  This was seen at Gabrielle Hearst, Chloe and there are plenty of beautiful belts to buy and add to your wardrobe from Loewe and Isabel Marant.  

5.  The Baby Doll Silhouette 

When we think summer dresses, both formal and casual, a baby doll silhouette may not come to mind, but it should.  One of the season’s most interesting upgrades is the baby doll, with its classic horizontal band across the bust and gathered body.  This silhouette has often be associated with hippy chic, but this is not the direction this season.  Baby dolls this time around are made of beautiful taffetas and shantung silks for evening, and feminine cottons for daytime as seen at Reformation,  This trend was epitomized at Chloe in a two tone silk dress worthy of your next formal occasion, and by Agua Bendita for casual.  

6. Denim Upgrade 

We all love our denim, and this season we get to wear it in an additional way as well, in the form of a linen pant.  This gives us the formality or lightness we need for summer at times, with the staple comfort of a denim pant.  In regards to shapes of these linen denim pants, they run the gamut from gathered waist with a tapered leg, to a wide leg pant as seen at Veronica Beard .  Perhaps the only downfall of this great trend is the crease factor at the crotch which is not appealing… Although we love all natural fabrics, but a little polyester could go a long way in smoothing out any potential creases!

7.  The Flare 

The flare seems to be everywhere this season, and before you click ‘add to cart’ to yet another wide leg pant or full skirt, consider the flare.  Whether you opt for a flared pair of pants as seen at Akris or jeans as seen at Frame , or a kick flare crop pant as seen at Gucci  that would work fabulously with those loafers you bought last year, or even a fitted dress that flares out at the bottom this is a new direction that could add a little spice to your wardrobe.  

8. Watercolors 

Yes we all love our bright colors (although there is an interesting black on black trend happening but we’ll leave that for another day), but perhaps you need to take it up a notch by adding watercolor prints to your wardrobe.  Just as in watercolor paintings these prints blend into one another, and there is a distinct digital element to them.  Dries Van Noten  has gone all out with this trend.  Zimmermann also gave it a shot , additionally Faithful the Brand came up with their own iteration.

9.  The Drape 

This season the dress has been given the drape, and we are loving it.  With a distinct, Dallas means Knots Landing vibe, these dresses exude sexiness and are a refreshing version of the classic DVF wrap dress.  We’ve seen this at Jacquemus , Monse  in a daytime version and an evening version at Brandon Maxwell, . Perhaps the common denominator in all these options is the fact that they are slouchy and confident, and you can go all out or not, so there is lots of room for your own interpretation.

10. The Watch 

Im not sure about you, but I took my beloved Hermes Apple Watch off a few months ago and haven’t looked back.  Something I would have had heart palpitations just thinking about a few months ago (how the heck will I find my phone???). Anyway, the world is becoming more mindful of life, and less obsessed with it… Really why do we need to be alerted to everything under the sun. From your oxygen intake to you having sat down for too long, to the calories you have consumed to all the Whatsapp messages you receive. The direction now is towards pretty watches that have value, understated of course, do the job (although really your phone can also tell you the time) so we are really talking pretty accessories at this point!  Whether you consider a metal or leather bracelet doesn’t matter, there is a romanticism about this direction, and I think we can all be healthier for it.