The fashion trends for Spring 2011 will be a welcome change to “real” women everywhere. Instead of clothes that would only look good on a size 2 teenager, designers chose to show a variety of figure-flattering, figure forgiving clothes in luxurious fabrics and colors.
With a little bit of modification, these styles can be easily incorporated into anyone’s wardrobe.
Trend #1: Full cut trousers
For the past several seasons, designers like Marc Jacobs have mined the 70s look. This time, instead of a boho-hippie influence, we get the 70s look from the movie the “Ice Storm”. Think groovy pantsuits as they would have been worn in suburban Connecticut
These pants are mid to high rise, which may look strange after over a decade of low cut, hip slung jeans, and the inadvertent thong show that followed. This is a welcome change, as is the possibility of eliminating muffin top without having to diet.
Wear this style with a tucked in blouse, a skinny belt and wedge heels for an easy and stylish work look.
Trend #2: Maxi dresses
What could be easier than a long, loose dress? Today’s styles are slim, but not tight, and made with drapey fabrics like jersey.
Like everything else, it’s the details that count. To avoid looking like Mrs. Roper from “Three’s Company”, steer clear of Hawaiian prints or paisley. Instead, opt for solid colors in nudes or in the sure-to-be-everywhere color this spring: a soft mint green.
Trend #3: Pajama dressing
Yes, this is literally what some designers and fashion editors are calling this trend.
Loose pants tied at the waist, and boxy tees worn with a housecoat over them may seem like what most of us wear when we are home sick, not high fashion. But these basics are elevated when the pants are made of cashmere or silk, the tees are whisper thin and layered over each other and the over coat is in a dark shade like navy or black.
Also shown were dresses that looked like long, satin nightgowns. Of all the trends, this is perhaps the riskiest, fashion wise. Unless you work in a creative field, coming to work dressed in these clothes will probably draw some puzzled looks from your co-workers.
Trend #4: Bold colors
Although there were models on the runway wearing head to toe orange, electric blue and neon orange, even the designers tempered this style by pairing their clothes with plenty of whites and blacks. The result was a fresh way to update the basic neutrals most of us have in our closet.
Another way color was used this season was in the use of prints. Fruit themed prints were used, as were sailor-type stripes. The trend of mixing prints continues to be strong, as stripes were shown with flower prints. Kept in the same color family, this combination works.
These are just a few of the trends for Spring, and it is a promising one. Designers seemed to respond to the economy by presenting clothes that can be worn in a variety of seasons, from day to night, and in silhouettes that are timeless. Investment dressing may finally be brought to the masses to mean not a three thousand dollar purse, but a $150 lightweight cashmere sweater you’ll wear all year long.