Clothing: Current Trends in Women's Clothing Part I

Dress by Zac Posen

Fashion is eclectic. At the moment influences in clothing design range from the airhostess uniform to Chanel and hints of the Japanese kimono. Watch out for dresses that fit loosely to the body, or that have a tight top with loose flowing skirt; ...

Clothing: Current Trends in Women's Clothing Part I

Fashion is eclectic. At the moment influences in clothing design range from the airhostess uniform to Chanel and hints of the Japanese kimono. Watch out for dresses that fit loosely to the body, or that have a tight top with loose flowing skirt; coats that are long and slender; and skirts and pants that cut off just above or just below the knee. Outfits are mostly monochromatic, or use only two solid colors for maximum effect. Black and white, beige, warm gray, as well as rich blues, greens, reds are predominant. And because clothing is about making the most of one or two colors right now, a lot of designers are using fabrics that are iridescent or that have a slight metallic sheen.

However, while solid color clothing may be the most obvious trend at the moment, you’ll also see big and bold textiles prints covering an entire garment, or even an entire outfit. Florals, large watercolor stripes, geometric prints (‘geos’), and abstract prints use saturated color to cover clothing. Snakeskin and crocodile skin are big, especially for skirts, calf-length boots, and handbags. Leopard skin print is big for dresses. And tribal and tattoo prints are being redefined for a range of clothing, with designs enlarged, and using black and white, or muted colors such as gray.

Parisian fashion house Lavin has gone retro-punk for Spring 2009 with black-on-white leopard print with hints of blue and pink on one dress. New York designer Zac Posen’s answer to the leopard skin print is a more sophisticated floor-length, low-cut dress, with layers of fabric that drape the body, especially along the legs. While adopting the classic beige ground and back leopard spot, Zac Posen has transformed the print by layering it under a sheer silk organza, gathered at the seams, so that the print fades in and out as the body moves and the two layers interact.

Both Lagerfeld and Parisian fashion house Celine manage to mix formal, casual, and sexy in their clothing. And both showed outfits in their Spring 2009 collection composed of black knee-length skirt and open-neck white shirt. Celine’s collection also brought together elements of style from Parisian light ‘n’ breezy to hints of classical Japanese and “tribal” prints.

Celine’s artistic director Ivana Omazic chose ash gray, metal gray, white, scarab blue, ruby red, and violet for this season. A steel silk drape coat that’s angular yet feminine, and gathered at the hem; jersey T-shirts and tight-fitting, bi stretch slim cropped pants; cropped Chanel-type jackets with a modern, sporty twist; and dresses emboldened with crinkles and pleats. Lagerfeld also made the most of pleats, with tight-fitting tops with pleats opening around the hips. 

Prints used by Celine include an enlarged Japanese “tattoo” print, cut off at the seams to make it appear abstract; and several tribal prints placed on the garment, such as running along the hem and one seam of a skirt.

Tribal and tattoo prints are also a big part of street wear, such as designed by Christian Audigier for Ed Hardy. But, for street wear, print colors are bolder and brighter.