TheClick

Trends from the European Collections

THE SKINNY SUIT

We saw it everywhere - a fitted, tapered long jacket - NOT stiff, but not slouchy either - and cigarette pants.  Of course, YSL did it best, in champagne silk - but there were lots of black ones, too.

THE PAJAMA PANT

Dolce & Gabanna did it best - polka dot pj pants in silk.  How decadent - but also, how comfortable!  We have a feeling we're going to see lots of chic girls grabbing their guy's dotted pajama pants and pairing them with heels and tight t-shirts or camisoles.  And when the Commes des Garcons line with H&M debuts on November 13th, look for polka dots to be all over that collection.  Navy and white, black and white - just go for it!

ORANGES, YELLOWS, OCHRES - THE COLORS OF SUNSET AND SAND

Burberry, Prada, and Bottega Veneta all did it.  Even Marc Jacobs did it at Louis Vuitton.  Instead of busy floral prints for spring, go solid - but solid sunshine.  Prada used the color for a simple skirt and floppy jacket that was  a cross between the sexy secretaries of "Mad Men" and vacationing bombshells in St. Tropez.  Bottega Veneta gave us rust tones, but in another trend I call:

THE CHIC LITTLE SOLID COLOR BELTED DRESS

...in a very strong color.    There were lots of strong dresses in every collection, and the best ones were orange, yellow, rust or in shades of pale green or pale pink.  Sonia Rykiel's dresses were the real stand out of the Paris shows - but in Milan, it was Bottega Veneta's chic little dresses, which are always classics.

4) A NEW WAY TO WEAR PANTS
This is another big trend, which had kind of disappeared into the land of leggings for so long.  For spring, the legging is dead, and pants have gone softer - some even have dropped crotches that look like harem pants, or almost like skirts that gather around the legs.  It may sound strange - but a lower crotch and billowing butt - soft fabric gathered all around the thigh area - is the hot look for trousers for spring. It may not be the sexiest look - but it IS comfortable, and it looks new to the eye.  We also saw a lot of jumpsuits on the European runways - it just shows that pants are loosening up and getting more fun, more roomy - and when times are tough, well, it's nice to be able to eat!!!

Next week, we will tell you how to take these trends and find the early, in every price point, on TheFind.  In the meantime, get busy finding belts!  The belts for fall and spring are less wide than in season's past, and sometimes made of fabric, and wrap.  Type in "Marni belts" and "Banana Republic belts" to find some of the best.  Use the chart to the left to punch in your desired price point.  Happy hunting!

Now that we've seen Spring in Europe - what does it all mean?

The European fashion shows in Milan and Paris for this spring 09 have just ended - and while there was a smattering of glam one-shoulder gowns with beading, what we saw - just in time - was a return to realism.  No more runway fantasy for a world that loves its visual escapism, but can no longer pretend world crises - economic, environmental - don't exist.  Yes, there were some new silhouettes and looks and colors - but the spring clothes were far less dramatic than this fall's pallette of rose buds and wild prints and chunky beads.  The clothes were tamer, chicer, more tailored - but not tough or too sexy or trying too hard to make a statement.  These clothes make a nice backdrop for putting your life, your causes and your family first - and letting clothes be more organic, instead of yelling your arrival.  These clothes can actually be worn for many years - they follow some new trends, but don't scream out a particular season.

We've put together a little guide of the major trends from the European shows that can help serve as bellweathers for you - so when the fall clothes go on sale next month (yes, it's not that far away!), you can shop and know that the pieces you're buying will carry you all the way into summer 09. 

A few tips: Everything is belted, even jackets.  Pants are either slimmer and shown matching long sculpted jackets ("the skinny suit") or made out of silk or chiffon, flowing like men's pajama bottoms.  The big colors are ochre, orange, yellow and rust - and simple black is looking very chic for spring, for those who like a utilitarian aspect to their wardrobe.

Coming tomorrow - TRENDS FROM THE EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS...