Of all the newness that blew across the four fashion capitals during fashion month, femininity, nostalgia and whimsy whipped up the biggest buzz when it comes to Spring fashion 2016. The ‘80s obsession that has defined recent seasons is no longer the decade du jour. Pouf skirts and shoulder pads have been deflated and replaced with a grittier, grungier vibe. The nineties are the new comeback kid, and judging by Saint Laurent’s Courtney Love-inspired slip dresses topped with tiaras and Christopher Kane’s bland oversized cardigans (hello Kurt Cobain), it’s an I-don’t care-let-them-stare look that goes well with the disruptors in today’s world.
But zoom through another portal of Spring fashion 2016 and you’ll find yourself back in the Victorian Era. There were ethereal full-length dresses at Alexander McQueen and Erdem, and neck ruffles and vest at Louis Vuitton. Clearly, romance and old world charm is also in the air.
Vacation dressing is a big theme too—Tommy Hilfiger’s flowy maxi dresses and crochet bikinis are the stuff of island dreams, while Dolce & Gabbana’s colourful raffia bags are the perfect blend of market-meets-city. Speaking of the street, luxe athleisure looks continue to soak up serious sidewalk time, with Vetements and Alexander Wang being two of the biggest MVPs this season.
If bling is your thing, then the latest OTT embellishment will keep you sparkling day and night. From shards of mirror to tinsel-like strands, futuristic silver metallics seem to have arrived from a galaxy far, far away. Spring fashion 2016 casts a wide net, drawing inspo from the past, present and future. Here are the top 10 trends you need in your closet now, because #goals.
Ruffles
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From ethereal flounces to sculptural waves, ruffles add a touch of femininity to this season’s looks. Highlights in New York included Peter Copping’s Spanish-infused capelets at Oscar de la Renta, while
in Milan Alessandro Michele’s diaphanous gowns at Gucci whispered pretty as a petal.SEE IT ON THE RUNWAY »
90s Grunge
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Rev up the time machine—nineties nostalgia is on repeat this season. The cult of grunge Gods Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love sees a revival with Saint Laurent’s modern mash-up (slip dresses and tiaras included),
Alexander Wang’s mesh and distressed denim, and Christopher Kane’s slouchy cardigans. Elongated sleeves are back in a big way too, spotted on Vetements’ hoodies and Max Mara’s striped shirts.
SEE IT ON THE RUNWAY »
Fun
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Judging by Moschino’s car-wash couture and Dolce & Gabbana’s vintage postcard prints, kitsch is the new must-have. House of Holland’s insect prints and Stella Jean’s
watermelon visor score serious smile points.SEE IT ON THE RUNWAY »
Chokers
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Statement earrings are still cool, but spring’s bounty of chic necklaces and scarves should come with the hash tag #goals. Balmain’s oversized metal collars (Kim Kardashian is a fan), Dries Van Noten’s gems on skinny
velvet ribbons, and Dior’s silk scarves are three of our current faves.SEE IT ON THE RUNWAY »
Island
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Forget the island getaway screen saver, now you can dress like you’re on vacation 24/7. Tommy Hilfiger’s Caribbean-themed collection included plenty of crochet, maxi dresses and itsy bitsy bikinis splashed
in happy hues, while DSquared caught the wave with scuba dresses, tie-dye prints and heels featuring technical cords shackled to the ankle like surfboard gear.SEE IT ON THE RUNWAY »
Street
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Channel your inner hip hop star with the latest looks in luxe athleisure, ranging from Bottega Veneta’s track suits to Versace’s sequined camo. Throw in a haute hoodie from Vetements and a pair of Alexander
Wang super-studded sandals, and your all-access pass to street style stardom is complete.SEE IT ON THE RUNWAY »
Romantic
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A dreamy spirit from a bygone era floated onto spring’s runways, bringing Victorian-inspired lace and voluminous sleeves to the fore. Designers like Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy also played with transparency—an
ode to bedroom dressing for modern femmes fatales.SEE IT ON THE RUNWAY »
Latin
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Designers are seeing red with all the hot-blooded references on spring’s runways. At Oscar de la Renta there were gorgeous red carnation prints (a nod to the late designer
as this classic flower was his favourite) and at Proenza Schouler the off-the-shoulder ruffled tops and Matador-style trousers gave a saucy Latino spin to separates.SEE IT ON THE RUNWAY »
Embellishment
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Sequins aren’t the only way to shine—spring’s Insta-worthy looks herald a season of decadence. From futuristic silver metallic to homespun crafty touches to Old Hollywood-style paillettes, designers are upping
the game this season with OTT embellishment. Bring on the selfies.SEE IT ON THE RUNWAY »
Clear Accessories
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The slow reveal is so 2015—for spring 2016 it’s all about showing what you’ve got. At Chanel ankles and toes took the spotlight courtesy of PVC oxford booties, while at Loewe the transparent bags were like a
space age X-ray for displaying wallets, iPhones and lipsticks.SEE IT ON THE RUNWAY »