Every season it gets harder and harder to nail down the top trends because there are so many. Some new and some carried over from the previous season like crop tops (the horror) and fringe. So without further ado, here are 15 trends from New York Fashion Week Spring ’15.
Wide Pants/Culottes/Gauchos: The wide pant trend continues. Collections such as Calvin Klein, Richard Chai, Mara Hoffman (pictured above), J.Crew and Tibi showed cropped or gaucho versions. However any length will do. Same goes for the waist. If you dare to wear a crop top, make sure your wide legged pants are high waisted.
Gingham: It’s a print that personally reminds me of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and Mary Ann from Gilligan’s Island and therefore I stay far away from it. However come spring you might not be able to. Designers like Diane von Furstenburg, Michael Kors, Altuzarra (pictured above), Oscar de la Renta, Proenza Schouler and Lela Rose have all resurrected the print. Other prints you will see for spring are stripes and of course florals.
Layers of Ruffles: The only thing more feminine than ruffles is layers of them! Prabal Gurung, Rebecca Taylor, Zimmerman, (pictured above), Altuzarra and Badgley Mischka all got the memo.
Exposed (Cold) Shoulders: If you can’t stand the thought of exposing your midriff, how about your shoulders? A cutout at the shoulder is sexy and ageless. Just ask Lela Rose, Carmen Marc Valvo, Suno (pictured above), Vera Wang and Oscar de la Renta who all showed them.
Spring Suede: Just has leather has become seasonless, so has suede…apparently. Look for lighter shades to give it that springtime look. Designers like Altuzarra, Jill Stuart, Derek Lam, Jason Wu (pictured above), Tibi, Ralph Lauren, Rebecca Taylor, Tibi and Jay Godfrey showed suede in everything from dresses to jackets.
Deep V: Come spring everyone will be bearing more than their clavicle, especially if designers like Narciso Rodriguez, Jason Wu, Naeem Kahn (pictured above), Monique Lhuillier, Michael Kors, Peter Som, Tracy Reese, Altuzarra, Reem Acra, Victoria Beckham and Cushnie et Ochs have anything to say about it. The deeper the v, the better.
Robe Coats/Robe Tied Tops: This is a style carried over from this fall’s coat trend. Loose fitting robe coats and tunic tops that self-tie with a sash were seen at Thakoon, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Tracy Reese (pictured above), Donna Karan, DVF, Jill Stuart, Monique Lhuillier, ODLR, Peter Som, Public School, Ralph Lauren, Richard Chai, Tibi, BGBG and Marc Jacobs. They make the perfect topper for those cooler evenings.
Contrast Collars: Some versions were polo shirt preppy and others were embellished, but one thing is for sure, collars will be taking on a personality of their own come spring. We are not talking about the bib collars and necklaces that were so hot a few years ago, but collars that are actually attached to said shirt or dress. Look to designers like Alexander Wang, Lacoste, Proenza Schouler (pictured above), Victoria Beckham, Erin Fetherston, Monique Lhuillier, Naeem Kahn and Tory Burch for contrast collars for spring.
Uneven Hems/Asymmetry: Thank God we are not talking about the mullet hem which came and went after a season. This time uneven hems have a more loose and unstructured feel. Look to designers like 3.1 Phillip Lim, Sally LaPointe, Tibi (pictured above), Rubin Singer, Son Jung Wan, Victoria Beckham, BCBG, Christian Siriano, Jill Stuart, Lela Rose, Narciso Rodriguez, Oscar de la Renta, Peter Som, Prabal Gurung, Public School, Rebecca Taylor, Thakoon, Nicole Miller, Suno and Tibi for proof that this trend will be everywhere.
Sheer Skirts: Break out the granny panties because a ton of designers showed sheer skirts, the bottom half of dresses and in some cases, pants. Need proof? Just look to designers like Alice + Olivia, Michael Kors, Tibi (pictured above), Altuzarra, Bibhu Mohapatra, BCBG, Calvin Klein, Carmen Marc Valvo, Erin Fetherston, Monique Lhuillier, Oscar de la Renta, Prabal Gurung and Tracy Reese.
Jumpsuits: OK, so jumpsuits were hot last spring too so this trend is obviously not new. However it was still prevalent and Mara Hoffman, Narciso Rodriguez (surprise!), Ralph Lauren (pictured above), Michael Kors, Naeem Kahn, Tibi and Tracy Reese because they know that jumpsuits are easy.
Belted: A defined waist plays the perfect foil to the relaxed and slouchy trend also big for spring. Carmen Marc Valvo, Donna Karan, Vera Wang (pictured above), BCBG, Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Rebecca Taylor and Victoria Beckham all prove a cinched waist is universally flattering.
Utility/Flap Pockets: The military trend continues to be a trend that won’t die and I for one am glad. However if Marc Jacobs has anything to say about it we will all be in uniform. Utility pockets were shown at Marc Jacobs, Victoria Beckham, BCBG (pictured above), Coach, Tibi, J.Crew, Jason Wu, Jill Stuart and Ralph Lauren.
Parkas: It wouldn’t be spring without the chance of showers so Marc by Marc Jacobs, Nicholas K, Rag & Bone (pictured above), Proenza Schouler, Lela Rose, J.Crew, Public School, Ralph Lauren and Rodarte each put their own spin on the parka.
Crop Tops: Now for the bad news. Crop tops are not only going away, they were everywhere and getting shorter! Even designers you wouldn’t expect to show bare midriffs did (I’m talking about you, Oscar de la Renta). This trend is not flattering for the majority of women I know and are certainly not meant for women over 40. That said, we still maintain you can get the effect with a longer boxy top. Oh and don’t faint when you see bralet tops too. Who showed crop tops? Oscar de la Renta, Milly (pictured above), Alexander Wang, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Tibi, DKNY, Diane von Furstenburg, Milly, Rubin Singer, Mara Hoffman, Carolina Herrera, Christian Siriano, Dennis Basso, Lela Rose, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Prabal Gurung, Rebecca Taylor and Tibi. Who showed bralet tops? Donna Karan (last photo, pictured above), Diane von Furstenburg, Jill Stuart, Lela Rose, Peter Som, Alexander Wang and Milly.
– Lauren Dimet Waters
Photos: NYMag