Alas, we do not have a crystal ball to answer the questions of last week (we blame Umbridge). We cannot tell you with any certainty what direction our collective sense of style will take us in the unforeseeable future. We can, however, take a good guess at what the hot trends for the spring and summer will be with a quick glance back at the fall.
Fashion, like music, seems to be at a cross roads and it was evident at NYFW: Spring 2013. Proenza Schouler’s graphic prints turned heads, as did the unexpected stripes and the colorful 60’s inspired silhouettes of the Michael Kors collection. Marc Jacobs reintroduced the grunge that made him famous, but with a refreshingly peppy and preppy update. Oscar de la Renta added a splash of class, and Carolina Herrera reminded us why spring is the most fashionable season.
Naturally it was the hair and makeup trends that really captivated our sense of creativity. And it was the eyes, of course, that drew us in. Smokey eyes are the mainstay, but metallic shadows added complex dimensions on the runways. Thick black liner is cool, but heavy neon pink and bright aqua blue liner and mascara are hot.
Brows made quite an impression. Whether they were bleached-out or filled-in with dark eye shadow, it seemed everyone had forgotten their tweezers. Yes, bold brows are in, and skinny brows are out.
Natural was the norm to round-out the trends in makeup, fresh faced subtle tones with sheer foundations, neutral matte lips were understated, and nude nails were uninspiring.
Hair took center stage, for us. The ends weren’t split, but the styles were. Many models rocked an unrefined slept-in look with a gritty texture for an urban feel, while most stylists opted for the wet look. Heavy gelled with a clean center part, some twisted in a knot, but most trailed off into crimped waves. Odile Gilbert created a well-deserved buzz with the adept use of her triple barrel curling iron.
Pastel highlights were the highlight, and the dip-dye trend is still in. The week was capped by Alexander Wang’s odd introduction of a sleek strip of tape down the center part, creating an air bender effect that glowed on the runway.
Like all fashion shows, not all the trends are practical, and a few are simply unattractive. But most, however, can be inexpensively duplicated and simplified to fit your lifestyle. In the end, you have to be you, but make a resolution to try something new this spring.
