Spring 2008 Fashion Styles: Top Twelve Trends
Take a mix of many decades of style, add a dash of old Hollywood glamor, and you’ve got trend magic for spring 2008. This season designers added modern twists to our favorite timeless and classic pieces. Fashion icons like Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, and Princess Diana wore many of these sophisticated, classic trends – romantic, flirty, and colorful in design and mood. Here are my top twelve trends for spring. You may not like all of them, but I encourage you to select a few to add to your existing wardrobe and look more modern and trendy.
1). Crayola Colors This season, designers have added many vibrant hues in saturated colors like bright yellow, grass green, royal blue, red, safety orange, and fuchsia. These bright colors can be difficult for everyone to wear. If you want to experiment with bold colors, start with a bright blouse or jacket and pair it with a pair of white pants or a skirt, which will tone it down a bit. When wearing bright colors like these, keep your accessories simple so that the color becomes the focal point.
2). Pattern punch, creative strokes and floral Dresses, jackets, blouses, and skirts will come in all pattern sizes this season. Popular prints will have graphic, geometric and abstract motifs. You’ll see some beautiful new prints that look like creative brush stroke patterns on an artist’s canvas in a light, whimsical squiggle or blurred watercolor abstract. Romantic florals will dominate the season in medium to large prints. When selecting a print for professional business use, remember to keep it in the small to medium range and in subtle color.
3). The dress with a defined waist Spring is all about dresses this year. The two most popular styles that I adore are the shirt dress and the sheath dress; both accentuate the waist area. I love these styles because they work well in a business casual work environment and can go from day to night with a switch to fancier accessories. The shirt dress has a classic, elegant and tailored silhouette, with a collar that can be worn slightly raised and a buttoned front, which when unbuttoned, can create an excellent V-neckline. A shirt dress with a sash or belt can complement a waist or help create one that is not prominent enough. This style of dress flatters many different body types. Many styles of sheath dresses can be worn without a belt, but they fit your body and define the waist a bit. This dress looks professional when worn with a trendy or tailored jacket during the day, and is worn with a large purse and clutch for an after-hours event. For work, this style of dress worn with a jacket conveys professionalism, experience and femininity for women in business.
4). The timeless trench The classic trench coat returns in time for spring weather and is a great wardrobe essential every woman needs in her wardrobe. This season you will see a more modern version of the classic trench coat. The latest twists are brighter colors, lighter fabrics, and shorter jacket styles, which look great with dress pants. The timeless trenchcoat takes on a fresh, springy look with softer fabrics and fun colors. This is also a great item to pair with jeans and sandals during those cool spring nights to look stylish and elegant.
5). The feminine blouse The mood of the season is romantic and flirty when it comes to blouses. Beautiful soft blouses in pastel shades and prints with lots of feminine details like ruffles, little pleats and tiny pleats. With the fine details on these tops, keep jewelry to a minimum. This is a great must-have for every working woman, as this sophisticated and romantic item can modernize a classic suit and add feminine flair to a basic tailored suit.
6). Outside Africa Safari clothing is once again a great timeless trend this season. From the 1970s era, you will see African safari jackets, khaki shirt dresses, and belted safari pantsuits. With this trend you will find fantastic animal prints, such as leopards and giraffes, on dresses and blouses. To give this style a great head-to-toe look, try pairing a safari outfit with some natural wood accessories and trendy wide sandals with wooden soles and heels.
7). Full and flirty skirts Skirt silhouettes will be full and stylish this season like dirndl, A-line, pleated styles, and soft, flirty skirts with a fuller silhouette. These styles will be in solid colors, color block prints, floral and artistic prints. A smooth A-line skirt that hangs smoothly over the hips is a flattering style for many women as it camouflages large areas of the hips. Any of these styles paired with a modern jacket, twin set or soft feminine blouse is a winning combination to consider for a business casual work day.
8). High waist pants This is a difficult trend for many women to accept as, for years, we have had to get used to low-rise pants. This trend started last fall and we are definitely starting to see more dramatic waists rising to new levels. The styles that illustrate this trend are sailor pants or wide pants. While this trend may not work for everyone, if you have a defined waist, this can really show off your small waist area. You will look curvy, but feminine. When you wear high-waisted pants, be sure to balance it with a fitted top across your upper torso, which makes your legs appear slimmer and longer. If your body type doesn’t look great in this trend, avoid it as there are plenty of pants options this season.
9). Chic Global This season, designers traveled the world and stepped out of the box to be inspired by new patterns, shapes and accessories to give clothing that “melting pot” charm. You will see a great ethnic influence such as clothes with embroidered or intricate prints with Balinese influence. In jewelry you will see tribal beads, stones, carved wooden necklaces and pieces of natural wood. When you wear a piece of this global look, incorporate it with other pieces in your wardrobe. Maybe add a spectacular necklace or bracelet from a far away place to finish a look in a safari ensemble or a casual denim outfit.
10). Shoes: architectural heels and bold colors This season’s shoes will be highly structured with lots of architectural details on the heels and cleverly designed platforms. Wooden structured high heels and sandal soles will look natural and earthy when worn with dresses and skirts. At the other end of the spectrum is color. You’ll see pops of color in a modern color-block combination in shoes like bright pinks and yellows mixed with black. If you decide to wear colorful shoes in bright colors, let them be the center of attention and keep the outfit simple and elegant.
eleven). Shades of gold: metallic jewelry Necklaces, bracelets and earrings this season will be in new shades of metallic gold. Rose gold is the new modern gold to wear. If you have warm colors, adding rose gold accessories will make your current wardrobe more contemporary. This golden shade looks gorgeous with many of the gorgeous neutral colors coming out this spring and summer.
12). Stacked Bangles and Cuffs In the bracelets category you will see cuffs in various metallics and bold colors in Lucite. Stack up your arm with some fun bangles in different shapes and sizes. This is a fun item to wear to add some flair to a dress or if you are wearing a short-sleeved or sleeveless top. Be careful if you are in the workplace so as not to overdo it. Perhaps you opt for a cuff bracelet so that you are not jingling all over the office.
I hope you find at least two or three trends that you are willing to try incorporating into your current wardrobe. If you add some of these to your classic trend ensembles, it will look classy and elegant for every occasion.