Paris, the fountainhead of fashion ideas, offers the most flamboyantly romantic whimsies as well as the sleekest interpretations of minimal style. Trends include:
– Short. Of course.
– Pants. Because they are endorsed by some of the foremost designers, such as Jean-Paul Gaultier, they become a trend to watch. And shorts, a natural result of the focus on brief skirts.
– Standaway silhouettes. Newest are collars and necklines that are liberated from the body.
– Colors, both mellow and punchy. Chartreuse, from acid sharp to the subtle shade of a Golden Delicious apple, is the shade of spring. When mixed with peachy pink, it is a double dose of high fashion. Add to these baby pastels, plus sizzling orange, yellow, purple, magenta and the tawneys.
– Accents. The maddest hats, gloves that are shamelessly silly, sleeves that are separate entities. Plus, high-heeled wedgies, belts that inspire diets and roses, roses everywhere-tucked up sleeves, hidden in bustles, peeking out of bustiers.
SOURCE: Genevieve Buck.
LONDON
More grownup, but as wildly eclectic as ever, London designers produced a melange of spring styles. Keying on an innocent, girl guide look, often with Lacroix overtones, these included:
– La Bamba: Latin-flavored peasant tops, flamenco skirts and bullfighter`s jackets.
– Miniskirts: short is the thing, ranging from flirty chiffon skating skirts to shapely silk tulips and raunchy knit crotch-covers.
– Transparency: All the sheer, delicate fabrics show up here in tops, highly embroidered paperweight linens for skirts and oceans of organza at night.
– Off-the-shoulder: Whether elasticized peasant-style, cuffed or grandly portrait, this is the neckline of the season.
– Color: Fiesta brights tempered with pale milkshake pastels, along with navy, black and white.
SOURCE: Lisa Anderson.
MILAN
They bickered over details, but New Wave and Old Guard alike, Milanese designers embraced the baby-doll ”Moda Bambina” look like a long-lost child- albeit one who had been hanging around the wacky Paris atelier of Christian Lacroix too long. Key elements of Milan`s spring style:
– Miniskirts: From two inches above the knee to one inch away from arrest; skirts swing on chiffon layers, bell around the hips or adhere like vacuum-wraps.
– Jackets: Long, short or briefest bolero, they always are fitted to the body.
– Sheerness: Diaphanous touches of chiffon, voile, organdy and organza lighten tops and bottoms, often frosted with embroidery.
– Accessories: Chiffon scarves and fragile lace and crochet gloves. Hair in demure chignons.
– Color: Tender spring pastels and crayola brights in solids, florals and stripes accented with black, white and navy. SOURCE: Lisa Anderson.
