Dorothy Dandridge. Frida Kahlo. Redfern?
This time around, many of the European designers found their muses in the curious and odd celebrity. Dandridge, the ill-fated actress; Kahlo, the eccentric artist.
And Redfern? Vivienne Westwood sifted through the sartorial obscurities of the 19th Century to find her inspirational Redfern.
But when the show’s over and deep analysis has had its hour, everyone’s undeniable request is . . . “show us the trends.”
Milan and Paris offer some pleasant surprises for spring, looks we’ll see cropping up from the American designers as well. In fact, the Europeans are looking more American every season (and Tom Ford of Gucci is American). Can this too be a trend?
What to look for:
Athletic looks inspired by the gym: terry cloth, jogging suits, razor-back tanks.
Body-conscious eveningwear: long, slinky jerseys, slim-down silks.
The American West: cowboy boots, fringed skirts and jackets, Western-style blouses, embossed and tooled leather dresses and jackets in ice cream colors.
Cropped pants: at the knee, midcalf and just above the ankle.
Pink: from the hottest pink to the palest blush.
The dress: unique, individual looks, for daytimeskirts are fluted, slit, and many lengths fall tastefully at the knee.
Metallics: especially in eveningwear.
Also look for: simple black with white; longer, fuller skirt lengths; shiny pastel silk shantung and its polyester version in pants, jackets, tops.
