Guest Post by Erika Thomas, Blah Blah Blonde
We’ve seen so many fantastic trends on the runways this season: prints, florals, solids, sheer—you name it, it was on display. From light and ethereal to bold and polished, there is certainly something for everyone. But regardless of your personal style, the versatility of plastic materials makes it easy for you to recreate your favorite spring runway looks at home.
As the temperatures warm up this spring, light and weightless fabrics will be not only chic but undeniably sensible. At Theyskens’ Theory, the LBD got something extra with a floaty layer of sheer black fabric flowing long past the silken hemline underneath. This look can be recreated with light, sheer polyester plastic chiffon, which adds a level of drama to a basic black dress—and even though the fabric looks delicate, the durability of plastics means you’ll be wearing this dress for seasons to come.
Tommy Hilfiger, the all-American classic designer, put an exciting twist on the ever-popular leather look. His spring runway showed leather—but in a nautical color scheme. Dips of cerulean, navy, white and red were painted across the leather in stripes of varying widths. This would be a fun DIY project with a plastic faux leather dress that you paint on your own, maybe mixing up the colors or going for a replica of this fun and patriotic Hilfiger mini.
Two gorgeous trends that were also on display this week were slouchy blouses and fitted pants, like on the models at Wes Gordon. Plastic faux silk fabrics can be used to create the voluminous, draped look of this gorgeous blouse, and the addition of spandex plastic fabric for trousers and denim give them that curve-hugging look.
Speaking of spandex plastic, the Herve Leger by Max Azria collection was a mix of old and new—the old Leger classic bandage dress, infused with laser-cut lace and ornate details. There were also hybrid bandage dresses with the traditional, snug-fitting spandex plastic torso and a looser-fitting skirt. Paired with open-toe booties made with (animal-friendly!) plastic faux leather, this look lets you mix both sweet and tough pieces while recreating it on your own with versatile plastic materials.
A personal favorite of mine was at Tibi, where a shift dress got mixed with an ice-skater silhouette. A dark gray denim wash is perfectly fitted to your skin with a blend of form-fitting plastic fabrics. What’s perfect about this look for spring is that you can easily make it office-appropriate by layering on a blazer (made with polyester and spandex plastics for a perfect fit, of course). Switch into plastic faux leather sandals and swipe on some red lipstick, and this dress easily takes you to an after-hours cocktail party.
There you have it, some of my favorite trends from the runways this September at New York Fashion Week. Of course the week isn’t over yet, but I expect to see similar styles grace several different runways. What are your favorite trends for Spring 2013?
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