Top Ten Spring 2012 Catwalk Trends

Now that the autumn/winter 2012 shows are almost over, we can get back to the task at hand: our spring wardrobes – or at least daydreaming about them like me, when you have nigh on zero budget for clothes shopping. Here’s a refresher course in spring 2012: the trends, plus some shopping ideas (click on the photos to shop).

1. The decade: 1920′s. Blame Baz Luhrmann and his forthcoming The Great Gatsby remake. Ralph Lauren, Alberta Ferretti and Gucci all went flapper happy on the catwalks, as did Spijker and Spijkers at London Fashion Week. This trend is a dead cert to hit the high street too – you won’t be able to escape dropped waist dresses on the shop floor soon.

2. The life aquatic. Karl created an underwater dreamscape at Chanel and Donatella picked the starfish as a recurring motif at Versace. Who are we to argue with the Kaiser and Queen of Fashion?

3. Seaside summer. We’re all going on a summer holiday declared Daks and Mulberry. It’s a traditional British jaunt, so pack fifties skirts, ice cream colours and a cagoule (because, obviously, it’s going to rain).

4. Out of season. Heavy outerwear at Burberry and leather at Chloe could be forgiven (those are their specialities, after all) but fur? Really, Kanye West? And that was just one of Yeezy’s many errors.

5. Bare bellies. This spring the most unforgiving, flesh-exposing trend is decreed by fashion dowager Miuccia Prada. Both her eponymous and Miu Miu shows featured cropped tops, as did Viktor and Rolf’s. Check out my Pinterest crop tops board for more inspiration.

6. Print setup. Easily the most ubiquitous trend, even pattern-averse New Yorker Alexander Wang had a go at florals. In London, it was business as usual for print pros like Mary Katrantzou and Erdem.

7. Safari so good. NYFW stalwarts Oscar de la Renta and Michael Kors both came straight outta Africa with their khaki safari pieces, soft tribal prints and a healthy dose of zebra, of course.

8. The colour: tangerine tango.  In their trend report, palette experts Pantone point to this scorching shade as taking over from mustard as accent colour of choice next Spring, taking cues from Victoria Beckham, amongst others. Helen told ya so.

9. Ruffles up. Not tiny delicate ones, we’re talking stiff waves of fabric, seen on practically every look at Givenchy. The wavy peplums at Alexander McQueen were cute too. I think the Man Repeller will approve of this vaguely vaginistic trend (no, I don’t think that’s a word either).

10. What a mesh. Almost entirely New York-based, led by Derek Lam and Alexander Wang, this trend took a sports kit fabric from the playing field to the catwalk.

February Fashion Virals

Remember that Lanvin video last year? The one with superstar models Karen Elson and Raquel Zimmermann dancing to Pitbull’s I Know You Want Me? The video became an overnight sensation, spurning dozens of immitations and made us remember just why we love Alber Elbaz at the helm of the french fashion house

And it seems he hit upon gold, making the fashion industry quickly realise that viral videos are more chic than chav right now. In this vein, the first week of February has seen a flurry of fashion virals – a preemptive move before fashion week season I think. Here we round up three of our favourites

Victoria by Victoria Beckham, shot by Quentin Jones

This madcap sequence uses Quentin Jones skills as both a filmmaker and illustrator. With VB’s diffusion line taking a more youthful affordable edge, Jones employs a sixties- style synth track in the background as we are taken through a fantasy world, filled with shimmying cats, look book tear sheets and a magical self unzipping dress. No wonder the line already has a waiting list at Harvey Nichols, as Grazia Daily reported, just a week after it’s initial launch

Watch the Victoria by Victoria Beckham video here

Prada Spring Summer 2012 Campaign

With the current campaign shot by Steven Meisel, the video was always going to pay tribute to the uber-glamorous offerings Miuccia Prada presented last September. Staged in a American gas station, the viral takes a nostalgic turn with a 1950s aesthetic and accompanying soundtrack. Or so we think, until the music flips into an infectious mash up of the Sleigh Bells, Tobacco and Tom Recchion tracks – contrasting the sweetheart vibe of the collection with hyper-real music. Genius.

Watch the Prada Spring Summer 2012 campaign video here

Spring 2012 T by Alexander Wang, directed by Daniel Johnson

If South African hip hop isn’t your thing, chances are this might scare you a bit. Featuring a soundtrack by Die Antwoord, a trio of artists hailing from Cape Town, Alexander Wang presents his latest ‘T’ collection for Spring Summer 2012. The diffusion line quickly amassed a cult following after it’s first campaign back in 2009 fronted by Erin Wasson and for this collection Wang has created yet another line of covetable seperates. Very cool indeed.

Watch the Spring 2012 T campaign video here

Which viral is your favourite? Tweet us @Style_ThenSome to let us know!

Jordan Askill – a Quiet Hurricane

It’s pretty rare that I get struck down with lust for a piece of jewellery. The odd YSL tribute heel, maybe. A Richie Nicholl dress, almost definitely. But the world of accessories has always been muddy waters for me. That was until I met a certain Mr Jordan Askill.

I was introduced to the designer two seasons ago at LFW, where, as one of the NEWGEN recipients, he had set up shop at the exhibition at Somerset House. With his quiet determination and humble manner, Askill has had hugely successful stints at Ksubi and Dior Homme – his collections are nothing short of breathtaking.

Whether it’s galloping horses transformed into cuffs, or a string of kissing sparrows turned into a statement necklace, every Askill piece is delicate and sculptural. Having been nominated for a British Fashion Award this year, it seems Askill has also expanded into the world of ethical fashion – using fair trade stones from GEMFIELDS for his Spring/Summer 2012 collection, inspired by taxidermy and 3D birds. I wasn’t lusting after one particular piece; I wanted everything.

Currently designing his fourth collection, I predict Askill is somewhat of a quiet hurricane – soft in his approach and yet destined to make a huge impact.

Jordan Askill designs are currently available exclusively at Dover Street Market. 

Style & Then Some’s new contributor Dee is a freelance journalist. She blogs about fashion here – alternatively follow her on Twitter.

Desperately bored housewives: Teatum Jones LFW S/S 2012

One of my favourite collections of LFW S/S 12 this season was the elegant and romantic Teatum Jones presentation “Sometimes it Snows in April”. It was the third LFW collection for the design duo made up of Catherine Teatum and Rob Jones who have Luella Bartley, Ravensbourne College of Design and Central Saint Martin’s on their CVs.

The models in the presentation did a good job at looking like nonchalant 1950s suburban housewives – looking nonchalant is what models do best after all – and it was interesting to learn that the main theme of the collection was the point when this suburban life all goes pear-shaped and unhappy couples turn to escapism. Because that’s what the beautiful mauves and pastels, surreal prints and column dresses offered – romantic escapism.

On mannequins lurking at the back of the presentation room, going unnoticed to most of the champagne-drinking bloggers, were some very wearable separates which toned down the drama like the leather jacket with oversized lapel over a maxi skirt.