More on fashion trends for 2008
January 15th, 2008Last week’s Globe and Mail had a great article on what the year ahead will hold. Apparently fashion and design “is rife with scaly things, one-piece wonders and plenty of gloss”. Let’s take a closer look at what this means for our shopping and wardrobe adventures:
- Shocking shades – pink, purple and green join last year’s yellow and cobalt blue. Fantastic. it’s high time we had options other than neutrals.
- Acid wash denim – for jeans, trenches, dresses and swimwear. I’ve never liked acid wash, so I shall be bypassing this trend.
- Garden State – say goodbye to dainty floral designs and hello to huge hydrangea prints. I’m reserving my judgment until I see how this trend has been interpreted.
- Size matters – billowing sack dresses are bigger than ever. I’m used to the look and enjoy the silhouette when it’s worn in the right way. It’s a fashion forward and ultra comfortable alternative to body conscious silhouettes.
- Shoulder pads – I can’t go there again. I’ll leave this fad to the youngsters to enjoy for their very first time.
- Sheer delights – it’s the start of the “see through” trend and I’m intrigued. I enjoy delicate fabrics when they are contrasted with sturdier ones because it’s feminine and robust at the same time.
- Romper room – jumpsuits and all-in-one playsuits are hip again. Oh dear. We’ll think twice about needing the loo if we wear these numbers.
- Funky footwear – lots of colour blocking, stubby toes and sky-high platforms. Another disappointing footwear season.
- Blazer of glory – blazers with tipped lapels and embroidered crests make their preppy return. Love it. Uniforms are underrated.
- Flashdance faces – black ringed eyes, goopy gloss and heavy handed make-up are the “it” look. Awful. I’m sticking to my subtle 30 second make-up routine.
You will recognize colour and volume, which also featured in the fashion buzzwords for 2008, as common themes for the year ahead.
Beyond fashion, you’ll be in vogue if you live in a modern, chalet-inspired interior, eat locally produced food, cook with copper pots, install a lift in your home and make North Africa your top place to visit this year. For better or for worse, 2008 is full of ‘80’s excess. I’m sure we’ll have a lot to say about what we loved and loathed at the end of this year.
Hot-off-the-press colourblock footwear from Nordstrom’s 08 Spring collection. I can’t say they’re my cup of tea.
January 15th, 2008 at 9:36 am
OH, you are so right about the shoulder pads. I won’t be going there again either
I love the color block shoes!
January 15th, 2008 at 9:47 am
I have to agree with you on all points, Angie, except that I’ve not been a fan of the billowy dress, at least not for me. I guess we take the good, and ignore the bad!
January 15th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Perhaps retro ’80’s inspired colourblock shoes will grow on me. For the moment they are too much of a bad blast from the past! I adore the ’40’s inspired colourblock shoe styles that are in stores at the moment though. If only they came in a respectable heel height.
Billowing frocks took a little while for me to appreciate them Rhonda, but I’ve dressed quite a few ladies in them and they looked stunning. Of course….there is billowing and billowing. The volume has to be just right. And of course, you do have the choice to bypass this trend!
January 15th, 2008 at 10:24 am
At least I live in a stylish house!
Maybe the sheer look will work with billowing dresses so women can wear more fitted clothes underneath to highlight their figures and wear a billowing sheer dress on top?
January 15th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Wow Angie, I haven’t heard you so reluctant about the coming season since Boho swept the stores. I hope it looks better than anticipated. London fashionistas seem to take the trends more seriously than we do here. I’m sure we’ll all being wearing smaller shoulderpads under our fleece. Ha!
January 15th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Perhaps I’ve given the wrong impression Laurel as there are certainly enough trends for me to love this year. It looks as though there will be plenty of choice, which I think is the most important thing. It was indeed challenging when all there was to choose from was Boho inspired styles 3-4 years ago. You were pretty much doomed if Boho was not your style.
I’m always excited with what the new season brings and this year is no different. Pick and choose what tickles your fancy and leave the rest! And I shall personally be taking to task anyone I see with shoulder pads under their fleece. Arhhhh.
January 15th, 2008 at 10:54 am
PLEASE NO SHOULDERPADS!!!! Is there going to be any other option for women that don’t really look good in that billowing femine dress look? It’s not for me.
January 15th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Of course Michelle. There shall always be fit-and-flare and straight sheath dresses in stores. They sell and fashion buyers who select the collections know this. There shall be choice this season!
January 15th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I love the color block shoes, esp. the first two pairs! Just need them in lower heels. Fun way to add more color, while still being able to coordinate the shoe with your outfit. If they come in lower heels, I’m game!
January 15th, 2008 at 11:13 am
my mom HAD the pair of shoes on the right - just not in slingbacks. they were flats, if i remember…
January 15th, 2008 at 11:16 am
I don’t mind the colourblock heels so much, but shoulderpads and acid-wash?! Blech!
Sheer fabrics will look nice this spring though!
Will we see more of the oxford heel in businesswear through the spring, or is that trend over?
January 15th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I love colorblock anything, but I was only 5 by the end of the 80’s so I didn’t have a sufficient opportunity to be traumatized by 80’s fashion.
I’m not a fan of acid wash at all, and certainly not shoulder pads, but in general, I enjoy the 80’s revival, if for no other reason than bringing back part of my childhood. I wonder if anyone plans to bring back those shirt cliips :p
Maybe this means the 90’s will be back by 2010. I did the whole babydoll dress and grunge thing when I was a teenager. THAT’S something I don’t look forward to.
January 15th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Believe it or not, I’m actually enjoying the ’80’s revival too Maya, but I am setting some fashion boundaries. You and people younger than you have fortunately not been tainted by a decade of anti-fashion and should enjoy the retro revival. I LOVE my cream ’80’s ankle boots that I bought in London last year, my skinnies, blouson tops, bright jewel toned accessories, plastic jewelry and colour blocked clothes.
And by the sounds of things, I am alone when it comes to disliking these shoes!
January 15th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
no, angie, you’re not alone. none of these trends seem that appealing, though the big florals might work if done right. the only trend i’m really glad about is boot cut and wide legged pants.
January 15th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
No, Angie - I must say that I am not fond of the shoes either - I am currently loving the heeled oxford look though!
I lived through the ’80’s - some trends may be fun to revisit, however there are sooo many that need to be left in the past! The blazers would be fun though! And possibly a resurgence of the New Romantics…
January 15th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
This list worries me! I may have been in diapers then, but I still know that some trends from the ’80s shouldn’t be revived.
January 16th, 2008 at 12:41 am
You know, this reminds me of a recent episode of Project Runway where they had to take a hideous outdated trend and revive it in a modern and fashion-forward way. So you never know how things will play out! I remember being very nervous about skinny jeans but now I love them….at least on the right body type.
January 16th, 2008 at 9:44 am
This rings a bell Maya. I too was hopelessly afraid of the revival of skinnies a few seasons ago (and even blogged about it), and then they suddenly made sense and I love them too. I’ve subsequently been encouraging all sorts of body types to wear them in a flattering way and there has been no looking back. Fashion remains an adaptation to the eye.
January 16th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Hmmm. Sheers and blazers will be welcome in my closet–but I’ll leave the rest. Everything else is just too familiar and not in a good way!
Can’t wait until longer, fitted blazers and kitten heels are back.
January 17th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Like Maya, I was only 5 when the 80’s ended, so I think this revival is kind of fun. Adding color is certainly a pleasant change after all the black, white, brown and tan, which are classy at first and boring after a while, in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong, I still love my black and white stuff, but I’m all for variety. Big floral designs can be fun, if worn correctly and not over-used. I’m certainly not going to fill my wardrobe with them. I did buy a dress with large flowers only last week though. The billowing dresses are beautiful, as well as the sheer fabrics. Like others have said, I’ll pass on the shoulder pads. I’m small framed, but I do have very square shoulders and adding shoulder pads makes me look like a very small football player.
Jumpsuits, no thanks. The shoes could take some getting used to; I’m with Angie on this one, not sure I like them.
January 17th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Mmmmmmmmm’kay. Not a fan of much of that. I don’t care for a lot of volume. Not big on shoulder pads or acid wash or color blocking. Not sure about the huge prints either, although I saw a skirt in the Boden spring catalog that might fit that bill. It was rather cute.
Thanks for the fabulous updates!
May 20th, 2008 at 6:15 am
[…] As predicted, there have been loads of floral designs on skirts, dresses, tunics and tops this season. I think there is a floral for everyone, even if you don’t like prints. […]