What to wear next spring and summer?

10 fashion week summer trends for SS16!

With the current windy, cold, rainy weather (at least this is what it looks like in Amsterdam) it may be hard to even imagine winter will come to an end at some point. 

So in order to shift your winter depression away and fill your head with sunny images, let's talk about spring! Picture yourself in breezy pleated skirts or cool pants with a paper bag waist and silky blouses, walking on green grass and surrounded  by lots of sunshine. Big question of course exactly: WHAT TO WEAR? 

In order to answer this questions let's look at the past fashion weeks which showed designer brands SS16 (spring summer 2016) collections and summarize what we have seen: 

1. Denim

As seen in earlier versions of the fashion weeks, light weight aka warm weather denim was back on the runway this year too. Which is great since it can be quite suitable for spring or not all too hot weather (which in the Netherlands hardly exists anyway). Light weight denim was seen at the New York Fashion Week with designers like Gabriela Hearst, Opening Ceremony, Jil Sander Navy and Cushnie et Ochs, Suno. 

2. Pleats

Seen on the catwalks of both Milan and New York, pleats are here to stay for a little longer. However, they're downsized a bit in comparison with last seasons' big pleats and can be seen in combination with shiny fabrics and as breezy skirts. Designers doing pleats are for example: Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Pucci, Dsquared, Missoni, Altuzarra and Boss.

3. Short pants

Those aren't shorts, they are short pants: chique and sophisticated alternatives to skirts and easy to wear outside of your vacation destination. Combine them for example with a nice jacket or blazer and they're good to wear to work! As seen for example in Milan at Giorgio Armani (image left) and TODS (right image).

4. Stripes

Stripes are all around us in every combination possible. For example horizontal, vertical, red, blue, white, beige, solid and see through is possible. The sailor inspiration (blue or red + white stripes) was especially visible at Ralph Lauren's show (image on the right) and also at House of Holland (left). 

5. Shiny fabrics

Let it shine! As seen at (amongst others) New York Fashion week: shiny fabrics are used to create airy feminine pieces like dresses and skirts. Or they are combined with sturdy, sharp cut forms in order to mix coolness with femininity. 

6. Baseball jackets

Baseball jackets and bomber jackets, or a hybrid version of the two, were seen at the New York Fashion Week as well. It's sleeves are color wise often in contrast with the fabric of the body of the jacket. Baseball jackets a be a perfect piece for 'in between (warm and cold) weather'. 

7. Red - White - Blue

The three color combination of red, blue and white (like the Dutch flag :)), shown above as seen at Ralph Lauren and Lacoste. The combination of colors is either used to create a sportive look or a more posh one like with a dress.  

8. White shirt 

The white button down was seen in different variation at Philip Lim, Tome, Monse, Delpozo and Zac Posen. The shirts were creatively combined with for example a shirt in the same color to create an all white look or the blouse itself was separate from its collar.   

9. Paperbag waist

Skirts and pants with paper bag waists could be seen at the shows of Philip Lim, Public School, Tome and Tibi at New York Fashion Week. Combine them with a tighter top and you'll look gorgeous! 

10. Fine knits

Nice knits were seen at for example Michael Kors, Creatures of Comfort, Jason Wu and Wes Gordon. They offer a great way to make your sweet summer look a bit more comfortable in not-too-warm-yet days of Spring!