Trends for Spring 2012
With all things fashion comes trends. Every season some are recycled, banned, added, etc. Since Spring has reared it’s beautiful head it is time to discuss the top trends again. Elle magazine has put together a list of the most popular trends seen on the runway, so lets take a look!
This year, based off of Fashion Week, it would seem that these are the hot styles to try:
The Animal Trend:
Now, animal prints have always been present in fashion, but prints using actual animals has become popular with the advances of technology. This years trendy animal is the bird. According to Elle Magazine, the runways at Fashion Week had hummingbirds, swans, and pheasants just to name a few incorporated in their designs. 
Jill Stuart
Of course, no need to worry about spending hundreds of dollars on designer bird items, XXI and UO will certainly have their fair share of ready-to-wear at great prices, keep posted next Wednesday.
The Palette Trend:
The palette this spring is clearly an array of pastels! I’m very excited about this since it’s my favorite palette to work with, especially in comparison to neons which are popular every spring. Of course designers kept patterns interesting and designs bold, but these light colors create a perfect balance that will make anyone stand out yet still seem care-free. 
Louis Vuitton
I LOVE these designs, and Jill Stuart also has some very very cute stuff when you go to the website. But don’t worry, these styles will be in stores soon, Free People already has some that are very cute!
The Item Trend:
This years key item in design is the peplum! Some of you might be wondering what exactly a peplum is. Essentially it’s a gathering of fabric attached to a jacket or skirt, normally. This style was very popular on the runway and is a nod to vintage in a way. I have a couple business dresses with a small peplum flare, it creates an interesting silhouette and trims the waist. 
Jason Wu
Wu went absolutely peplum crazy on the runway and seemed to have some of the absolutely best looking peplum involved design. Stores like Black & White House, Express, The Limited, and other retail stores with more focus on silhouette rather than patterns will have styles like this. There’s also word that Wu’s designs can be found at your local Target, no peplums to be seen online however, but maybe soon?
The Detail Trend:
I am thrilled to announce that we’re going vintage! But maybe more vintage than you were thinking, unless that is you were thinking baroque! Splashes of baroque designs were rampant on the runway this year and designers seemed to really pull it off.
Anquilano Rimondi
Thank God for Neimans! Some of Rimondi’s amazingly well done baroque style designs can actually be purchased…for well over $1000, but hey maybe your local store carries it and you can try it on?
The Silhouette Trend:
This year it would look like we have a nod to the 20s with dropped waists. Personally, this is a terrible look for me and most women, but some girls can definitely pull it off! So lets take a look at what the runway had to offer. 
Etro
Gracing the runway in Milan this is an example of a drop-waist that doesn’t make me wish I had been born with a different body shape. Etro has some great patterns that really help to flatter the body. Some of their designs can be found at both Nordstroms and Neimans.
The Theme Trend:
I have to say I’m pretty excited about this years theme that has emerged through clothing; deep sea! I love the ocean and think it’s great inspiration in all fields, so why not clothing? Some designers went subtle in patters or silhouette and others went crazy with sea creature embellishments. 
Peter Pilotto
Love this Pilotto dress, it’s absolutely a piece of artwork that is beautiful and meant for the runway. I imagine that there will be some interesting styles trickling down into the retails stores us non-millionaires shop at, lets just hope it doesn’t go nautical.
The Print Trend:
Another trend that could go terribly wrong that hit the runway is the new print, digital imaging. If done properly it could look very cool and hip, but otherwise it might look like a graphic tee gone wrong. 
Mary Katrantzou
The site is currently under construction, but her designs are so expensive don’t bother googling them. This piece I did find inspiring, however, reminds me of Monet.
The Body Part Trend:
I guess bikini season came early this year! The popular trend that hit the runway was showing off a little midsection. Mostly focused on the upper abs this trend can be very classy and sexy at the same time. 
Carven
I absolutely adore this dress, I don’t think you understand. I adore it so much I’m on my knees praying to God that somewhere like UO or FP gets a similar design in soon. I’m dying without it. Ugh, fashion lust.
The Fabric Trend:
Looks like soft metal but has an elegant flow? Ding, ding, ding matte satin! One of the newer and edgier things I’ve seen matte satin is definitely eye catching, and yet not trashy like a lot of metallic patterns. I feel like some really cute styles will trickle down, but hopefully they won’t lose the classy edginess that the more high fashion designs have. 
Victoria Beckham
Actually never having had looked into Beckham’s designs I was pleasantly surprised by this. I absolutely love the color and that model is rocking the drop-waist!
The Inspiration Trend:
What could possibly give more inspiration than abstract art? Apparently designers thought the same thing this year and put it to work. Now, we’re not talking abstract fashion here but seriously artwork. Geometric designs and patterns, mod or vintage, some of these styles definitely turned heads. 
Gucci
Talk about sexy, haven’t seen fringe like that in a bit of time. I can’t imagine any woman not feeling like a diva in this amazing Gucci number. Plus, while most abstract patterns can end up being so all over the place that no line is created, this dress does a great job of pulling in and accentuating all the right places.
I hope you enjoyed my take on the latest trends! Be sure to look out for posts elaborating on these trends on Wednesdays and Thursdays! If you put together an outfit experimenting with any of these trends feel free to submit them, we don’t bite!
This list was based off the Elle Trend Report for Spring 2012 which you can find at www.elle.com. All pictures do not belong to me and neither do any of the designs.
