the lady in green

I attended the brand-new Prefab Supima Premium Fabric Show, January 23 – 25, 2007, at Gotham Hall in NY. All the fabrics were extremely high quality, long-fibre cottons & blends, as well as a large selection of organic cottons and sustainable fibres like bamboo, tencel, etc. Only thing about this show was that most of the suppliers require really large minimum order quantities (3,000 meters), so a bit difficult to swing unless you’re producing in mass.

One of the seminars was given by Carol Egan, Fashion Editor of the Tobē Report, on trends for Sping/Summer 2008.

My notes from her presentation:

OVERALL CONCEPTS :
Massclusivity : individualized iPods, etc.
Control waist
Tunic waist with details
Outerwear options – throwover jackets
Strong shoulders (not padded)
Modern pantsuit/careerwear: Jil Sander – clean
Structured skirts (pleated, pencil)
Soft tops
Sophisticated shift dress

TREND 1) MODERNIST: careerwear

Colours:
Cork, Terracotta, Mahogany, Navy, Grey, Pink accents

Suits:
untraditional 3 piece – trompe l’oeil
Sleeveless jacket – darts/seams
Unmatched
Softer, wrap suits
Jumper/jacket combos
Pinstripe updated
Satin, slick finish
Vest with nothing underneath
Fuller pants with either no pleats or fully pleated
Waistline continues to move up
Carrot cup
Narrow/straight/slim pant continues -> has become new basic

Outerwear:
Shrunken sleeve/cropped
Play with proportions: big buttons, pockets
Wedge shape jacket
Thin, perforated leathers
Back treatments like swing back

Tops:
Sleeveless with extended sleeves underneath
Sheer overlayer
Blocks of colour
Knits
Bows on blouses
French cuff shirt stops at elbow

Skirts:
High rise waist skirts
Banded bottom skirts
City sarong made of jersey
Pleats

Dresses:
Back of the neck has become the new erogenous zone
Fit & flare
Jersey in prints
A-frame 60s dresses in thicker fabrics

Accessories:
Lucite – clear
Crystal
Headbands
Hermes Birkin packable bag
Longer handles on bags to use on shoulder
Winter white

TREND 2) LIBERTEEN: Teen, contemporary

Colours:
Purple, Pink, Silver, Teal, Green, White

Skirts:
Layers
Ballerina tulle over pants
Kilts
Side ruching, smocking for higher waisted
Petal skirt – mini

Pants:
Matador pants – slim silhouette: two seasms down front, high waist, hem below knee
Wide leg pant with band at hip
Side snap pants with petal hem

Dresses:
Longer dresses with fabric details
One dress over another
Solid/sheer knits working together
Short prom dresses

Accessories:
Head-to-toe
Lucite bangles – as Chanel
Giant cocktail rings in multiples
Stella McCartney metallic feed sac
Return of the backpack
Metallic leggings as in London
Cork footbeds
Moccasin booties
Metallic sneakers

Mix & match
Romantic/baby doll sets
Patent insets
Dark, jacquard denim
Stripes
Shine
Layers
Corset over shirt
Onion skin
Asymmetrical motorcycle jacket
White denim with black mesh as Chanel

TREND 3) MVP: Luxury designer active sportswear (inspiration: Olympics in China in 2008)

Colours:
Gold metal, Green, Yellow, Red, Grey, White
Shorts:
Leather shorts with side gussets/zips
Bubble short bathing suit
Beaded swim shorts

Polo shirt with longer sleeves, shorter placket
Layers
Flamingos
Athletic logos
New shapes of tees, sleeves
Stretch
Sheer skirt over jogging bottoms
Different sports serve as inspiration: ping pong, boxing, bowling
Track dresses
Menswear stripes on tube dress
Elastic, back detail
Netting
Baseball uniforms, yoga, streetwear
One piece romper, overeasy as Proenza Schouler, Stella McCartney
Strapless denim
Bubble
Luxe fabrics for traditional outerwear: sheers, silks, etc.

Accessories:
Sheer, shine
Detailed belts
Zipper pouch
Designer sneakers

TREND 4) GLOBAL WARMING: Josephine Baker’s influence on Parisian society
Inspiration: African sculpture, Art Deco, Cubism, African Jazz

Colours:

Pomegranate, Orange, Purple, Green, Brown

Summer suede
Modern art/tribal prints
Asymmetrical fishtail as Prada
Flapper dress layers
Banana dress
Caftans
Natural trims: shell, bark, stone, seeds
Long skirts with sneakers & polo shirts
Pencil skirts
Softer style khaki skirts
Camp lounger, soft dressing

Shorts:
Double buckle belt
Layered legs
High waist: can be soft, belted as Prada
Cargo pant: slim, sophisticated

Tops:
Tunics
Overeasy
Prints
Python – coloured
Recycled natural embellishments
Camp shirt – longer, more fitted
Fringe
Anorak
Patterns with significance: Asian, astrology, fertility

Accessories:
Turbans
Focus on head: hats, bands, sunglasses
Colour
Petrified wood, stone, suede sashes
Cinch belts
Fringe
Tati bag: Louis Vuitton
Sneakers, designer hightop