Although it is no compensation for a real OE, fashion trends are being increasingly influenced by other cultures, creating a melting pot of cool designs that add flavour to any wardrobe.
Shop windows are emulating the du jour street chic of Parisian cobbled streets. Berets, black, red, white, stripes and spots go far in any wardrobe. Locally, Max and Jeans West seem to be following this. The keys to French chic are flawless presentation, perception, and a ‘skinny is in my jeans’ attitude.
Following a similar colour scheme, Americana clothing is big this season, inspired by D&G and Ralph Lauren. From Dr Denim’s Dukes of Hazard-inspired shirts, to Salasai’s bowling shirts, tops in particular are embracing American culture. Wrangler does this throughout their entire collection and Maurie & Eve’s patriotic fabrics take Americana very literally. This trend should be followed in moderation to avoid Uncle Sam stabs.
DSquared’s latest collection harks back to the American Dream. Childhood fantasies are their inspiration, and a wholesomeness is shown through the use of round, Mickey Mouse-esque shapes. A little closer to home, similar trends can be seen in Camilla and Marc, and Evolution.
The clog trend is as clumsy and distinctive as the shoes themselves, yet they are everywhere—Louis Vuitton included. Most shops have them, making it more acceptable to try this previously tricky trend. They have come a long way from their humble Dutch origins: Funkis has added tread and buckles, while Top Shop has added domes. I can’t see clogs sticking around for long, so it may be best to take a deep breath and have a look at Rubi’s shoes.
Transport trends have further inspired these travel-esque collections. Hermes was last year’s Aviator-inspired collection and this year Acne takes over the reigns. Sailors are showcased in DKNY’s campaign and traced in Sonia by Sonia Rykiel. Burberry’s jacket can also be part of the aviator trend. Just make sure you only wear one of these items at a time so you don’t look over the top.
If you’d rather stay at home, farming has inspired the latest local trends. At the expense of looking like you’re out of Footrot Flats, baggy black singlets, gumboots, and Swandris are not just confined to the A&P show. Sheepskin has been on a number of runways, such as Rodarte and Celine.