FORECASTTranslating today's influences into tomorrow's fashion
Runway Report MensWear
Spring/Summer 2014
Years later, when one looks back at the spring of 2014, it ought to be remembered as the beginning of a trend that lingered on for many seasons. Not only couturiers, but influential fast fashion brands have also been engulfed by the rampant athleticism evident in both menswear and women’s wear. As we enter this edition of spring, shelves at stores are getting prepped for the unisex bomber jackets, agile sweatpants and sporty crop tops; needless to say, the batch of health conscious consumers is on its way to translate into a collective culture – a culture that evokes a sense of relevance in fashion. This relevance has enabled ideas in fashion that would have previously been abandoned, one of them being the introduction of slack fit in formal ensembles. The ease with which designers have blended silhouettes through multifunctional hybrids-shirtdresses, pyjama trousers and roomy tunics – empowers people caught in a world of exhaustive options.
Runway Report WomensWear
Spring/Summer 2014
The recurring bombers and sweatpants are definitive of fashion capitals around the world being at the helm of a massive sportswear season; however, their treatment of the subject has a clear distinction owing to their unique cultures. Minimal in character, designers at New York derived inspiration from the 90’s hip-hop days for ensembles, while London filtered the trend on similar lines but with a hint of royal femininity, suggestive of classic British sensibility. Absolutely contrasting were runways of Paris and Milan, where designers traded minimalism for opulence and infused sportswear with a couture-like quality, exploring chaotic prints and surfaces amongst bizarre fabrics. However, all four fashion weeks revealed a serious inclination for sheer play, toying with ideas of transparency, layering and fabric juxtapositions in wearable fashion.