The Spring 2009 season is seeing designers recycle trends, suspiciously symptomatic of this year’s economic recession. The rehashing of many of this seasons favourites comes as tough times call for thrifty styling. Tighter pockets mean that our designer pieces need longevity, as frivolity takes a back seat to frugality.
But don’t be fooled- these are anything but stagnant sartorial times.
These are not times for the faint at heart
Creativity reigns supreme as the challenge lies no longer in inventing new fashion, but in reinventing fashion from a mere season ago. It is now about cleaning off the cobwebs and giving old styles a fresh lease of life and new vigor. Well, at least until our purses are full again and our prudent spending is little but an uncomfortable memory.
So before you start stuffing this season’s garments into dark corners or selling them off in eBay auctions, take a look at what can be reused and recycled for next season.
Floral:Luella’s daintily clad beauties were a posy of bright prints in full bloom.
Lace:Lovely lace can say just about anything about a girl. It can be sexy, girly, hardcore or uptight. Lace is a woman’s chameleon, as it can be adapted to suit just about any mood. Stevie Nicks offered up her lace for the taking but this season Christopher Kane gives lace a modern twist, showing why its here to stay.
Denim:Alexander Wang, the master of laid back, feminine chic, reworks the quintessential fashion staple.
Jumpsuits:I just invested in a banger from American Apparel. The beauty of the jumpsuit (or onesie, as I like to refer to it in my stupidly childish vernacular) is that it can be worn in so many ways. On its own, with a blazer or vest over it, even a dress or skirt over it, any way is a winner. Even better still, should the timeworn jumpsuit ever become taboo, wear underneath several layers in lieu of thermals for bitingly cold winters. Jaeger London gave the jumpsuit an ethnic feel.
Tye Dye:The 90s never dyes (forgive me, I’m a sucker for poor punning). Thanks Josh Goot for allowing my favourite fashion era to shamelessly live on for another season.
Monotone:Ah black on black- the fail safe of any fashion forward wardrobe. Admittedly, black transcends almost every season with unfaltering persistence, but this season layering texture gives the old favourite new bite. Jill Sander didn’t fail to deliver, as black beauties paraded her monotone collection.