In three weeks, spring will be here. Woop yeah, hands in the air. The cape and boots will go back in the cupboard along with the beanie, gloves and
electric footwarmers, Hungarian goulash and misery.
Out will pop blossoms, lighter colours, dancy squirrels, unicorns, rainbows and light salads with pink grapefruit and smoked trout. And glasses of rosé.
Spring is going to be fun with lots of clever shapes, drapes and prints. Stores are moving away from winter's leathers, hoods and neo-gothicism. Incu, for one, is getting in plenty of animal prints from Alexander Wang and Chloe Sevigny x Opening Ceremony, tight dresses by TV, Alexander Wang, Sophomore, wedge heels and "boyfriend" jeans.
Australian designers are showing plenty of light colours, loads of bright, abstract digital prints and something of an all-round ladylike look. All in all, I think your Nan will be pleased when you show up for tea, plus you'll still be ready to roll straight to the beer garden for a cheeky cider with your mates.
Blazers
Have you been wearing a black one all winter, sleeves rolled up just so? It's time for some colour, like peach, grey or blue.
L-R: Lonely Hearts, $638,
Antipodium Well Hung Jacket $489
Above blazer $259
Slouchy, drapey pants:
There were plenty of the big-at-the-hip trousers on show at
Rosemount Australian Fashion Week earlier this year, but I've found that Secret Squirrel and Limedrop have similar pairs that won't add bulk at your roundest point.
L-R: Secret Squirrel pants $179, Limedrop pants $180, Secret Squirrel pants $179
If you are particularly straight up and down, hell, just go for something like
Dhini's hip-building numbers here.
Digital prints:
This blast of sound and fury goes under your blazer and over your new slouchy pants. There are plenty of interesting digital prints showing themselves across a wide range of labels. They will brighten up your day after a winter of black and leather. But they'll do it in a kindof abstract artistic way.
Friedrich Gray dress $395, Ginger and Smart dress,
Friedrich Gray top $330.
A hot little dress: A minxy little dress that you can wear shopping, to the beach (hopeful, aren't I?) and then out with bare legs will definitely make you feel spring is over. Stolen Girlfriends Club is doing some great ones.
L-R Mesh jersey dress $258.50, the one on the right is called Bailbreaker $209. Both dresses
Stolen Girlfriends Club.
A denim jacket:
A denim jacket, ideally light denim and over-sized is a definite spring must. Throw it over anything or everything.
Manning Cartell jacket, Stolen Girlfriends Club jacket. Try
Pitbullmansion for all the SGC you can handle.
Tight black pants:
Do you see how I didn't write leggings? Leggings as pants, I hope, will die away this spring. A more substantial pant must replace them. Must.
Shakuhachi lace up pants $200,
Les Chiffoniers leggings $449 (no, the last one is not Australian, but they are great.)
Light jeans:
Go baggy, like these Maise ones, or even tight with a zip at the ankle, like another style that Maise do. Either way, the sun will be back and you want to be ready to sit on some sand without it showing. Yes, I will sit on the sand even if it's still so cold that my hands shake the long-kneck I'm gripping.
Maise Marylebone jeans $143
Something amazingly drapey:
Because it's still the GFC and this kind of cleverly draped piece doubles as a conversation starter as well as a nudity inhibitor. Draping is going to be all over the shops soon, almost everyone at RAFW showed some kind of clothish contortion. Much will be rubbish and not at all clever, but Gary Bigeni's draped pieces are astounding. Photos do not do them justice, you must see the intricate folds and loops to beleive them.
Gary Bigeni grey 'Elise' top $308
Aqua Gary Bigeni 'Jade' top, $363
Shoes:
Two pairs, for a start. One strappy black sandal, one low black boot.
Sandals, boots by
Phong Chi Lai, lace-up booties $590, boots $609.
Sunglasses:
I did say Australian designers at the top didn't I? Sorry. These great limited edition sunglasses are from Cheap Monday and are definitely not Australian. They are definitely Swedish. They are also just $75 from General Pants and will be in-store from next month.
