The New Modesty, Gender Blending & Grunge
D.C.’s sweltering summer is almost upon us. With bikini bods and booty shorts on our minds, fall and winter wear may be the last thing on your mind. There are a few upcoming trends that can inspire your summer wardrobe and keep you looking stylish and ahead of the curve this fall. Get ready for the new modesty, twist on androgyny and throwback to ’90s grunge.
The Fashion Group International (FGI) recently held a Fall/Winter 2013 Ready To Wear trend presentation of the latest apparel, accessories, beauty and outfits from runways in New York, London, Milan and Paris. Followed by a panel of owners from D.C.’s hottest boutiques and moderated by Jennifer Barger, editor-in-chief of Fashion Washington. FGI has been holding audio visual trend presentations since the ’60s to report on trends in local markets before styles hit consumers. Some of the trends highlighted in their presentation include the following:
The new modesty
Forget plunging necklines and cleavage galore. High necklines, long sleeves and modest hemlines have this trend called “The New Modesty.” It’s a refreshing look that all women can pull off. I’ve already seen plenty of women wearing shirts buttoned up the collar and dresses featuring closed necklines. This is a trend I’m excited to wear!
Gender blending
Think of this trend as a twist on traditional androgyny. A lot of the looks featured on the runways included men’s jackets and blazers, but with feminine embellishments. Alternatively, women’s dress shirts, Oxfords for women and military/camo wear were also seen on the runway. Dress pants for women of all kinds are also a big trend, whether they’re patterned party pants or dress pants for a suit. A lot of these trends are found within each other. For example, the new modesty and androgyny go well together with the high necklines and hidden legs.
Grunge
Variations of grunge, leather, motorcycle jackets and biker looks were also prominent on the runway. The tribute to grunge and Kurt Cobain was most prominently seen in Hedi Slimane’s collection for Saint Laurent. Think flannel, dark colors, ankle boots and tights. Grunge also has that wonderful blend with androgyny with the large, boyfriend flannel. This trend also features some high necklines as well.
Other trends seen on the runway, include furs (LOTS of furs), leather, deshabillé and pajamas. In terms of color, trends are dictating that black stays in and winter whites are a must. Another color to look forward to is cardinal red and otherwise just color blocking.
What the panelists have to say
Following FGI’s trend presentation, a panel of local boutique owners spoke about how they carry looks from the runway to consumers. Panelists included Betsy Fisher of Betsy Fisher Boutique, Ricki Peltzman of Upstairs on 7th, Elizabeth Todd of The Shoe Hive and Sakina Iskender of Take 5 Boutique.
All of the women on the panel alluded to the fact that while there is this stigma of D.C. not being a fashionable city, their stores have thrived and are a testament to the fact that Washingtonian women care a great deal about how they look! The thing that makes D.C. different from other fashion cities is the fact that D.C. is a political center of power and women have to look the part. That means suits, more conservative looks and competing in a traditionally male-dominated realm. Women have been embracing this conservative city and are slowly getting braver and adding their own funkiness and flavor in their fashion.
The panelists also said that 90 percent of what’s shown on designer runways are never even made. So those pajama suits and outrageous outfits that you may gape at on the runway are really meant more to inspire than to be worn fresh off the runway. But the trends they’re looking forward to this fall and winter? Suits, winter whites and dark shades of color. Elizabeth Todd, owner of the Old Town Alexandria shoe boutique says she’s excited for the resurgence of the pointy heel, minus the platform. She says pointy shoes are great for the working women in D.C. because they go well with suits, they’re modest and sophisticated. After teetering on sky-high platforms for the past few months, I, for one, will be happy to go back to the flat pointy pump!
Liz Parker is a NOVA girl with a long love affair with Washington, D.C. A self-proclaimed Washingtonian, she spends her days and nights coffee shop hopping and wandering around the city. She’s fascinated with street-style fashion and has a soft spot for thrift and vintage shops.
Pingback: Olsen Twins Design for High-Street Brand Bik Bok | DC on Heels