Put away your classic whites. The colour for 2011 is an intense pink called “honeysuckle”. Colour authority Pantone predicts that the bright shade of pink (described as a “sherbety shade of pink with hints of red and orange zest”), will appear on almost everything next season from designer dresses to nail polish, makeup and appliances. The colour will be a pick-me-up, perfect to lift the gloominess of the economic environment. Colour aside, playful designs, delightful colours and fun details will define 2011 fashion.
Here’s what was spotted on the Spring/Summer runway shows
Vintage: Updates of styles from the 1960s and 1970s will be big. Spring/Summer runway collections featured fun and energetic prints on dresses and tops as seen in Z Spoke by Zac Posen. Ringer tanks, jumpsuits and rompers were also a key feature with designers like Marc Jacobs evoking a 1970s casual cool with his high-waisted wide leg pants and maxi dresses in vibrant tones. Peasant necklines cinched with cummerbund belts at Fendi and Moschino hinted at hippie-chic. Accessories-wise, oversized sunhats, chunky bangles and cork platform wedges pulled all the looks together.
Nouveau Minimalist: If retro is not your thing, be glad that there were plenty of relaxed collections in a limited colour palette. The light, floating silhouettes of Alexander Wang’s nearly-white collection which showcased floor-length dresses were a fantastic alternative. Nicole Miller and Narciso Rodriguez also incorporated warm greys into their collections while Stella McCartney showed a collection of subtly sexy loose-fitting pieces.
Pastels and neons: Talk about balance: there were plenty of pastels and also lots of bright neon shades on the spring/summer 2011 runway. Cynthia Rowley played with peach and mustard tones while Mark Fast used dusty blues on his signature strappy, body-con dresses. London designers like Mulberry infused collections with a mix of warm oranges and icy pinks. Neon colors also had their place on the runways. Burberry showed lime green biker jackets, while Christopher Kane’s demure looks exploded with orange pink hues.
Lace and leather: Lace continues to be a key material and not just as a detail or trim. Erdem’s full-on lace looks features blouses and dresses in sheer lace with Peter Pan collars. Alberta Ferretti too embraced the lace craze with his Guipure lace skirts and tops. Leather may seem an unlikely choice for summer but they dominated the runways nonetheless. Cynthia Steffe’s ruffle skirts and cute dresses in tanned leather were hot as were 3.1 Philip Lim toned down black leather with lace-like cutouts.
Relaxed Pants: Good news. Next season, relaxed pants will replace the harem and legging styles of past seasons. High-waisted trousers with lightweight fabric and light denim in Marc by Marc Jacobs and Derek Lam’s collection, and Bottega Veneta’s pants with drawstring waists and cargo pockets screamed comfort (though the latter resembled pajama bottoms). Still, better than harem pants, anytime.
Ruffles and cutouts: Key design details of the season include ruffles and cutouts. Pieces are flirty, intricate and and sophisticated. Donna Karan’s ruffled floral print tops looked just stunning and Versus’ collection in Milan played with small cutouts on the collarbone, stomach and bust — sexy but not over the top.
