The Spring/Summer 2018 Fashion Week editions once again elevated womenswear to new heights. An international contingent of fashion houses, designers and press gathered together for an array of star-studded events, catwalk spectacles and cutting edge clothing. Traversing the globe's fashion capitals, the season kicked off in New York before jetting across the pond to London, touring Milan and finally drawing to a close in Paris.
Today, we invite Trendstop’s team of experts to bring us the must-see Fashion Week moments and key shows as well as the essential colours, apparel, footwear, accessories informing the women's market for Spring/Summer 2018. You will be inspired by the latest collections, themes and silhouettes that will be essential in inspiring your next womenswear collection.
About The Shows
New York was a Fashion Week of firsts as model-of-the-moment Kaia Gerber made her runway debut for Calvin Klein, the label that helped make her mother, Cindy Crawford, a household name. At the Park Avenue Armoury, Marc Jacobs defied protocol as choreographed models walked the runway with no musical accompaniment until the finale, closing out NYFW with a Zen atmosphere that allowed the collection to speak for itself. In Milan, Gucci's maximalist aesthetic held firm as the brand's headquarters were transformed into a museum/club scene space with strobe lighting and party music contrasting against an historical backdrop. Finally to Paris and Anthony Vaccarello's fitting tribute to late YSL co-founder Pierre Bergé, a grandious Saint Laurent SS18 show held underneath the iconic Eiffel Tower.
The transseasonal trend inspired a fresh take on SS18 colour with darker hues infiltrating the seasonal palette. Rich crimson reds and deep forest greens made a statement amid the springtime pales, illustrating fashion's increasing interest in all-year-round wearability. The pastel palette was also reinvigorated, with chalky, whitened casts offering a more sophisticated and elegant update to previously sugary shades.
Trend takeaway: Introducing darks for Spring/Summer and pales for Fall/Winter increases consumer choice and taps into the transseasonal trend.
Performance sports and activewear were a key influence on the women's catwalks. Watersports gear was translated into swimsuits, wetsuit-like all-in-ones and windcheater outerwear at Isabel Marant and Christian Dior, while plastic climbing clips and neoprene ankle straps gave a scuba feel to Fenty x Puma's fashion-forward take on the flip-flop. The ongoing 90's revival was evident at Marc Jacobs, with retro-modern tech satin belt bags in directional colour-ways.
Trend takeaway: Sportswear is a huge influence for ready-to-wear with both high performance elements and retro revivals inspiring a host of fashion/active hybrids.
Designers explored the theme of femininity to the full, as an array of ruffles and frills maintained their contemporary edge through the use of single colour-ways, considered placements and statement proportions. Antique pink and dusty bluebell were joined by bright white while asymmetric positioning and crisp fabrications ensured a balance of prettiness and modernity.
Trend takeaway: Feminine themes are modernised with unfussy fabrications and a grown-up approach to colour that appeals to the contemporary market.
Plastic and Perspex were the key accessories and footwear materials across many of the international collections. Chunky heels and substantial jewellery were imbued with a new lightness at Chanel and Versus Versace, while see-through shoppers proudly displayed their contents for a sophisticated take on the beach bag. The festival Wellington boot was also elevated to high fashion status at MM6 Maison Margiela with thigh-high styles rendered in clear vinyl.
Trend takeaway: Clear plastic and Perspex are seen across all accessories and footwear categories either as a complete product or as an accent trim.
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