Spring/Summer '14 Trend Round up - Guest blog post!

My good friend Lucinda Bounsall from farfetch.com wanted to write a small post about the newest trends to come in spring and summer 2014! I have already predicted some of these (refer to my crops and skirts post!) so this is right in line with PhDfashionista!

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From florals to sportswear and everything in between, we take a look at the best trends to come…

It happens year after year, without fail. For some reason there is something that makes us completely forget that as soon as January 1^st roles around it is not immediately blazing summer. We forget that there are three or four solid months of pretty rubbish weather.

So, if like us you’re getting a little bored of the dreary rain soaked weather and want something to help get you through then why not take a look forward to some of the beautiful summery trends that we’ll be able to sink our teeth into once the sun decides to reappear.

All the fun of fashion week is nothing more than a hazy memory now, awash with print and colour. There was so much to see; and so many beautiful and innovative designs that we couldn’t possibly go through all of them. We’ve decided instead to pick out our top five trends from the SS14 catwalk shows and take you through how you might be able to work them into your everyday repertoire. No Need to thank us!

1. Blooming Marvellous – It’s hardly surprising to see that florals are a trend again for SS14, it’s practically a given but this season saw designers really take the concept and give it their own unique twists. We saw everything from sugary feminine colours and romantic watercolour vibes from Mulberry and Oscar de la Renta to more gothic twists on the trend. Christopher Kane was one of the most interesting designers to incorporate flowers into his collection with tongue in cheek applique designs of the process of photosynthesis emblazoned on sweaters.  Work florals into your wardrobe with intricate prints and bold pops of colour. If you’re feeling a little daring; then clashing your prints will definitely earn you some serious style kudos. Try and make sure that there are at least one or two colours that feature in both prints so that it doesn’t completely clash!

2. Word Up - Not since Frankie told us to relax in the 80s has there been such a huge affinity to wearing your words on your chest. This season slogan sweaters and T-shirts are going to be one of the biggest trends around.  Seen on the runway from the likes of Jeremy Scott, Kenzo and Alexander Wang this trend is all about giving out a message. Kenzo’s vibrant t-shirt collection simply reads ‘No Fish’ to highlight the problem of overfishing. Weather you choose to send an important message or just one word this is a trend that you can really have fun with. Think Cara Delavigne when attempting to try and add a little word-play to your wardrobe and try to stick to one message at a time so things don’t get confused. We recommend wearing a slogan tee with a feminine skirt to toughen up an otherwise feminine look.

3. Top of the Crops – Has there ever been a more valid excuse to hit the gym than the cropped trend? We think not! As the weather gets warmer hem lines start to get shorter and so making sure those abs are good enough to do the ironing on is essential. This trend was popular last summer and looks like its set to stay. This season it’s all about matching your crop and skirt or shorts to really tie the look together. When thinking about going for the crop remember that less is sometimes more; getting your whole stomach out in the workplace is probably not tremendously professional. This season the crop is more about being sultry but also being elegant at the same time; think Calvin Klein, Jil Sander and Dolce & Gabbana SS14)

4. Sports Luxe – It’s almost impossible to remember a year when sports-luxe wasn’t a trend, it’s been one of the front runners in fashion for a good long time yet. It looks like sportswear is set to stick around a while longer too. From its inception this trend has transformed and grown up into the sophisticated version that it is today with pristine colours and innovative use of materials such as meshing and neoprene that gives it an almost futuristic feel. This season has been awash with clean lines and sporty tailoring with bright flashes of neon to keep things interesting. Roksanda Illincic, Rebecca Mirkoff were the main designers really rocking this trend. The best way to approach this trend is by not taking it too literally; no sweatbands and headbands, think more along the lines of sports socks with heels and tailored sweatpants for a more mature take on the trend.

5. 50 Shades of Blue – This season’s catwalks were awash with one shade in particular; the laid back hues of battered denim. This trend is the epitome of serious cool with shades ranging from ladylike bluebell shades to flashes of electric blues and cobalt. Play around with texture and juxtapose rugged denim with sequins and woven embellishment for a look that works whatever the occasion. Designers that hit the nail on the head with this trend include DKNY, Balmain and Max Mara. This is one of the easiest trends to replicate because at the end of the day, who doesn’t have a pair of blue jeans. Go for double denim and shades of blue for a really statement day to evening look.

Guest blog post has been written by Lucinda Bounsall who works at Farfetch!

What do you think of these trends? Would you consider wearing any of them? Let me know what you think!

xoxo A