Dress up in a plethora of bold colours, bright prints and profuse frills. It’s all about feel-good fashion this season, says Jacqueline Pereira

This is not the time for flash, and surely not for splash. Sift shrewdly through the surplus of spring/summer 2009 collections, as the usual suspects are all there: the riot of colours, plethora of prints, abundance of frills and sheer fabrics.

If wearing a complete catwalk look seems a bit like overkill and a tad too young, it’s best to pick one piece from one trend. Go for just an off-the-shoulder chiffon blouse or a pair of printed capris. Match them with what is already in your wardrobe or pick up a few understated classics that’ll see you through this season and the next few.

Infused with much-needed energy, this season’s collections marched exuberantly down the runways in September and October last year. The collections exploded in striking colours, bold prints and metallic fabrics, grounded in flirty femininity interspersed with lace and pastels.

Stamp your individuality on your outfit with a dash of irreverence while staying tuned in to the trends. Not all of them are new, in fact most re-interpret the familiar with a new twist or a fresh take. Lines are still streamlined with simple sheath dresses and draped pantsuits — all easy to wear and flattering for any body shape. Just like the key trends below.

Bold colour
The biggest spring trend, as always, is bold and bright colours. Fashion pundits have christened them optimistic. Running the gamut from subtle citrus to acid neon, the overt shades are all over silky trench-coats, nifty little satin dresses and silky pyjama pants. The best way to wear the contrasting bright colours will be to clash them with care, like the fuchsia-tangerine combo adored by the late Yves St Laurent, inspired by the blooms in his Marrakesh home.

Flowers and prints
A profusion of prints seems to be the order of the season, whether it’s Christian Dior’s polka-dot prints or Gucci’s tropical bohemian swirls, Paul Smith’s tea dresses or Fendi’s three-dimensional rosettes. For the more daring, vibrant leopard print in various shades is sure to turn heads, while being seductively flattering.

Tailored suits
Shoulder pads are back (but not in that 1980s way); the suit silhouette is kept smooth, as seen in the slinky Hugo Boss suits and Chanel’s gorgeous black-and-white tweeds. Cut close to the body in soft fabrics, the slim jackets — whether cropped or long — are matched with wide-legged trousers, skinny trousers and even harem pants. Other than the fabric, there’s the hem lengths: skirt suits feature ultra-flirty minis as well as tight-fitting knee-lengths. The quirky shorts and jacket suits work the trend exceptionally well, whether casual or cool.

Embellish and more
Sweet and subtle, garish and gargantuan, embellishment this season returns to the fore. The bejewelled Lanvin dresses are testament to this, with fabric and shape coming second to the stunning rocks, glittery crystal and beguiling sequins. Not to mention the Masai beading on Celine skirts.

We see delicate neck detail on simple shift dresses and sexy fringes on shiny satin suits. On certain outfits, collars keep the focus with stiff overlays, one-button detail or Moschino’s draped contrast of colours. At Fendi, laser-cut lace makes an old-fashioned classic modern again, yet pushed fashion forward with its cinch-waisted silhouette. Versace’s 3-D heart shapes formed by an open zipper appear in various textures and sizes, such as with simple dress-up black minis. For full-on glamour, Louis Vuitton’s feathers are a must. In Burberry’s Garden Girls collection, pretty rose paillettes wash over the brand’s cohesive contour, while complementing the shades of moss and mud.

Gilt trip
Shine takes on a modern twist, molten in glossy, shimmering and glitter-shot fabrics. The slinky, liquid silks and lustrous metallics suit both day and night wear. At Balenciaga, designer Nicolas Ghesquière keeps his lines futuristic in a synthesis of line, cut, and glinting surfaces. These appear on everything from pantsuits to tissue-fine metallic crinkle-pleated jackets. Meanwhile, Prada’s collection carries a range of crinkled molten gold on tiny tops and shiny cover-ups as well as knee-length skirts and glinting shift dresses.

Move to asymmetry
Almost every range bursts forth with astute asymmetrical lines, for example in one-shouldered mini dresses and bustier ballgowns with an uneven hem. BCBG Max Azria’s perfectly simple but stunning off-the shoulder dresses are a perfect illustration of this. Valentino’s draped one-shouldered gossamer creations are a dream, provided your shoulders are honed to perfection a-la Michelle Obama. As for the toga-style cover-ups, they work well when layered over bright sport tees and vest tops.



This article appeared in Options, the lifestyle pullout of The Edge Malaysia, Issue 752, April 27-May 3, 2009