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With a fresh year upon us, wouldn’t it be nice to know now what fashion has in store for 2005? Well, thanks to the always forward-thinking ways of the international design community, I have seen the future. Clairvoyant? I wish. Instead, I reviewed the spring 2005 shows, which were presented to the fashion community this past fall.
My word count is tight, so I’m just highlighting the biggies you’ll be shopping for.
Let me break it down: White is always a staple on spring runways so, duh, look for anything in white tones (and pick up a bottle of bleach while you’re at it). Ditto bright colours.
While the rainbow was represented for spring runways, there will be a lot of grapy purple and electric blue going on this year. Thankfully, the fuss factor of last season’s ladyfest will be replaced by an easier, looser approach.
While we’ll see loads of vintage influences – including several examples of floaty nightgown chic, ruffles and all – they’ll be mostly of the arts-and-crafts variety. Crocheted appliqués will be seen on dresses, along with crocheted handbags. Colour blocking and patchwork will be hot, too.
But most importantly, look for strands of seriously DIY-looking accessories (think mismatched gum-ball beads on a string, à la grade 2, and you are so there) to usurp the heavy-on-the-bling estate jewellery of yore.
A big change will be the verging-on-80s silhouette. Draped jersey, for example, will be everywhere. (Note to self: get Grecian goddess dress, pronto.) Same with satin – from camisoles to dresses, it will be one of the hot textures.
Pants will be cut wider in the leg, and jackets will remain short, some even in micro-bolero length, like the brilliant version shown at Toronto’s own CinCyn.
Stay tuned for more specifics.
fashion@nowtoronto.com
