Spring is finally here and if you’re like us, you’re ready to ditch the scarves and jackets in exchange for bright colours and lighter materials. Here’s an overview of the biggest eco fashion trends this season:
The LWD
Ladies already know they need the perfect Little Black Dress for cocktail parties, but according to Greentowns.com everyone needs to invest in a LWD (Little White Dress) for Spring 2012. The great news about this trend is that you don’t have to go for a tight, fitted satin dress – which is generally the case with the perfect black dress.
Whether you’ve got an hourglass figure or no hips or bottom to speak of, you can find the perfect eco LWD for your body type. You can go with loose-fitting lace and crochet, tight fitting lace or whatever your heart desires. This deconstructed vintage dress by Dream & Awake can be accessorised with gold sandals, colourful bangles or even dressed down with a denim jacket. You can also opt for an organic cotton and hemp LWD like this one from Mountains of the Moon and wear it out on the town or even to work. If you’re into summery frills and lace, you should definitely check out this Armour Sans Anguish dress that was made from upcycled fabrics and lace (this dress is a one-of-a-kind piece and even the threads were bought at second hand stores).
Colour blocking
Colour blocking can seem a bit complex if you’re looking at a rail filled with various bright colours, but what makes this new trend eco-friendly is the fact that you can work with your existing pieces. The idea is to dress in colour from head to toe. As Kitty Cotton explains in a video tutorial, it might be a bit out of your comfort zone at first.
Your first step is to understand your ‘clothing colour wheel’. Red, orange and yellow will be grouped next to each other, making them a ‘colour family’. Purple, pink and red are also a colour family; and blues and greens also have separate colour families. Even though it sounds basic, it helps to rearrange your clothes so that the colour families are grouped together.
The next step is to pair two bold colours. Choose colours that are neighbours in the colour family (for example, red and purple, or orange and pink. You can also try a more vibrant look by matching complimenting colours – like orange and black – together.
One of the keys of colour blocking is to keep your accessories neutral in order to ground your look and keep it classy. Nude heels, camel coloured jackets and monochromatic jewellery should be used with your colour blocking outfit.
Bold prints
Bold prints are going to be everywhere this spring. According to fashion blog, Daisyhillliving, this can be attributed to Erdem – a Turkish fashion designer who was quick to develop this trend – as well as the relative ease of digital printing on fabric.
Orange and pastels
If you’ve always liked the colour orange, you’re in luck. You can expect various shades of tangerine, neon orange, rusty orange and saffron on the shelves. Not everyone can wear orange, so luckily there are a range of pastels that will also be trending, such as pinks, blues and greens.
Short suits
According to Harper’s Bazaar, short suites are all the rage this season. They’re ultra-feminine, perfect for spring and you’ve got the added bonus of being able to wear them to work as well as a night out on the town. The casualness, combined with a hint of feminism makes this one of our favourite new trends. If, however, you work in a very corporate environment, it might not be seen as appropriate office attire, so tread lightly (or save them for casual Fridays!).
Sports Authority
If you’re more into sweat pants and pull-overs, you can definitely make your mark with the new sporty trend this season. While the sport look is more focused on masculine attire (light, biker jackets, thick belts on tight cargo pants), you can definitely use some of your existing sports gear to look like a Sports Authority.
