After the Parisian catwalks cooled last Thursday, October 7th, marking the end of the 2011 Spring Ready-To-Wear shows around the globe, we were left with visions of crimson and fur dancing in our heads.  From New York, London, Milan, and Paris, through a dizzying daze of bejeweled splendor, there will be a few simple things to remember as you head out next spring in your lipstick-colored trenches and matching rain boots.  Whispering promising ideas in your ear, hold this list near and dear.

Color:  Integrations of pure white, delicate neutrals, bright cinnamon, olive green, midnight black, plum blue, glinting gold, and a plethora of bright, sunny neons will grace garb, lips, eyes, feet, and even nails.  Shopping will never be as fun, or as stimulating, as it will be this spring after the cold days of winter have left us.  

Pattern:  Plan on welcoming your old “faux” friends, mixed with leopard and tiger, back into your closet for a season of outrageous, bold animal designs and patterns.  Feathers, florals, and geometrical prints will beautifully compliment the array of loud and soft solids from workday to evening.

Texture:  Lush fur, in any color and in any spot, will find its home on your new spring coats, dresses, pumps, and even earrings next season alongside  plentiful amounts of supple, sexy leather. 

Silhouette:  Fear not if those stubborn holiday pounds are still hanging on come March.  Boxy, draped cuts will be all the rage for spring, graciously and gracefully showing off the smallest hint of upper thigh or the tiniest peep of shoulder.  Military-inspired jackets will take their place beside fur frocks and cape sweaters, never forgetting their timeless counterpart, the oversized neck.

Footwear:  Over-the-knee boots, ribbon-tied platforms, slouchy booties, and kitten heels paired with minis, flowing trousers, colored stockings, and knee-tapping dresses will work their way from rainy winter mornings to sunny spring afternoons.

Beauty:  Asymmetrical bobs and middle-part longer looks will predominate the beauty scene along with other classic looks like back-swinging braids and kerchiefs from the 1960s and 70s.

If you felt a little bit like a new kid on the first day of school, completely enthralled and overwhelmed, after watching the spring shows, never fear;  your teachers are here.  Everything we took away is now yours;  a season full of A+’s awaits.

Posted by : Courtney O’Kane Academy of Art University Alumna at 04:03 AM (IST)