By: Lizzy Bowring
Head of Catwalks, WGSN
From SS’16 Catwalk, Lizzy Bowring suggests key trends starting from colors to designers that will define the season. Her personal favorite being Stella McCartney, Dior and acne, with denim, black and white, grays & metallic to rule, we bring you a low down of her five essential trends as she and her team analyses where trends are in the curve, pre-season collections, the ‘tastemakers’ and retail data – mixed with expert intuition-
Colour Predictions
Back in August, we predicted the top colours that would dominate this season’s runway. Here’s a glimpse at how this played out on the catwalks of New York, London, Milan and Paris.
Modern Masters
Our last prediction for S/S 16 saw designers focusing on the art of luxurious craftsmanship and a ruthless attention to detail. Specifically, we predicted designers making acute references to past history –the artists of ancient Rome, the Flemish masters and the 19th century. These references were – as we predicted – pulled into reality with a modern twist and in styles that float around the body.
Leisure Luxe
WGSN predicted the evolution of the athleisure trend in an oversized luxe sport trend we called “Leisure Luxe.” On the runways, we saw “Leisure Luxe” in the combination of sporty elements with casual, oversized, relaxed and loose fits. We further saw this in sporty silhouettes in luxurious materials and an emphasis on texture.
Latin Glamour
Inspired by the opening of Cuba and the Caribbean landscape, WGSN predicted vibrant colours in an overtly feminine trend we call “Latin Glamour.” We saw this playing out specifically in bare shoulders, saturated colour palettes, hothouse florals, an electrifying mix of patterns and cascading ruffles.
Graceful Edge
The vintage heirlooms of Granny’s attic inspired our second trend – a return to feminine, graceful and romantic looks of the past. On the runways we saw “Graceful Edge” in the explosion of layered lace, precise pleats, sheer materials, and soft florals. We also predicted – and saw – this trend in washed denim with loose fits and nostalgic styling.
Culture Club
We predicted an evolution of the 80s in a youthful trend inspired by street culture and the electro-rock music scene. This played out on the catwalks with high-octane colours and body conscious, polished glamour with the look and feel of the digital age.
