10 Trends You’ll Definitely Be Wearing This Spring Summer 2018 | InStyle.co.uk
Published on InStyle.co.uk, 25th January 2018
Cheering ourselves up on these dark winter days, is the thought of – the not-so distant – spring summer 2018 that is fast approaching. With stores set to release most of their new season drops in February, now is the time to start mood-boarding and pinning your ideal wardrobe for warmer climes. From the colours to coordinate to the boots to stomp in, here are the ten key trends to buy into...
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice-cream…
There were plenty of drool-worthy ice cream pastel shades on the spring summer 2018 runways. From the prettiest strawberry shades at Preen, to lemon or peach sorbets at Chanel, pistachio at Sies Marjan and melon at Hermes, it was just as hard picking our favourite look as it is flavour. Can’t decide? Go for a triple scoop as seen at Celine.
A twist on the timeless trench…
With a trench coat in some form or shape appearing on practically every runway, by the end of the show season it was clear that this is the key piece for spring summer 2018. At Balenciaga they came split in two, with a traditional trench coat at the front spliced with a denim overcoat the back. Maison Margiela’s came cinched dramatically at the waist whilst Celine showed two contrasting shades fused together so they had an almost ethereal flowing cape feel.
Primary colours…
In stark contrast to the pastel colour chart came a bold and bright primary colour palette. From brick reds at Givenchy and Victoria Beckham, to carnation pinks at MGSM, dandelion yellow at Balenciaga and 3.1. Phillip Lim, plus cerulean blues at Acne, Roksanda and Marni, it appeared designers had dug back into their childhood Crayola crayon boxes for a major colour boost.
Touch me, feel me…
Those close-up videos of hands kneading and smearing slime or crushing lipsticks on Instagram (dubbed Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, or ASMR) seem to have a knock-on effect on designers, with a whole lot of texture swishing and shimmying down the runway. Think fluffy marabou trimmings at Marques’Almeida and Roksanda, sprouting feathers at Maison Margiela, fluttering fringing at Jacquemeus, Erdem, Calvin Klein and Salvatore Ferragamo, not to mention those fluffy yeti boots at Saint Laurent which just made for a slo-mo shot. This season it’s all about "fashASMR" syndrome.
The 1980s…
From shell suits to slip-dresses, for SS18, the 1980s are bigger than Joan Collins’ shoulder pads. Off-White’s Virgil Abloh cited Diana, Princess of Wales as his muse showcasing high-waistlines, power shoulders, low-cut necklines and puff sleeved jackets. Isabel Marant, Gucci and Marc Jacobs did dad-esque sporty shell suits whilst at Saint Laurent there were jewel coloured puffball silhouettes.
Wipe clean…
At a time when everyone is saying no to plastic straws and handing baristas their own reusable coffee cups, sadly, for the environment, the fashion industry seems to think plastic is fantastic for SS18. Chanel, Valentino and Anya Hindmarch paraded transparent plastic macs, Mary Katrantzou and Calvin Klein focused on plastic coated nylon, there was vinyl at Aalato and Ellery, whilst Christopher Kane did kinky rubber gloves inspired by housewives and the infamous Cynthia Payne, a hostess who ran sex parties in suburban areas of London in the 1970s.
Purple reign…
What do Prince, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix and The Queen have in common? Well, they’ve all sported what Pantone is hailing as the colour of 2018. Say hello to ‘Ultra-Violet,’ a vibrant shade of purple. Spotted at Balenciaga, Gucci, Marc Jacobs and Loewe, prepare for a lot of purple-tinged street style shots.
Take a walk on the wild side…
Yee-haw, for SS18 designers took us on a journey to the Wild, Wild West, with an array of cowboy boots stomping down runways. Making his debut at Calvin Klein, Raf Simons explored the darker side of America; referencing horror films, Warhol and cowboys. Mirrored-toe cowboy boots in black and brown peeked out from beneath satin trousers whilst others featured blood-like splatters. Maison Margiela’s came with cut-outs and diamanté spurs whilst Givenchy’s new designer Clare Waight Keller took her debut bow in a black shiny pair.
Hands-free…
No matter how much you hate the name, fanny packs or bum bags are back for SS18. Worn diagonally at Balenciaga, around the waist at Gucci or slung low at Fenty Puma by Rihanna, plus with options ranging from luxe leathers to sporty nylons, there’s a style for everyone.
90s nostalgia…
Marking the 20th anniversary of Gianni Versace’s death, Donatella’s show was a homage to her brother. Using archive prints from the 90s, the original supers of the era, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Helena Christensen and Carla Bruni even took the runway for a finale walk to George Michael’s Freedom. Meanwhile, Burberry revisited their infamous 90s checks, this time appearing on blouson jackets and peaked caps. Plus cycling shorts popped up at Saint Laurent, Chloe and Nina Ricci. For something a little more subtle, Louis Vuitton and Prada showcased 90’s sunglasses shapes.
