TREND REPORT – AUTUMN / WINTER 2010

Posted in The Symphony Style File on: 21/06/2010

It’s that time again; we are on the cusp of the changing of seasons… that awkward part of the year where we don’t know whether we should be wearing Spring/Summer, Pre-Fall or Autumn/Winter! Jeez.

So, as the Spring/Summer 2010 collections start to move into sale (yey, love a bargain), the new pre fall collections start to arrive in stores (yey, love new stuff) and the main AW10 collections are on the horizon (yey, love something to look forward to), we thought this would be the perfect time to show you our predictions for the AW10 trends and how to adapt the more tricky ones to Dubai’s winter-less “winter”. So forget the infamous September Issues; clearly all you need is

The Symphony Style File ;)

We thought we would start with the most difficult trend here; rip the band-aid off and all that jazz! Not only is Velvet a particularly unforgiving fabric (especially if you surname isn’t Bündchen, Klum or Moss) it is also pretty thick and warm. Fine for London, Paris and Milan in Autumn/Winter – not so fine for Dubai. Nonetheless, Velvet looks like a trend that won’t go away, with Dolce & Gabbana, Halston, Erin Fetherston and Altuzarra all incorporating the tricky fabric into their collections. So we have to be clever here Symphony Stylers, and I advise introducing velvet into your everyday look in a subtle way. For example, head to Satwa and get a nice piece of blood-red (the colour of AW10…more of that later) velvet and create a very chic, cost effective and most importantly on-trend head band. We loved the Prada ones MK&AO were rocking a few seasons ago and will be taking inspiration from them. Alternatively, you could embrace the ‘velvet challenge’ wholeheartedly and invest in the piece du-jour for AW10; a full length velvet skirt. Gulp. Good luck!

Whoopsy… did we say that Velvet was the most difficult trend for Dubai? Sorry, we lied. It’s this one. Leather. Yup, head-to-toe leather! The brave can take their pick with this trend; leather trousers, shorts, t-shirts, dresses and jackets will all be on offer next season. From Prada’s PVC A-line skirt to Celine’s leather t-shirts; leather is everywhere. For those who want to incorporate the leather look in a more subtle way, why not opt for leather cuffs, necklaces and headbands? Or invest in Christian Siriano’s black leather peplum jacket; perfect for the chilly A/C-ridden malls! Alternatively, go bag shopping… after all, it isn’t too hard to find a TDF leather bag at the Dubai Mall ;)

Blood red and black are definitely the colours du jour for AW10; we haven’t seen a single runway without this bold duo. Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Siriano and Vera Wang all sent head-to-toe black looks down the runway. The excellent news is that they are both very flattering and easy to wear colours (unlike spring’s neon’s); everyone knows that black is slimming and blood red looks amazing on very light blondes and very dark brunettes. Bonus! The key word here is gothic: Goths are back Symphony Stylers! But think Marlene Dietrich and Betty Paige; not Marilyn Manson. Blood red lips, vampy eyes, head-to-black and flashes of texture with velvet and leather (see above) and if you want to be the trendiest-trend-setter in all the Middle East; wear blood red and black together à la J. Mendel and Givenchy.

Heaps of designers sent their girls down the runway clad in knee high socks and ribbed tights – with light grey the favoured colour. As I sit in my air-conditioned office typing this post, I could quite happily pull on a pair; but as I walk outside and am hit by the 50 degree heat?! Hmmm… not so much. We think this is a trend best left to the cooler months of October / November … or better still; travelling to colder climates! Alternatively, you could opt for ankle socks à la Marc Jacobs which are still very cool (our fashion crush Alexa Chung is still wearing hers after all!).

Masculine elements were woven into an abundance of looks on the AW10 runways; Alexander Wang took the stereotypical Wall Street bankers suit and spun it on its head; reinventing it as sexy, dark and sophisticated. Another Wang, this time Vera, sent a minimalistic and feminine take on menswear down the runway; adding sequins to her charcoal felt double-lapel jacket. All and all, we think this is a very adaptable trend that is easily incorporated into ones wardrobe (if it isn’t already); simply invest in a few good basics – a blazer, suit trousers, a shirt, city shorts and get creative!

Okay this trend is nothing new, but unlike the ‘pomp and ceremony’ of military clothing as seen in SS10; AW10 paves the way for 20th century military uniforms. From the aviation jackets featured in the AW10 collections of Burberry and Issa (to name a few) to the army green shown at Celine and Dries Van Noten; military is altogether more subtle this season and we like it! Search the SS10 sales for subtle military pieces to carry through to AW10 and if you can only invest in one piece, make it the coveted aviation jacket.

If blood-red isn’t your thing then perhaps this is the trend for you. Oodles of models were churned out in head-to-toe grey from the likes of Michael Kors, Dolce & Gabbana and Marc Jacobs. It’s tres chic to wear one block colour in slightly different tones; especially black and grey.

Other Trends to expect include: thigh high boots, underwear as outer-wear (again!), head-to-toe white, fur, cut-out clothing, the camel coat, sheer fabrics, draping, layering and long skinny trousers draping over shoes! <3

“Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.” – Oscar Wilde

Love to all

Symphony Style Insider

xxx