Modern Empress is an Oriental look with a Parisian twist. It's inspired by the wardrobe of ancient Chinese emperors with their rich silks and intricate embroidery. The trend is reinvented for fall as sexy, current, and feminine. The color palette combines French sophistication with traditional Chinese reds, golds, and jades. Powder blue, chocolate, mint eggshell, and yolk yellow are other important colors for Modern Empress. Fabrics are rich and ornate, with intricate cutwork and all-over beading and pattern. For example: brocade, ornate satin jacquards, sunray pleating, laser-cut leather, lacquered finishes, and statement linings. Prints and graphics include traditional Chinese animal and floral motifs. For example: filigree embroidery, chinoiserie landscapes, dragons, tigers, peonies, camellias, orchids, cherry blossoms, and Oriental florals. Accessories can be elegant or fun and quirky. Oversized earrings, obi belts, golden fortune charms, micro statuette chains, and offset platform shoes are examples of women's accessories. Ornate gold, embossed quilting, and tassel trims are key details. Some designers to reference for the Modern Empress trend include Proenza Schouler, Jason Wu, Vera Wang, and Alexander Wang.
In Rodeo Belle, Trendstop's second trend theme, spaghetti Westerns offer inspiration with a blend of romance from Little House on the Prairie and masculine cowboy looks. In Rodeo Belle, there's plenty of denim. Prints and graphics are inspired by Western motifs from wanted posters to prairie landscapes. For example: futuristic folk floral, tie-dye denim, bandana bling, galloping horses, cartoon cow prints, and sheriff stars. Ashish is an early designer influence for the trend, and more recently, Marc Jacobs, Moschino, and Isabel Marant have created looks that illustrate strong Western influences. Key colors for Rodeo Belle include: coffee bean, indigo, wine, cactus green, Smurfette blue and gunmetal. Materials are square dance sequins, techno gingham, luxe cowhides, studded suede, satin pleats, rustic plaid, and cotton lace. Collar tips on blouses and yarn fringing from previous seasons are early indicators of Rodeo Belle.
The third trend is called Chelsea (or Park Avenue) Grunge. In this trend, the grunge look of the '90s is reworked for an elitist, 21st century audience. The color palette is sophisticated with a burst of 1990s rave brights. For example: ink, punk pink, dark slate, ebony, boysenberry, acid apple, and gunmetal gray. Prints and materials include intelligent tie-dyes and wood block prints mingled with mesh layering and holographic effects for a modern mix. Expect to see acid smileys, stripes, abstract rainbows, kaleidoscope prints, upholstery patterns, sequins, and hallucinogenic abstracts. Key accessories include: the oversized tie-dye clutch, striped fishnets over bright leggings, neon green striped scarves, oversized floppy fur hats, mirrored sunglasses, rainbow striped platforms, chevron striped tights, leather belt bags, and spiked garland accessories.
The final trend, New Surrealism, is inspired by the original surrealists such as Elsa Schiaparelli and Salvador Dalí. It provides light-hearted escapism from the everyday, and it introduces fun and unexpected juxtapositions in surface design. Colors are moody and punctuated with soft and feminine tones. For example: sepia brown, emerald, pearl gold, dark grape, and fluoro lemon are hues to note for the trend. Iconic surrealist motifs are applied as prints or embellishments. Print and surface decoration includes: nails, lipstick, Picasso faces, amputated cartoons, the eccentric mustache, floating body parts, mine hands, photographic typewriter prints, and exaggerated proportions. Designers to reference for New Surrealism are: Alice + Olivia, Fred Perry, Thom Browne, and Alexandre Herchcovitch. Key pieces include: face-printed clutches and shoes, mustache necklaces, scarves with hands at the tips, and lip motifs on footwear.
If you've read my recap on The Key To Chic of the Fashion Snoops spring summer 2014 fashion trend forecast, then these trends may seem analogous. For example, Trendstop's Modern Empress trend is similar to the Spice Trail trend by Fashion Snoops, Rodeo Belle reminds me of Provincial Picnic, Chelsea Grunge is akin to Glam Grunge, and New Surrealism is not unlike Mod World.
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