Got yourself a Dress Drama or a Shoe Issue?

Posted by Jennie on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Have you got a shoe issue that need’s fixin’? Are you in a twist about what dress to wear? Long, sleepless nights, bouts of manic-kitchen-cleaning, nervous eye-twitching during office meetings? Are you in an absolute tizzy about what to wear this summer? Well fear not, we are here to hold your hand and prescribe you some style notes on dresses and shoesies for Summer 2012

Colours and Patterns

The hot-to-trot colour for this summer’s dresses is mint-green; it has been adapted in its various hues by most international designers. But don’t worry if mint ain’t your thang. Bright colours are still a poppin’, particularly shades such as yellow, tangerine and flouro pink. Floral prints are in vogue and brands such as Proenza Schouler, Valentino and Anna Sui have used them in abundance in their offerings. Whether paired with other colours, bold and vivid or soft and pastel; flowers are very hot this summer. Tribal prints in geometric designs, especially the ones in earthen hues such as brown and black, are also very trendy, but you can stick a bit of neon in there for a party-look. Elie Saab’s gorgeous sequinned gown, Paco Rabanne’s shimmering hues and Giorgio Armani’s metallic colours; all of these confirm that a bit of razzle and dazzle will always be around.

Dress Lengths

The airy maxi in swirling soft fabrics such as chiffon, taffeta and organza will be seen across the boutique landscape this summer. Designers such as Naeem Khan and Cavalli have given us the maxi in leopard and polka dot prints, whereas Emilio Pucci and D&G have given us multi-layered dresses in prints inspired from the scarves. Mini dresses are still very fashionable but the Midi dress has really come kicking and screaming into 2012 – look no further than the newly-esteemed Victoria Beckham for midi-inspiration.

Lace and Peplum and Shapes

Fashion never tires of lace, but this summer lace has never been so soft and delicate. Oscar De La Renta and Preen have used them in their summer dress collections for serious, fashion storytelling. Peplums have also made a dramatic reappearance in their casual and evening dresses. Alexander McQueen and Badgley Mischka have incorporated large peplums into their summer dresses, whereas Versace has added long and flat peplums into their latest dresses. Asymmetrical hemlines are going to be the trendsetters this summer. The skewered length has been adopted across a whole range of clothing items, but the real drama happens with the dresses. Some designers such as Missoni have just cut hemlines on one side, whereas others have used variations of this trend on many new dresses.

The Summer Shoe

Well you can’t wear a dress without a pair of heels right? Pointed metallic toes are the latest craze among fashion-conscious women, particularly in bright neon colours. We have stacked sandals with ribbons and corsages, but we’ve also got the more rustic sandals – braided, woven – the espadrille! There’s also bubbly plastic fun, with lots of jelly shoes and clear-plastic mules. We have the stacked, wedged trainer – you can go sporty or pretty, with flashes of leather of pretty flower prints. For a very casual look, there are lots of trainers and plimsoll’s with crazy Aztec prints and leather, lazer-cut brogues. The predominant colours with footwear this season are pastel shades, but many of them will come embellished with floral and animal prints. Want some real advice? Get a little of everything…