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Fall Fashion Report: Jewelry Goes Big! | March 11, 2015 (0 comments)
Merrick, NY—All the pent-up frustration of never seeing much (or any) jewelry on the fashion runways is over. Fashion Month—the four weeks of ready-to-wear runway shows in New York, London, Milan, and Paris—boasted some seriously big, in-your-face jewelry.
We mean that in the literal sense. As in, nose rings. Chin studs. Earrings in and up the ear. Harper’s Bazaar magazine, one of fashion’s top tomes, has a rule about trendspotting: if you see it three times, call it. (Left: Givenchy. Fashionista.com image). They called it, all right. So did online fashion site Fashionista and a host of other fashion publications and blogs.
The new nose ring takes aim at the subversive riff on traditional beauty that was the raison d’etre of punk’s first go-round. The original punk poked fun at stuffy society by elevating lowbrow (and/or pain-causing) objects such as safety pins and dog collars to high fashion; The new nose ring riffs on the riff, but it also both knocks down the intimidation factor of high jewelry and simultaneously chides punkers that it’s ok to love luxury but still keep your antiestablishment belief system intact.
As for whether many jewelers will be selling diamond nose rings, well, probably not so much. But let’s just say that anything that encourages consumers to want more gemstone jewelry can’t be a bad thing. Also it’s probably not a bad idea to scope out some onyx, black diamonds, and other noir rocks for fall.
In/on your face jewelry at Acne, Manish Arora, and Givenchy. Three’s a trend, says Harper’s Bazaar. Image: Harpersbazaar.com.
With fashion’s never-ending obsession with the 1970s, it’s only logical that eventually punk—whose origins are, in fact, in the late 1970s—would come back. But there also was a whiff of inspiration from the early 1990s: this year’s combat boots evoke Doc Martens, and column dresses and the carwash skirt are back.
Every season, there’s a body part that gets a lot of attention. This fall it’s going to be the neck and how many ways there are to cover it up: turtlenecks, Victorian lace collars, chokers, scarves, and more. Unfortunately, with relatively few exceptions (Céline being one), necklaces weren’t part of that equation. Here are more top trends for fall:
Big earrings: The 2015 Oscars gave a hint of this trend, but it’s now official: the ears have it. If you’re not going for the nose or the forehead or cheeks, that is…
Gobstopping earrings at Arfen, Adam Lippes, and Tibi. Image: Harpersbazaar.com
Turtlenecks: Maybe it was a reaction to this year’s frigid winter, but the turtleneck is the top top of 2016. It’s going to be the layering piece of choice or just worn on its own. Newest in leather.
Turtleneck as choker: Cut the rest of the top away and just leave the collar. Then recreate it in leather, velvet, fur, or any other accent material and suddenly it’s the necklace of the season, below: (Image: Harpersbazaar.com)
High-neck blouses: How the turtleneck gets dressed up. Think Victorian lace collars (though Her Majesty doubtlessly would have swooned at the deep cutouts below the chaste neck.) Images: Harpersbazaar.com
And even more trends:
- Chunky-heeled mid-calf boots. Boots are always in; the only question every year is how high they will go. These are perfect for your 1970s culottes, while over-the-knee versions provide that needed nod to the ‘90s.
- Furry footwear: Fur-lined Birkenstocks seemed so improbable when Céline showed them in 2013, but what Phoebe Philo does, everyone follows. Fur adorned many a shoe and boot in the fall runways; we like to think the ones that make it to market will feature fur as an accent rather than looking like a pet.
- Power fur: If you still have your super-sized 1980s fur topper, bring it out. If not, go get one with big shoulders and big sleeves. Too much? Then go with a fur scarf, worn on a diagonal over one shoulder. It’s a statement, not a stole, no matter what the industry calls it.
- Patch pockets: Oversized, reminiscent of safari style and, with everything a gal has to carry these days, practical.
- Retro-big eyeglasses: Another ‘70s throwback with some ‘60s cat eye and some geek chic specs tossed in for good measure.
- Live long and prosper: As long as the human race sports two arms and two legs and we’ve revisited every decade since the bustle, there’s not much to do but play with fabrics. Futuristic fabrics, sleek shapes, and color blocking keep Star Trek looking relevant.
- Brocade: Very 1970s. Again.
- Shimmer for evening: Add some sparkle to your eveningwear and top it off with a glittery bomber jacket, not a fusty old wrap.
- Patterned hosiery: Nude is out and opaque black is already established as a classic, so fishnets and other textures are the trendy answer when it’s too cold for bare.
- Crop rotation: The crop top has been news for several seasons, but up till now it’s been a warm-weather trend. For fall 2015 it transitions to cooler temps by layering it over something long.
- Combat boots and bomber jackets: For braving the elements, not the battlefield, thankfully. Make both shiny and don’t be afraid to throw the jacket over an evening gown.
- Ponchos: A few years ago it was the blanket coat. Now you can just drop it on and go.
- Button it up! Big buttons are back. Very ‘70s, of course.
- Cold weather lace: Like crop tops, we usually see lace for spring and summer, but come fall there will be some very appealing winter options using it, especially for cocktail clothes that do not look like Madonna.
- Strapless columns: A nod to ‘90s minimalism (think the late Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy) there were strapless dresses and tunics for evening. Topped with a turtle-choker of course.
- Car-wash skirts: A better way to wear a slit, the next generation of fringe, or plain old ‘90s nostalgia? (Image below: Fashionista.com)
