The week before last I had the great pleasure of viewing the launch of Brown Thomas’ spring summer 2012 collections in Dublin. Shelly Corkery, head of fashion direction, talked us through what looks like one of the most exciting seasons to come along in a while.
Sportswear, and the aquatic, along with the twenties, fifties, and sixties, were the main trends for spring/summer. Aquatic is hands down the most amazing. Taking inspiration from oceanic plant life, sea shells, and the iridescent shimmer of the sea, designs from Peter Pilotto and Alexander McQueen are literally breathtaking. Colour is everywhere. But so is monochrome, along with pretty pastels, and peplums (every girl’s best friend ). As Constance Harris, fashion editor for the Sunday Independent, says, Brown Thomas has “edited very nicely into a formula”, almost as if each girl has the building blocks laid out to easily freshen her wardrobe for the season.
Floral and bold prints are key this season, and can be worn separately or all together, as seen in Prada and Isabel Marant. If that is not your cup of tea, don’t despair, monochrome is also dominant and if Lanvin and Dries Van Noten are not in your budget, dip your toe into the trend with the amazing little black minimalist jacket from French Connection, in store now. Paired with the Pepe white skinny jeans, the look of the season is captured on a budget. The collections are a real departure from recent seasons, and that is what makes it so much fun.
If you are travelling to Brown Thomas Dublin, keep your eyes open for Jay Ahr, Victoria, Victoria Beckham, Etoile by Isabel Marant, and Rag and Bone.
Watch out for hot fluoro brights for spring summer 2012 in the accessories department, with intense fuchsias and oranges. These hot colours are tempered with white and the neutrals. Bowling bags are a hugely commercial shape this season, with houses like Prada and Miu Miu backing the trend. How small can you go? Sometimes I panic when doing a fast day to evening change, and have had many a Sophie’s Choice moment if I can only fit one lipstick in, but comfortwise there is nothing quite like a small bag. I tend to like the two extremes, huge by day and teeny tiny by night. We are seeing the through-strap clutch gaining momentum, as well as envelope and fold over clutches. These bags are key for evening wear, lying flat against the body and giving a nice clean silhouette.
