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Trend Spotting

21:55 Posted by Alison
I know fashion/beauty pieces haven't really made an appearance on here before, but I have written them and there's a first time for everything! Here's a short piece that was originally posted on ASOS.com as my entry for a '500 words on a trend' competition.


Candy colours and pretty pastels may be dominating SS10, but forward-thinking fashionistas take note: prepare your wardrobe for AW10 by indulging in chocolate box chic.

Taupe, tan, caramel and cream; rich cocoa-toned browns were sprinkled throughout the collections that sashayed down runways worldwide earlier this year. Truffles accompanied ruffles at Christian Dior; where powerful leather waistcoats and glossy Dickensian trenches were crafted in deep chocolate hues, and butterscotch knits reigned supreme at Chloe; with sumptuous toffee tones broken up only by the slinkiest of brown leather belts.

The one thing this trend isn’t is boring, bland or beige. Modern mochas exude luxury, and whether you wish to dress them up or dress them down, clever accessorising, cuts and fabric choices will ensure that they remain stylish rather than stuffy.

Look out for unusual details that signal trusted styles remodelled for the twenty-first century. Aquascutum embraced the classic camel coat, but played with length and fastening, tying a leather belt haphazardly around the waist of a floor-skimming design and teaming it with identically coloured gloves. Clean layers of subtly shifting shades switched things up at Stella McCartney, along with fresh injections of black and juxtaposed textures (that were also seen at Marc Jacobs).

Satin fabrics echoed the opulent theme in eveningwear by both Alexander Wang and Alberta Ferretti, whereas roll neck work-wear dresses in bitter black coffee brown punctuated monochrome New York austerity at Calvin Klein and Cynthia Rowley. For the brave, molten chocolate leggings made an appearance at Karl Lagerfeld’s Paris show and his breath-taking collection for Chanel featured more demure leather bombers and icing-piped knitted jackets nestled amongst thick fur.

To elongate your winter frame, emulate Dolce and Gabbana’s AW10 take on chocolate brown, where models sported head-to-toe dark sienna. However, if you prefer a more vibrant look, refer to Versace’s ready-to-wear show where ankle length brown coats were teamed with metallic mini-skirts and bags in shades and textures that echoed jewel-like foil wrappers.

When accessorising, flecks of most colours can be utilized, but be wary when trying to extend the life of colour-washed lemon, mint and blue summer staples. Burnished gold embellishments, such as the striking cuffs that accompanied leather gloves at YSL, complement both warm and cool colour palettes and are particularly at home amongst sharp military or tailored silhouettes. Silver jewellery works best with shades toward the rose and aubergine end of the spectrum, and futuristic designs look great when paired with less structured shapes.

Perhaps the best thing about this trend is its wearability. It doesn’t matter if you have been blessed with flawless alabaster or glowing ebony skin, are newly bronzed or fall anywhere in between; the range and versatility of cocoa colours means that as the nights draw in, melting into your new season’s wardrobe, whatever your individual style, will seem effortless.



AW10
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All original content is ©Alison Rowley 2012. No words or images may be reproduced without permission from the copyright holder.