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Ralph Lauren burgundy suit (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
As we get ready to usher in spring, editors, buyers, and fashionistas in New York City have already caught a glimpse of next fall’s trends presented by over 320 designers during the semi-annual glitzy event that is New York Fashion Week.
Fall 2012 didn’t provide too many dramatic changes in fashion. Many of the trends from last year or this spring seem to continue through the year in slightly updated form, such as florals, military looks, peplums, Peter Pan collars in contrasting shades, metallics for day and night, and white after Labor Day.
While not groundbreaking, a few new trends have emerged. Numerous designers were influenced by Lisbeth Salander, protagonist of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” presenting dark collections that played on the combination of femininity, individualism, and strength.
While there were a lot of floral prints, most of those were in more somber tones giving way to a new romanticism. In fitting fashion, burgundy was a dominant color on the majority of the runways, both stand-alone or paired with black. Finally, belts have a bigger presence—literally.
Botanical Beauties
Don’t pack up your spring floral prints when winter arrives, as botanicals will continue to have a strong presence in our closets all year. These winter blooms differ slightly from their spring counterparts only in their more dramatic and dark motifs. Three-year old designer label SUNO, already known for mixing varied prints, pushed the envelop by showing head-to-toe florals in different colors and patterns.
Flowers are by no means girly. The first look down Marc by Marc Jacobs’ runway was a romantic red dress made fierce with navy and black flower prints, stiff black underskirt, and rugged laced-up hiking boots.
Black and red bouquets were a trend echoed by many, as seen on the runways of 3.1 Phillip Lim, Monique Lhuillier, Derek Lam, Richard Chai Love, Libertine, and Thakoon.
Marc By Marc Jacobs (Peter Michael Dills/Getty Images) 
SUNO (Andy Kropa/Getty Images) |
Burgundy Is The New Black
The runways were ablaze with burgundy-colored collections, setting the stage for an upcoming cozy and romantic winter. It’s probably easier to identify those designers who didn’t use this dramatic oxblood color versus those who actually did. This deep, rich hue was presented in all types of materials, including silk, fur, and certainly leather.
Jason Wu, forever immortalized as the young designer who dressed Michelle Obama in an all-white one-shouldered gown for the presidential inauguration, worked wine into much of his collection from capes to cocktail dresses.
Helmut Lang and DKNY paired burgundy fur and leather, creating an edgy look that can be worn on a night out. Ralph Lauren and Elizabeth & James showed three-piece burgundy suits to be worn in wool for work and velvet for a more formal evening affair.
The duo design team of Costello Tagliapietra took the color to heights of glamour in a dramatic floor-length gown with ruching around the waist, for a look that is flattering on all body types.
Narciso Rodriguez and BCBG paired burgundy with a burnt orange. Casual or luxe, burgundy is preparing itself to be a great alternative to all that black we have in our closets this fall.
Jason Wu (Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images) 
Helmut Lang (Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images) |
Narciso Rodriguez (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) 
DKNY (Peter Michael Dills/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) |
Pretty in Peplum
Popular in the 1940s and then again in the 1980s, the uber-flattering and ladylike peplum has been enjoying a few seasons of buzz and continues to dominate headlines in Fall 2012. You can’t blame women (and men) for salivating over this silhouette, as it forms a beautiful hourglass figure accentuated by a tiny waist.
Peter Som (Peter Michael Dills/Getty Images)
Peter Som’s fall collection was filled with a dizzying array of dressed-up peplums—in hues from caramel to teal, and in silhouettes from thigh-high slit peplum dresses to unique peplum black-lace cigar pants.
Tory Burch strayed from her comfort zone by showcasing a blue leather peplum jacket, further accentuating the waist with a black belt and matching leather skirt.
Lela Rose took a more romantic twist with her flouncy, red floral peplum knee-length gown. This exaggerated silhouette was elegantly tamed at Carolina Herrera in a long, strapless peplum gown with a red obi belt to add dramatic flair and make it red-carpet ready.
Big Belts
While belts have been strong for a number of seasons and are now staples in all women’s closets, they seem to have gotten bigger in size. Wide, waist-cinching belts are a must for the Fall 2012 wardrobe. Zac Posen’s Asian-inspired collection used obi-styled belts in bright colors that pop over a dark, wintry outfit.
Fashion darling Altuzarra made this trend ultra luxe and cool with his knit dress with shearling collar wrapped tightly with a wide black belt.
For a more daring spin, leave it to Herve Leger, known for his body-hugging bandage dresses, to have harness-style leather belts parading down the runway in true equestrian fashion.
Herve Leger by Max Azria (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week)
- Altuzarra (Courtesy of Altuzarra)
Pialy Aditya is co-founder of Mintbox, providing access to exclusive offers and cash back from top fashion brands. Pialy has advised luxury brands including Donna Karan and Tiffany & Co. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. Reach her on twitter via @pialyaditya.
