Rebirth on the runway

by Tara MacInnis

March 11, 2010 9:00 AM

Melting snow, longer days, and new life are signs that it’s time to ditch the winter blues and get ready for spring.

The latter, when it comes to your wardrobe, makes spring 2010 a little ironic. Each of the trends for the coming season is basically an amped-up regurgitation of last spring.

While this may be boring for fashion writers, bloggers and photographers, to the wearer it means digging up your best stuff from last year instead of digging cash out of your likely shallow pockets. Despite this convenience, beware. The spring 2010 trends can be difficult to pull off and are not for everyone. Here is how to make these trends work for you:

Warrior Princess This includes all military-inspired, rugged and torn pieces, with ripped-up tees, cargo jackets and loose fitting shorts as favourites on the runway. The best way to buy into this trend is to wear more oversized items like baggy t-shirts and jackets with fitted pants and miniskirts. A flowy dress under a double-breasted military jacket will also add some femininity to this trend, and that’s exactly what you want to achieve.

Spring Lovin’ With teenagers all a-twitter, spring is always pegged as a romantic season. This comes through in the playful, waist-enhancing dresses, bustiers and lace overlays popping up on all the fashion week runways. So channel a younger version of yourself, pair some white ankle socks with strappy sandals and opt for more retro silhouettes. Giant candy-coloured satin bows would be the less-attainable facet of this trend, so look for smaller versions to pin on hats and lapels.

Sports Fan Sports and fashion aren’t usually the best of friends, but for this spring, designers have forged a new bond between the two. Tanks and shirt dresses under hoodies and bombers are the easiest way to adopt this trend, but if you’re looking to take a risk, go for body-conscious dresses with geometric patterns. Apparently, tying nylon jackets around your waist a la the Fresh Prince is cool again, but it is recommended that you wait for confirmation on that one.

Minimalistic Lady Clean lines and precision tailoring, much like the masculine minimalism of the 90s, is back again with a strong hit of femininity. Streamlined suits in muted beiges, creams and whites with soft fabrics for a more relaxed feel are quickly becoming popular. Silk and cotton blend tank dresses and structured skirts are a great way to take advantage of this trend, especially when paired with a crisp white shirt and girly flats. Remember that minimalism is the key here, so leave your jewellery at home.

Science Fashion Everyone has sci-fi fever; that’s easy to see with Avatar and Star Trek as contenders at the Oscars. Fashion can affect popular culture, but this spring, it’s reflecting it. Abstract futuristic prints in colour schemes of green, brown, white and aqua are popping up on skirts and dresses all over runways. Think about those Magic Eye posters from the ‘90s and how awesome it would be to have a skirt made out of one. This is a lot like what designers have done for spring 2010, and a creative way to wear these patterns is to mix and match two or three of them. Clashing works here.

Sheer Brilliance Just like last year, clothing designers have decided to put the pressure on underwear manufacturers and create pieces that put your bra and panties on display. This is potentially the riskiest of all trends for spring, and it should be approached with extreme caution, since sheer shorts and skirts are up-and-coming. The classiest way to pull off this look is to opt for a sheer blouse, wear a bra with lots of coverage, and wear high-waisted pants over the blouse. If you want to take this trend all the way, always be aware that your under things will be visible, so no ratty bra straps, panties with holes, or thongs of any sort.

Feet First Potentially one of the best things about spring is the ability to put a little diversity in your day-to-day footwear selections. So trade your leather boots for some of spring 2010’s trends like bright pumps, oxford flats and peep-toe mary janes. This season’s trends go for comfort, with kitten heels instead of the stilettos from last season, and even clogs. This isn’t particularly exciting, since clogs look like cinder blocks strapped to one’s feet, but if you must purchase a pair, try to find some that aren’t so chunky.

Knowing our luck, winter is going to stick around for a little while longer. But until it gives way to spring, start looking for ways to update your wardrobe from last year. If you can make even half of these trends your own, you’ll boldly stand out and look effortlessly put together for spring 2010.