Spring/Summer Fashion: The Essentials

April 1, 2016 / by Babette Radclyffe

As the new collections for spring/summer begin to land in stores worldwide, the leading womenswear and menswear looks are key shopping knowledge. From lingerie leaving the boudoir to Little House on the Prairie tributes, and from frou-frou frills to chinoiserie design details, here’s a round-up of this season’s most essential trends.

Lingerie has clearly taken an outing as outerwear this season – silk slips dominated the runway. Including Victoria Beckham’s luxe take and the classic cool at Calvin Klein Collection, the slip became one of the summer’s must-have dresses. Givenchy and Chloé took a more boho feel with lace trims and delicate fabrics, while Saint Laurent took a ’90s grunge approach and paired the look with fur coats and stoles, knee-high leather boots and tiaras.

From the African savannah to the Midwest prairie in the US, the wilderness proved to be fertile grounds for inspiration this season. Valentino’s designs looked to the plains of Africa, with gorgeous dresses and accessories covered in animal scenes and Masai beading.  

Marc Jacobs wholeheartedly embraced everything Americana, with a patriotic and extravagant red-white-and-blue-hued collection of cowboy boots, Vegas crystals and popcorn-munching celebrities in the front row. Elsewhere, Alexander McQueen’s stunning collection was full of feminine ruffles and floor-length statement gowns. 

Bold, bright colours are ruling this season’s make-up trends, and so naturally they played a part in this season’s take on womenswear, too. Orange is the colour of the moment, as seen at Hugo Boss – and for those looking for a more subtle colour palette, the collection also offered the sleek monochromatic minimalism for which the brand is so well known. 

Gucci’s geek chic was one of the most hotly anticipated looks, showcasing the brand’s renewed design aesthetic with a collection full of bright trouser suits, wide-brimmed spectacles and classic handbags. Fellow storied Italian luxury label Prada also showcased two pieces, but in this case extremely textured, and accessorised with oversized earrings and gold lipstick. Statement leather accessories and garments were key in Louis Vuitton’s collection, with classic leather jackets receiving a rainbow effect and the bubblegum-pink treatment. 

Updated and contemporary stripes reign this season, from the French Riviera chic at Ralph Lauren and the retro Italian chic at Dolce & Gabbana to the contemporary cool at Missoni. Of course, tweed made a welcome appearance at Chanel in a playful and fun runway show. Get your boarding passes ready for Chanel Airlines; models took to an airport-themed runway, complete with roll-on luggage, check-in desks, and tweed in shades of light pink and green. 

Off-shoulder and asymmetrical gowns perfectly showcased this season’s hottest body zone – the shoulder – as seen in Oscar de la Renta’s sophisticated and elegant collection.

Vivid colours and statement designs also populated the menswear collections this season. Gieves & Hawkes not only stylishly embraced this season’s leading shades of green and blue, but also the must-have texture: suede. Givenchy’s teal-blue collection was full of bright and contemporary pieces, from oversized coats to tailored shorts paired with long shirts. The Hermès menswear line offered staple pieces that stylishly incorporated print into officewear, such as richly printed shirting with sky-blue tailored shorts and skinny neckties. Menswear also arrived in classic grey shades with a fresh update featuring silver accents at Calvin Klein Collection. 

Chinoiserie and a design fascination with anything Chinese permeated menswear offerings as well. This trend was perfectly illustrated on bomber jackets, this season’s must-have menswear garment, as seen at Louis Vuitton. Gucci’s menswear had beautiful floral designs climbing up trouser legs and across bomber jackets with elaborate Asian design inspirations, while Valentino’s bomber jackets came in chocolate brown to complement a vintage 1950s aesthetic.