Spring and Summer Fashion Trends 2011
Spring & Summer Fashion Trends 2011:
Main Style Elements
I'd summarize the main looks this spring summer season as...
- Floaty and feminine
- Quirky and fun
- Bold colors
Dresses
Dress silhouettes include: rectangle shifts and boxy shapes; hourglass sheaths and 50s styles; floaty, subtle A-line styles.
Lengths are all over the place! Mainly still around knee length or above or floor-sweeping maxi lengths. However, midi lengths are also returning.
Maxi styles include floaty fuller skirted styles and straight skirt styles with a thigh high split.
1-shoulder styles are still around. As are tiered ruffles or ruffles on sleeves and necklines.
Pants, Trousers and Shorts
The main trend this season is for fuller, wider styles reminiscent of the 70s. This includes flares or bell bottoms and palazzo pants. Widths also include straight wider leg styles not as full as the palazzo -- this style is more flattering for most people. And the return of boot cut jeans -- which will be welcome by many!
Choices in slimmer styles include tapered styles either in jean style materials or in soft, drapey silks.
Shorts are still very short.
The micro trend of pant suits (full length legs) and play suits (short legs) is still with us. And dungarees are also in evidence.
Skirts
There is more choice in skirt shapes and lengths this season. Lengths follow the dress length trends.
There are still straight knee length styles around and shorter, fuller, skater skirt styles. Maxi lengths include full and subtle A-line styles. And there are a now more midi skirts available, in keeping with the feminine theme, mainly in subtle A-line styles.
Fine pleats are also making a come back in midi and knee length styles.
Jackets
A jackets is still a great layering option with many styles around including: biker; blazer; DJ. Jackets also have the advantage of adding authority in work situations and dressing up a casual outfit.
A new trend includes sleeveless jackets -- use in place of a waistcoat.
Tops
Main Spring Summer fashion trends include...
- Blouses and shirts -- long or short sleeved and in a range of fabrics such as: sheer chiffon's; opaque drapey silks; to stiffer cottons. There's also a wide variety of styles from classic to floaty, collarless, 70s hippy styles.
- Classic crew neck, short sleeved t-shirts. Pair with a long skirt or short shorts for a contemporary look
- The bat-wing sleeve style is still around. Wear this style with caution: it's a challenging style for most people, make sure you still have shape and don't make your bossom look massive! Safest reserved for beach wear cover ups
Accessories
Shoes
- Ballet flats
- Heels include: wedges; column; stack; and stilleto
- Platforms
- Peep toes
- Classic courts/pumps in jewel tones (only if you want people to notice your feet, otherwise skin tones are more flattering!)
Bags
- For day: the oversized bag has been replaced with a smaller (to suit your scale) bag with long shoulder straps
- For evening: a small clutch bag
Sunglasses
- Large rounded lens styles
Belts
- Obi style
Hats
- Large floppy brimmed hippy styles
- Bangles and cuffs
Spring Fashion Trends & Summer Fashion Trends 2011:
Main Style Themes
Color Blocking
Color blocking using creative selections of strong colors was one of the main Spring Summer 2011 runway themes. If this look doesn't suit your figure or your personality try mixing a strong color with a light or medium neutral.
The bold color theme also extended to single columns of color and to stripes and patterns.
70s
Many styling trends from the 70s are in evidence, including...- Early 70s mod styles (started in the late 60s) that include stylized minimal shapes, often boxy or sculpted, in bold colors. Color blocking and neon bright colors fit this sub-theme
- Platform and wedge shoes
- Flared trousers
- Palazzo pants
- Higher waists
- Pant suits
- Hippy details: soft floral shirts; flared jeans; fringing on bags; floppy brimmed hats
- Earthy color tones
Light Neutrals (especially White)
With whites and light neutrals, including shades of stone, beige and sand.
A few things to be aware of when wearing light colors...
- Light colors make the area they cover look larger -- which is great if you have a small bust you want to enhance, but not so good over large thighs or feet
- Be careful the light colors near your face don't make you "disappear" or look washed out
- If you're on the shorter side don't wear a color on the bottom half that's lighter than your top half as it will make you look shorter
The current trend of wearing flesh toned shoes makes your legs appear longer and slimmer, which is a good thing on most women.
Feminine
Create this look using current styling details such as...
- Floral prints
- Polka dots
- Ruching
- Ruffles -- layered or single
- Softly draped neckline bows
- Soft draping fabrics
- Pastel colors
- Lace
- Chiffon
Spring & Summer Fashion Trends: Main Fabric Trends
Fabric Types
Spring and summer fashion trends in fabric include...
- Cotton and cotton mixes -- from firm to floaty
- Chiffon -- sheer or semi-opaque
- Lace
- Silk -- soft and drapey
- Satin
- Lurex
Fabric Prints
Latest trends in prints includes...
- Florals -- from demure small prints to large abstract designs
- Stripes -- horizontal, vertical, diagonal or a mix or all 3. Look for clear hues in high color contrasts (best on those with Winter or Spring coloring) or more medium contrast levels in warm or cool hues (for Summer and Autumn colorings)
- Animal-inspired -- there are still some leopard, zebra, snake and tortoise prints available
- Quirky prints -- such as monkeys or large tropical fruit patterns. More suitable for extrovert personalities or clowns!
- Bright graphic abstracts
- Polka dots
Fabric Color Trends
- Bold jewel tones -- including cobalt blue, emerald green, yellow, red
- Navy
- Acid and citrus clear brights -- look for orange, tangerine, yellow, lime
- White and off white
- Neutrals -- especially light neutrals: sand, stone, beige, rose, peach, greys
- Warm tones -- earth tones such as camel and warm browns, as well as sea green and khaki
- Gold
Have A Current Fashion Trend You'd Like to Share?
If you've noticed a trend that I haven't mentioned feel free to share it here.
Or, if you'd like to talk about a current fashion that you love or hate (regardless of whether it's mentioned on this page already) this is the place to do it.
Tell us what it is about the item or outfit that you love or hate. For example...
- Do you love the way it flatters your body shape?
- Do you hate the way it looks on you, but love it when you see someone else wear the style?
And if you have a photo to upload to illustrate your observation that would be great.
Fashion Trend Contributions From Other Visitors
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"tea" or midi length
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I am thrilled that tea length fashions are returning even if only for a short while. I am only 5' 2" tall. An off the rack item will look tea length on ...
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