How easy are statement sleeves to pull off? Literally, this is the ultimate question you need to ask yourself when it comes to deciding to sport a top with voluminous, artfully pleated sleeves. Eventually, you will need to wear something on top, e.g. a trench coat or a denim jacket, and that one will most likely have normal size sleeves. And here comes the problem.

We seem to have happily packed our wardrobes with the latest trend but with the current 20 C degree "summer" weather, we somehow have to make those lovely things fit underneath a jacket. You would think one blouse is enough for the day but those predictable summer days seem to be over. In Germany, at least. Of course we forgot all about that while possessed by the latest Zara shopping frenzy. The options are two and both frustrating: we either have to resign to freezing ourselves in the morning or whatever hour of the day when in the shade, or otherwise put a jacket on and have the sleeves creased and miserable-looking!

The second reason why I'm convinced statement sleeves will go out of style next year is that they are not only a problem outdoors but at home too. Have you are tried to press these darn things? Not fun. Unless retailers figure out a way of sending you the sleeve-matching jacket that goes with your top, I bet they will become passé before you know it.

translation by Maria Delta

Der Beitrag My statement on statement sleeves erschien zuerst auf Modepilot.

1) Dress and blouses made of 100% viscose. They only look good just after a good steaming. Otherwise if you wear them at the office, to the beach, fold them or take them out of a suitcase, they wrinkle too easily and end up looking cheap. A smarter choice would be either linen or silk crêpe – these also wrinkle, but they are supposed to and they do so ever so stylishly.

Do & Don’t: Silk crêpe dress by Michael Kors (left) and viscose off-shoulder dress by H&M (right)

Trust me. I have tested this multiple times, even with the H&M dress above. Viscose-only clothes are simply unusable! Jersey is so much better and even satin or linen work – these fabrics are indeed slightly more expensive, but at least not a waste of money.

2) Cool “easygoing” and totally pretentious cotton tank tops. The category features different versions of the easygoing tank top that actually cost over 500 euro. If you ask me, not so easygoing. Mainly because you can find the real thing for under 20 euro at H&M, made of 100% organic cotton jersey in the Studio Collection/Conscious. If you want to look like you are not trying too hard, just don’t.

Gold button tank top Really?! I vote for washed organic cotton jersey from the Conscious Collection by H&M (right)

The H&M tank top has a wide easy cut. Size S fits like a M, and it is meant to be worn easy, great with shorts and jeans. And that washed organic cotton feels like a vintage favourite piece – love it!

3) Tops that look like your grandma’s crochet table mat. I can understand why ASOS decided to copy the volant bustier by MSGM – what I can’t understand however, is why they couldn’t come up with a better copy of the beautiful, but – at 500 euro – pricey original. To try and copy the acrylic version with my sewing machine, well that would just be the height of unsophistication altogether!

Acrylic volant top by Asos (left) and stretch cotton top by MSGM (right)

The MSGM top is made out of a cotton blend with stretch fibers (85% cotton, 15% polyamide and elastane) and just by judging by the picture, it looks wearable. The Asos version on the other hand does not.

4) Expensive designer espadrilles. Espadrilles are the simplest of shoe work – once the shoe for the poor, they later became a fashion item for the beach and more recently for the city too (more about their origins here). It is pure madness to spend 500 euro for this season’s designer versions by Valentino, Lanvin or Gucci. Even if you don’t mind the amount, the whole idea of spending that kind of money for rope seems silly, to say the least. There’s an endless range of espadrilles on yoox.com, quite reasonably priced too – also designer ones. Check out the shopping gallery at the bottom.

Espadrille wedge sandals between 175 euro (See by Chloé, Net-a-porter.com) and 67 euro (yoox.com)

This season’s espadrille wedge sandal “Glyn” by See by Chloé features a black matt leather ankle strap and retails at 175 euro. The older model by Anaki comes in two combinations of blue suede/black matt leather or orange suede/black matt leather costs only 67 euro. Plus I actually find them nicer. Both models (the Chloé and the Anaki one) feature the classic braided jute wedge with a black-and-white rubber sole.

Online shopping gallery

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Translation by Maria Giannakopoulou

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This summer 2016 trend is big. Literally: gigot sleeves, puffy sleeves, oversized ruffles … The maxi-sleeve is in its prime time this season.

Shoulders are the new décolleté, currently stealing the spotlight with all kinds of fresh, playful features. If you fear you will end up looking like Joan Collins’ Denver Clan Biest from Dynasty, do not despair: designers have upgraded the silhouette with modern flowing fabrics and shoulder cutouts to counterbalance sleeve volume. No need to read too much into styling tips dictating to “stay away from the trend if you have broad shoulders”. Unless you compete with the female swimming team in the butterfly stroke, you can totally keep calm and pull it off by embracing the trend with an extravagant sleeve volume top or the extra-long sleeve.*

Stylist Ada Kokosar in a statement sleeve look, which she designed in cooperation with Label HTC Los Angeles

This season’s statement sleeve trend was already featured in our September post, but now it has finally hit the boutiques, in all its multiple shapes, form and glory.

Shop the best Statement Sleeves:

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Shiny satin top, perfect with a pencil skirt by Ellery | via Matchesfashion (50 % reduziert)
Embroidered dress with kimono sleeves by Talitha | via Matchesfashion
The ideal dress for a bit of sleeve drama by Roksanda | via Matchesfashion
Jersey dress with frilly sleeves by it-label Vetements | via Mytheresa
Chic striped shirt by Manica Rouge | via Lodenfrey
This ruffled top by Rosie Assoulin is what I dream of at night time. Well, perhaps daytime too. | via Matchesfashion
The featured photo does not do justice to this amazing dress by Ellery. Hannah Herzsprung wears it to perfection here. | via Matchesfashion
Another statement sleeve top by Rosie Assoulin. Simply divine. | via Farfetch
Like a piece of origami art: yellow top by Rosie Assoulin | via Matchesfashion
Cotton-poplin top with round shoulders by J.W.Anderson | via Matchesfashion
The name alone is enough reason to buy: the “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” dress in strawberry red by Rosie Assoulin | via Mytheresa
Linen top by Ellery | via Farfetch
Asymmetric top by Rosie Assoulin | via· Farfetch
One more time in pink, the beautiful dress by Roksanda | via Farfetch

Statement Sleeves on the catwalk

The most popular summer 2016 trends in a nutshell.

*Don’t keep too calm though, otherwise the best looks will be sold out before long!

Translation by Maria Giannakopoulou

Der Beitrag Summer trend: Statement Sleeves erschien zuerst auf Modepilot.

Remember those old photos you keep buried away in shoe boxes? Those awkward proofs of past wardrobe malfunctions, weird looking knitted sweaters and odd color combinations – you know what I’m talking about. All of a sudden we find those pictures the epitome of cool again. I even set a picture of myself wearing my multi-color 80s sweater as my profile image on WhatsApp.

Pantone, a.k.a the color oracle company of the fashion industry, introduced 10 new colors for the Spring/Summer 2016 season – big fashion houses knew about this long before us, of course; they pay for big news like this. Two of these summer colors became this year’s color of the year: “Rose Quartz” and “Serenity”, a pale pink and a sky blue. It is the first time two colors are introduced as Colors of the Year, in an attempt to transcend gender norms and break away from “typically feminine/typically masculine” color preconceptions. Today men wear pink too. Icon (Welt) conducted an interview with Laurie Pressman, Vice-President of the Pantone Color Institute.

This season, fashion appears more reconciled with the colors of our childhood – unpopular until recently – and for that we also have Gucci’s nostalgic fever and the brand’s Artistic Director Alessandro Michele to thank.

These are fashion’s colors for Summer 2016

Color trends for Spring/Summer 2016 (Pantone, left to right): Rose Quartz, Peach Echo, Serenity, Snorkel Blue, Buttercup, Limpet Shell, Lilac Grey, Fiesta, Iced Coffee, Green Flash.

Rose Quartz pink became instantly iconic in 80s classic movie Dirty Dancing (1987) and the dress Baby wore in the famous dance lift finale. Fashion experts now say the pale shade is experiencing a huge revival, also working in synergy with colors like “Serenity” (sky blue), “Lilac Grey” (grey with purple undertones) and “Peach Echo” (coral). Just heavenly!

2016?! Indeed, this is a recent picture. Top model Karlie Kloss wearing the summer 2016 “wrap dress” by Diane von Furstenberg

This season’s colors are care-free and sunny. Buttercup yellow is definitely one of the color trends that caught our attention on the runway. Isa has joined in the trend since Christmas, by self-selecting her “Buttercup” gift: a Chanel handbag in that yellow shade, worn incessantly cross-body with pretty much her entire wardrobe. In the summer it will look divine on top of a turquoise dress.

Haider Ackermann shows us how it’s done!

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Yellow tops are just predestined for those white jeans we all love to wear in the summer. But apart from the classics, this year yellow finds its unexpected match in a light shade of brown called “Iced Coffee”. Designer Jonathan Saunders combined these colors in their more glacé variations in his last show in London.

Jonathan Saunders for Sommer 2016

Splash of yellow

Another dominating color trend besides white and yellow is the blue/red combination. No hesitations necessary this summer, just embrace the trend and throw together these four vivid shades: sky blue, bright blue, bright red and coral, an orange-toned red.

The most striking blue/red combinations on the runway

A breath of pink; this is how one could describe the new trend color “Rose Quartz”, a soft and delicate shade that can be found in outfits with gathered ruffles around the neck and décolleté by classic luxury brands like Chanel, Gucci and Dior.

The “Rose Quartz” palette of Chanel, Gucci and Dior

“Fiesta” red and bright green are this season’s outstanding choices for an exceptional evening look. Designers showed overalls and flowing evening gowns echoing the 70s and power-dressing looks reviving the 80s.

Green and red: the unexpected evening choices

Translation by Maria Giannakopoulou

Der Beitrag Summer 2016 Color Trends erschien zuerst auf Modepilot.

Which are the hottest summer trends for 2016? Which pieces are on the experts’ wishlist? We asked fashion journalists, editors and stylists to share their own choices and favourite looks.

I wanted to find out what are the three biggest trends according to experts as well as their own personal favourites and the answers I got were surprisingly diverse, though one thing became clear: Gucci and Dries Van Noten got most of the points, albeit for different reasons. Make way for fashion’s finest!

Summer trends 2016

Alfons Kaiser, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Frankfurter Allgemeine Magazin

The three most impressive summer trends:

1. Fringe. Though the fringe trend is hardly news to fashion lovers, we have been seeing a lot more of it on catwalks lately, from Altuzarra to Valentino. Even Angela Merkel was recently spotted in Berlin with a Longchamp Pénélope bag featuring the leather fringed tassels. The trend comes in various forms; fringe, tassels and if not then some kind of fringed or frayed fabric stripes hanging all over garments, shoes or accessories, adding interesting detail and most importantly, movement.

2. Hippie style. In short, the “Alessandro Michele look” for Gucci. Popular for women and men, the trend can run through an entire outfit with elements such as patterns, volants and frills, lace, and of course, fringe, thus currently a huge trend. Have you ever seen so many Gucci slippers around Paris before? Many with fur even!

3. Statement jewelry. The statement trend is gradually passing from fashionable jewelry to Haute Joaillerie – with a price, of course. Miuccia Prada never gets it wrong, and so we should expect oversized drop earrings and bekanntlich nicht irren, daher wird man riesige Ohrgehänge und opulent necklaces to get even bigger and better. A different side to the statement story comes from Gucci and the brand’s current season of statement eyewear. Curiously enough though, Miuccia did not show any statement earrings for label Miu Miu, but perhaps it is something to expect for the next season.

What I would love to see most on women:
Opulent jewelry. Fashion exists to be looked at and talked about. Since this trend is all about statement jewelry with a witty, whimsical twist, they make conversation easy and fun. Let’s talk about something more fun than the weather!

Lisa Feldmann, Editor-in-chief at l'official Germany

The three most impressive summer trends:

1. Nautical, classic (Giorgio Armani, Max Mara, Ralph Lauren), but also avant-garde (Carven, Kenzo, Jacquemus).

2. Bohemian glamour, of course, we know all about it.
3. Grunge meets Elegance

What I would personally wear…

The wide-leg trousers by Dries van Noten or Isabel Marant, the tweed/organza dream pieces by Prada und almost anything by Céline.

Isabelle Braun, Modepilot

The three most impressive summer trends:

1. Slip dress. The slip dress trend featured already last season quite prominently, but in the Summer 2016 shows, it was simply omnipresent. The “night gown” dress (remember the scene from Sex and the City?) is uncomplicated to style and also easy to copy too, so the trend became mainstream through stores like Zara & Co. The difference between designer and copycat pieces is the material and of course the craftmanship. The way silk creases usually betrays the quality.

2. Granny chic. Tie-neck blouses, high-neck tops, plissé pleats – it might be hard to imagine but it is actually cool to look like your Auntie Gwendolyn. Grazie Alessandro Michele!

3. Glamcore. There’s no trend without a counter-trend and after the minimalism wave and the normcore in recent years, outfits are getting richly adorned again. If you have recently been all about that soft grey cashmere pullover and boast about your wardrobe’s nude palette, you will soon be making space for 80s Glam, patterns (Dries van Noten!) and lots of statement accessories.

What I would personally wear…

The slip dress
…because it makes for the perfect summer dress. Slip it on, sandals on and you’re ready!

Petra Winter, Editor-in-Chief at Madame

The three most impressive summer trends:

1. Shirt dress: This summer, the shirt dress trend has taken an airy and imaginative turn, in all short, midi and maxi versions. We find the ones by Ports 1961 especially beautiful.

2. Summer coats XXL: The new summer coats look really good, especially on tall women. The ones which caught our attention were the incredible “sailor look” coats by Max Mara, in white, red/white stripes, or stars.

3. Peasant tops: Fendi’s version of the peasant top in soft leather looks incredible matched with a straight skirt. Céline also featured stunning peasant tops in the label’s latest show.

What I would personally wear…

I would love to join in all three trends I mentioned as well as two accessory trends: Bags with embellished shoulder straps (just like the one by Fendi with flower buds) and the new Bucket Bags (e.g. by Hermès).

Lisa Riehl, TM TextilMitteilungen, Modepilot

The three most impressive summer trends:
1. Playful feminine dresses, which by the first look make women appear like benign romantic fairies, but by the second, more observing look and with the help of “nipple-in-sight” effect, they become strong, confident and in charge, rather warrior-like. Some powerful trend interpretations courtesy of Gucci, Simone Rocha, and Alexander McQueen.

2. Personal style as mental illness. This idiosyncratic trend makes an outfit appear seemingly put together in a completely random way regarding the choice of fabrics, proportions and pieces. This is a fashion statement hailing individuality and a person’s own unique right – or wrong – styling choices. Best representatives of the trend? Dries van Noten, Prada, Miu Miu, Gucci and Haider Ackermann.

3. An emerging kind of Retro-Futurism, in which silhouettes of past decades meet futuristic details, modern features and metallics. Some retro-futuristic tendencies as shown by Loewe, Maison Margiela, Louis Vuitton and Aquilano.Rimondi.

What I would personally wear…

I would gladly sport the mental disorder style trend and I can finally wear all my failed purchases of unmatchable clothing to eternity. I will look like I’m crazy, but if I style my outfit right, it will all make sense!

Barbara Markert, Modepilot

The three most impressive summer trends:

1. The shoulder accent: Shoulders either become exposed through revealing cut-outs (Erdem, Katranzou and many, many more) or become accented through oversized sleeves, extravagant volume, ruffles and frills. Finally, the trend is complete with ultra-cropped tops that are covered with transparency or interesting texture (Kenzo, Louis Vuitton).

2. Transparency: A trend designers have been revisiting in recent years with iron persistence, even though it doesn’t necessarily translate into high sales, since it is not the easiest to wear for us ladies. See-through blouses and peek-a-boob tops are presently everywhere on the catwalk. Some, like Prada, Lutz Huelle or Dries van Noten make a smart approach to the trend by using transparency only partially to deceive the eye in a trompe-l’oeil effect. Other designers add covering texture with brassieres or bra-shaped fabric sewn on a transparent garment. Usage of lace and the patchwork technique create a beautiful result and make an outfit very user-friendly without betraying the transparency trend. And of course, the designer duo of Valentino provides exemplary lessons on how to make transparency perfectly wearable.

3. Flyway Ribbons. We see them everywhere, from extralong bows on tops and dresses (Chloé), to long belt straps (Alexander McQueen, Isabel Marant, Erdem), as well as skinny scarves around the neck (Jonathan Saunders). This is an interesting trend that can lend a little lightness even to stricter ensembles.

What I would personally wear…

Flowing dresses in maxi or midi length. For me, they are the natural continuation of the Gypset trend, though this season we see them taking a more 70s twist, like kaftans and long tuniques. I find the ones by Chloé the most beautiful, but there are many versions by houses like Cédric Charlier, Céline, Valentino and many others. This is the ideal summer outfit, not only for vacation for also for a relaxed casual style in the city. I just bought a dress like this last week by Modetrotter for the summer, though I find it really perfect for the current transitional season, styled with sneakers and a thick oversize jumper. It is definitely the casual look for this summer for me.

Julia Werner, Deputy Editor-in-Chief at Glamour Germany

The three most impressive summer trends, or the three As:
1. Army. The military look somehow never goes away, but this season it’s in its sexiest version yet, courtesy of Versace. The best look is hands-down the epaulette blazer with a waist belt worn as dress.

Versace

2. Arms. They are the new décolleté! Sleeves are this season’s big actors! There’s a whole lot of drama taking place on this season’s stage…overdimensional, puffy, unusual, they are making a statement no one can deny (J.W. Anderson, Céline).

3. Aristocracy. Alessandro Michele has recently become synonymous to his staple Gucci look of young Italian nobility: a good amount of vintage mixed with eccentric family heirloom pieces found in Grandma’s wardrobe and a little snobbishness. Now noble ladies can no longer take pride in being put off by big fashion labels.

What I would personally wear…

Probably the sleeve trend, provided I do find time to take up my arm work-work out again before summer exposure. Otherwise, as always, something beautiful by Dolce & Gabbana, for there is nothing more timeless than the décolleté.

Kathrin Bierling, Modepilot

The three most impressive summer trends:

1. Paperbag style. High-waist wide-cut skirts and trousers that are designed loosely and attached with a belt creating a gather, paperbag effect. For me, this is the natural evolution of the high-waist trend (I am happily over the ultra low-rise jeans long ago). The recent appearance of carrot pants on the streets of Berlin and New York finally put an end to many a low-rise failures as well as the dreaded “muffin top”. Thanks to Tod’s recent look, our booties found a more feminine “packaging” and the paperbag style is reaching its high fashion peak yet.

2. Long earrings. Never before have we seen so many long extraordinary earrings on the catwalk as in the current summer season. From delicate pieces to Cindy Lauper-loud, there are versions for every taste on this season’s runway.

3. Shoulder-free ruffle tops. The off-the-shoulder top by MSGM in white with stripes in petrol blue, orange and black can match pretty much anything. And we admired numerous beautiful cocktail and day dresses with ruffled top parts (Jason Wu, for example) – if you boast quite a voluptuous chest, this one might admittedly not be your first choice, but the rest of us might find the ruffled top quite flattering.

What I would personally wear…

The most interesting fashion trends for me are the ones I can see myself wearing – like the looks I chose above. Unfortunately we cannot love looks that we cannot wear, although I do appreciate their beauty. So, I would wear a pair of Tod’s trousers and the “Iliad” earrings by Hermès in rose gold plated finish and lacquer in “paradise blue” (available online by Hermès for 305 euro). When it comes to ruffled strapless tops, for the time being I’m just looking, though the one by MSGM will definitely influence my decision.

Natalie Manchot, Fashion Director at Madame

The three most impressive summer trends:

1. Fresh lightness: Lingerie/Lace/Satin (Givenchy, Calvin Klein, Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini)

2. Eclectic: Mix the unmixable (Dries Van Noten, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Gucci)

3. Folklore/Ethno: Around the World (Chloé, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino)

What I would personally wear…

Lingerie/Slip dress by Calvin Klein Collection, because it has been the most beautiful collection I have seen in a long time!!!

Julia Zirpel, Fashion Director at Myself

The three most impressive summer trends:
1. Innocence & Seduction: Lingerie undergarment-inspired looks, lace, ruffles, a lot of white and transparency – from sensual to sexy. Especially Paris designers seem to yearn for a sacred world, a sense of purity and clarity…or perhaps a search for lost innocence? Céline: soft & feminine; Givenchy: sexy; Dior and Balenciaga: historical, victorian.

2. Diversity: the look comes together by mixing completely different styles. There’s no one style from head to toe and since it really is passé to wear a trend in its entirety, any combination goes. Individuality and personality is more important and core than copying looks from the runway. A woman can be her own source of inspiration and create her own look. Miu Miu: from man suit fabric to transparencies, combined with ballet shoes and biker jackets. Gucci: Every outfit is another theme – Folklore mixed with lace, 70s prints, nerd glasses, brocade, etc. Dries van Noten: play of contrasts, masculine meets feminine, 40s meet 80s.

3. Space age: Futurism, “Sci-Fi Movie” looks. New fabrics, sculptural cuts, reflecting and mash materials. Céline, Acne, Loewe, Louis Vuitton.

What I would personally wear

Diversity – preferably by Dries van Noten; a 40s dress with an oversized men’s style blazer – this is a style that knows no limits and mo “last season”. Everything goes as long as it looks good on me and suits my lifestyle.

Translation by Maria Giannakopoulou

Der Beitrag Fashion experts on Summer 2016 trends erschien zuerst auf Modepilot.