SPRING 2014 FASHION TREND REPORT

We are in the grips of a cold and snowy winter which feels to me like an excellent time to start looking at the emerging fashion trends for Spring 2014 and dreamily imagine what we'll be wearing and what we'll want to add to our wardrobe once the warmer weather returns. 

The overall theme for the coming season is feminine, sexy, chic, relaxed and sporty.

Floral Patterns

Pretty floral patterns are a major trend for spring 2014. They have been prominently featured on the runways in flouncy skirts and dresses in feminine silhouettes. The floral patterns are seen in all-over prints as well as floral collages set against a plain background.

Oscar de la Renta

Exposed Midriffs

Bared midriffs were a big trend on the runways which featured cropped tops and bralets as well as inverse buttoning where the top few buttons of a top are buttoned and the rest are left undone allowing the top to float open. 

Diane von Furstenberg

Sheer Fabrics
The sheer trend continues this season with the use of peekaboo panels, sheer stripes, sheer fabrics over opaque undergarments, as well as semi-translucent layered fabrics giving dimension to garments.

Cushie et Ochs

Word Play

Text with a play on words were featured as statement pieces on garments and accessories. The text tends to be witty and clever words and statements rather than logos.

Alexander Wang

Sports Luxe
The sports luxe trend continues in its popularity this season in styles that are chic, relaxed and casual. An athletic aesthetic of sport-chic included exaggerated v-neck tennis sweaters, racing stripes, perforated fabrics and varsity jackets.

Ralph Lauren

Fringes 

Fringes made of leather, silk and beading were used in a variety of ways from evening to casual wear. The embellishment is modern and adds to the overall feel of fluidity this season. 

Emilio Pucci

Wide Leg Pants
The ultra-chic, easy to wear wide leg returns in a billowy silhouette for trousers, Bermuda shorts and culottes.

Daks

PANTONE FASHION COLOR REPORT SPRING 2014

Today Pantone® released their fashion colors for Spring 2014 during the first day of New York Fashion Week. The colors are described as ‘A Season of Color Equilibrium’. “This season consumers are looking for a state of thoughtful, emotional and artistic equilibrium”, said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “While this need for stability is reflected in the composition of the palette, the inherent versatility of the individual colors allow for experimentation with new look and color combinations.”

Designers have paired soft pastels with vivid brights for spring 2014 to create a colorful equilibrium. The colors are inspired by a "mixture of blooming flowers, travels abroad and strong, confident women". Designers use color to refresh, revive and defy with this modern twist on the traditional.

The top colors for women's fashion for spring 2014 are:

   Pastels

      PLACID BLUE - pastel blue that is reminiscent of tranquil skies

      VIOLET TULIP - romantic, vintage purple

      HEMLOCK - summery, ornamental green

   Neutrals

      PALOMA - quintessential neutral grey

      SAND - lightly toasted and amiable neutral

   Strong, Vibrant Colors

      FREESIA - blazing yellow

      CAYENNE - spicy, high-pitched red

      CELOSIA ORANGE - fresh orange 

      RADIANT ORCHID - bright, rich purple

      DAZZLING BLUE - a subtler shade of cobalt blue

Dazzling Blue is currently trending as the Color of the Year for 2014.  WWD has reported that 17.05 percent of designers used this hue in their spring 2014 fashions for women. The color may feel very familiar - it's being compared to “Facebook Blue”.