TREND SPARK!

TREND SPARK!	By Alexandra Suhner, London Editor \| Week 4 \| 12.10.2007
Fashion Spark! \| Spring/Summer 2008
This week’s Trend Spark reports from the Spring Summer 2008 catwalks, and chooses one show from each city that will be shaping next season’s wardrobes.
Milan, D&G D&G's "new-boho" look on the Milan catwalks took the bohemian look and updated it with volume, colour, and texture. The use of patchwork florals on tent shaped dresses were exactly what you want for next summer: fun, flirty, colorful, and light. The collection also included brocade and metallic fabrics with denim and fringed flares and safari-cut jackets. Although it all sounds a little dated, the combination of fabrics, prints, textures, and shapes gave this collection a fresh, fun feel for SS08.
London, Richard Nicoll Richard Nicoll hasn't changed his style much in the five years he has been designing clothes, the problem is the fashion industry took so long to catch on to his clean, sporty, elegant collections. This season, Richard used a lot of organza, which seems to be in abundance for Spring Summer 08. Used in tops, dresses and jackets and made into structured, voluminous pieces, this fabric is set for a huge comeback next year. Richard also played with the big shoulders trend in his signature sporty pieces, using geometric cuts to emphasize the upper body.
NY, Preen British brand Preen showed in New York for the first time this season, and, unsurprisingly, there was an American mood to the collection. Inspired by Claude Montana and Thierry Mugler, the clothes had an eighties feel with a nod to American sportswear. The effortless outfits combined sportswear finishings (elastic waistbands, drawstrings, hoods) on satin pieces and the loose and baggy shapes were made feminine with the use of cinched belts and straps to emphasize the figure. The key word here is effortless, and is a great way to dress next season.
Paris, Giambattista Valli Giambattista Valli's Spring Summer 08 collection presented two summer trends: the kaftan and candy pink. His use of kaftan silhouettes and sleeves combined with volume gave otherwise simple pieces an elegant, structured feel. The streaks of candy pink were frequently seen on the catwalks, ensuring its spot as a Spring Summer 2008 color. Although his collection is not groundbreaking or revolutionary, it is absolutely desirable and wearable.