Spring fashion blossoms forward

Abdi Olow

Fashion is always evolving, and the looks for Spring 2008 are no exception. Designers’ inspirations this season are unlimited, uninhibited, and very international.

From H&M to such luxury fashion houses as Holt Renfrew, expect a celebration of global styles and lively prints in the coming warmer months.

Tribal Influences

Designers like Mathew Williamson, Giorgio Armani, and many others, it seems, have devoted this spring to the modern girl who is a global traveller. Her style is partly defined by the mixing of styles from different cultures, traditions, and customs.

Giorgio Armani has taken influences from India, while Williamson has based his collection on African themes. Affordable fashion house H&M has based its spring collections on both African and Asian styles.

Designers’ focus on global-oriented styles, however, has not come without some backlash. Recently, Williamson was publicly reproached by the Ethiopian government. The country’s intellectual property agency (the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office) accused Williamson of stealing Ethiopia’s nationally recognized, traditional dresses and passing them off as his own creations in his Spring 2008 runway show in London.

Regardless of where you come from though, this spring’s global-oriented looks are for everyone. They are a fun and unique way to add a touch of international style to your wardrobe.

Trend: multi-ethnic prints and accessories mixed with spring classics, such as the cardigan, the V-neck, lightweight trousers, dresses, and tank tops.

Contrasting combinations that work: African patterns and accessories on couture classics, and folk-style patterns and embroidery on romantic summer pieces.

Nature Calls

We have also been seeing a lot of influences coming from nature for Spring 2008. There is a huge focus, for example, on floral prints, intricately woven knee-high boots resembling plants, and printed dresses blossoming with such lush florals as roses, daises, lilacs, hydrangeas, and poppies.

You have Nicolas Ghesquière of Balenciaga and Giorgio Armani to thank for this trend. In each of these designer’s Spring 2008 shows, plant elements were huge features.

The Season’s Bold Colours

Reds, blues, greens, oranges, and yellows — you cannot go wrong with colour this season, as long as it is done right. Pair colours that compliment each other, such as purple with orange accessories.

Final Thoughts for a Fashionable Spring Season

The fashion world is, in reality, one big circus. The distinctions we make between luxury brands and affordable labels are irrelevant. Fashion labels in and of themselves are really just semantics. True fashionistas know how to mix affordable with designer, colour with neutral, and spring classics with new trends.

Whether your wallet is big or small, remember that all fashion houses are influenced by one another, and by consumers the most. Every style this coming spring will in many ways be reinterpretations of runway collections by such designers as Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Etro. With Spring 2008 almost here, the fashion pendulum continues to spin.