Afrocentric Influences
The plains of Africa are often an influence on the designers for their catwalk collections, and 2012 is no different. Traditional references continue to inspire with animal prints seen throughout the collections in flowing gowns and cocktail dresses. Big cat prints are the choice of the animal prints while tribal and traditional prints made the most impact on the runways.
Safari suiting is still a big appeal for designers. Balenicaga brought a modern sense to old designs with safari trousers with a glimmering sheen.
Ethnic and African prints are also making an appearance in the years’ trends with tribal sketches and ethnic beading melting into the modern designs combining ancient techniques and avant-garde ideas. The Edun Label, founded by U2”s Bono and his wife, delivered a Mali inspired collection with hand dying and African inspired prints.
Diane von Furstenberg’s collection focussed more on the core of Africa than the colonial or safari Africa, with fresh prints and funky monochromatic separates while Donna Karan’s models were decked out in full Tribal inspired garments and Proenza Schouler made use of graphic floral prints and clever colour blocking techniques.
Don’t you just love this girls style?
Classic!!
Fashion makes use of influences from everyday, and the 2012 Spring trend’s focus is on fruit and flowers and even vegetables. Key fashion trends for 2012 indicates an obsession for fruit fashion for apparel and accessories.
Exotic tropical fruits, crimson cherries and strawberries and eye catching fruity colours filled the runways for the Spring 2012 collections from many of the top design houses. Oranges, grapefruits and cherries paced the runways in both colour and print and are making their way into the high streets and boutiques. Fruity prints in backless silk dresses accompany apple, cherry and lemon inspired jewellery, shoes, clips, earrings, handbags and scarves to give a flirty and girlish inspiration.
Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring 2012 collection set the tone for fruity fashion with corseted dresses to accentuate the curves in a provocative and sensual collection. Including life-sized vegetable prints on summer dresses accompanied with glittering twinkling accessories.
Image source: http://fashionetc.com/images/stories/fashion/2011/09/20110926_dolce_gabbana_spring2012_600w.jpg
Not only are the fashion houses using the summer fruit bowl for their inspiration, but the vibrant fresh colours too with bright reds, oranges and yellows hitting the high streets in skirts, sandals and summer frocks. Bold colours and cheerful patterns are set to match the fun and sexy cuts of backless dresses and short skirts. Accessories are important in the 2012 trend, with fruit shaped earrings, belts and pendants to compliment the fresh fashion trends for the season.
