the PIPELINE: Style on Tap

• October 16, 2009 9:30 AM
• Trend Spotting

Nine Accessories Trends That Stole The Spring Shows

By Christene Barberich & Piera Gelardi

Today, clever designers aren't content to just turn out a memorable collection. And the shoes, jewels, and arm candy they're concocting lately to accompany their wares sure won't sit on the sidelines either. Accessories have become not just a perfunctory step in the runway performance, but often the very accents that can bring a collection to life. And this past spring '10 season didn't disappoint. Atomic lucite heels, molten bib necklaces, and pretty woman purses personified the mood of the season: Womanly, strong, and unwaveringly chic. From blown-up bangles to stage-worthy barrettes, check out all the accessories trends that made our headlines.

1. Clear Vision: Lucite Accents



Above, from left: Fendi; Prada. Photos via Style.com.



Above, from left: Fendi; Burberry Prorsum. Photos via Style.com.

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• October 13, 2009 9:17 AM
• Trend Spotting

The Trends That Mattered Most at Paris and Milan

By Christene Barberich & Piera Gelardi

After so many weeks (five to be exact) of tracking runways, front-rows, backstage, and all the kooky surprises in between, reaching the commencement of Fashion Week Spring 2010 can be somewhat of a let-down. But not when you spend the weekend surveying all the spectacularness of the most recent shows—Paris and Milan to be exact. If we were getting a touch bored of the expected (yellow! sheer!), there's nothing like a shot of Lanvin, Kenzo, and Balmain to bring us back to life. So, to restore your faith, too, in good adventurous glorious fashion, we've assembled our top 12 list of the best trends from Milan and Paris. Au revoir, Fashion Week!

1. Metallic Minis



We know! Nothing new about yet another outpouring of minis, but turned out in gleaming metallics, this new batch feels both glamorous and futuristic. Above, from left: Balmain; Costume National; Christian Dior; Balmain.


2. Matchy-Matchy



All-over prints on the wrong people can be a recipe for disaster. But presented by Ann Demeulemeester and Givenchy, these optical illusions are a study in artfulness. Above, from left: Miu Miu; Ann Demeulemeester; Kenzo; Givenchy.

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• October 12, 2009 9:12 AM
• Trend Spotting

Designers Give the Latest Creepers a Luxe New Spin

By Aria Hughes

Every so often the fashion stars align to produce a fresh take on an old classic we just can't get enough of. No, the creeper shoe is nothing new, and it doesn't exactly scream "classic," but for the past few seasons these thick-soled shoes returned as the grunge-chic go-to for designers and It chicks alike. This season, Creepers are turning up more polished than punk, and creeper-lovers are happy to sport the upgrade. Whether you fancy yourself Alice Dellal's long lost sister or Carine Roitfeld's unofficial fan club prez, everyone on the style spectrum can get in on the trend. It-brand Phi and Alexander Wang made the shoe uber-sleek with a high heel and embossed croc skin. Sonia Rykiel and Chloë Sevigny stuck closer to the original, but opted for stones and leather instead of classic suede. And Jeffrey Campbell offers up cool look-a-likes for the girl who can't blow her rent on wares. Sometimes we prefer a classic to go untouched, but in this case, we welcome the dazzling makeover.

Above, from left: Alexander Wang Frankie Creepers, $480, available at Barneys New York; Caroline Feber in a Alexander Wang's Hanne Zip Boots, $760, available at Alexander Wang.



Above, from left: All the Pretty Birds' Tamu McPherson in Phi's luxe Creeper style; Sonia Rykiel Creeps Shoes, about $1,346, available at Colette.

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• October 8, 2009 9:26 AM
• Trend Spotting

Bye Bye Bottoms! From Knee-Length to No-Length, Tracking a Century of Shrinking Hemlines

By Michelle Christina Larsen, Design by Joshua Covarrubias

First we wore skinny jeans too tight to walk in. Then we ditched jeans for leggings, and now we're so liberated we hardly feel like pulling on a pair of tights at all. Yes, the incentive to wear less has been riding up legs for the past 100 years. And in 1920, you could have caused a Model T pile-up walking down the street in the short-shorts you can flaunt now. So, with pop stars and celebrities barely bothering to cover their assets, it's hard to believe the world was once modest to a fault! Below we have a look at the history of hemlines, and how we went from pristine New Look to Ga Ga bottomless.

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• October 7, 2009 1:34 PM
• Trend Spotting

Get Tatted With Temporary Ink Straight From the Shows!

By Connie Wang

We're no newbies to fake tattoos, though it's safe to say that the glittery unicorns and branded stick-ons from the local bank we used to apply don't really garner us the same cred as the ones shown on this season's runway. Delicate bracelets and chains were drawn onto the models at Chanel, and Gaultier paired his spring line with lettered prison tats. Rodarte went for the full monty and Sharpie'd the models' arms and necks to full Maori effect. Less permanent than really getting pricked, but still pretty badass, we have a feeling that a little hand-drawn ink will start making its way off the runway and onto your arms, chests, and legs.

Above, from left: Gaultier spring '10, image from Style.com; Rodarte spring '10, images from Style.com.

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• October 7, 2009 9:28 AM
• Trend Spotting

Goth and Glamorous, the Modern Warrior Is Our Trend of the Moment

By Christene Barberich

With Mayan D-Day fast approaching and sinister subway plots wreaking havoc on our REM sleep, it can be hard for a girl to see where fashion fits into it all. But thanks to designers like Ann Demeulemeester and Rodarte, we have an idea what we might be wearing even if we don't know where we're headed—or what dangers we might find when we get there. Though we've seen glimpses of a post-apocalyptic princess in seasons' past, this latest batch of deliveries proved a glamorous goddess warrior is among us. Dark, dramatic, rebellious…this is a woman who is ready to rumble. But unlike the tough girls of the past, this new modern goddess has extreme glamour on her mind. Balmain, Balenciaga, and Lanvin all addressed this, mixing deconstructed T-shirts with hardcore military jackets or primitive fabric wrapping and knotting partnered with opulent statement-making jewels. As with Demeulemeester, who gave the idea of wild caged birds a romantic otherworldly attitude, there was no doubt that this powerful new female archetype is setting a trend for themes of bad-ass women to come.

Above, from left: Spring '10 looks from Balmain; Ann Demeulemeester; Haider Ackermann; Rodarte.




Above, from left: Ideen Black Knit Vest Dress, $488, available at Oak; Givenchy Leather Crocodile-Print Sandals, $1,150, available at Net-A-Porter.

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