Speaking Style

While many other designers were giving a blast from the past with their retro-inspired shows, Stefano Pilati at Yves Saint Laurent went the opposite direction and straight into the future. Black bowl-cut wigs, blacked out eyes and black makeup gave a futuristic, slightly gothic feel to the styling. It definitely wasn’t inappropriate; the cuts were nothing short of dramatic, giving great emphasis on cut, just as Pilati wanted.

 

You’re likely to notice a couple of pieces here and there that display the inescapable new fashion trend of retro. Most of it, however, has very sharp cuts and severe lines to the extent that a lot of the clothes look molded instead of simply fitted. Looseness and flow were provided by the 80’s banana-cut pants and the heavy-fabric skirts – rather a stark contrast to the fitted tops.

 

Color-wise, YSL is on the same fashion trend as Chanel and a good number of other fashion houses. Grays, beiges and blacks dominated the color palette on the runway, emphasizing the severe and austere look of the collection. There were some touches of color like a shiny gold one-piece dress or a baby blue jacket with some sheen, but these were few and far in between.

 

Geometry was obviously a major element in Pilati’s collection for Fall 2008. Geometric silhouettes and severe, almost straight cuts would serve as a concise description for the collection. Not everyone will find it sexy, but the restraint and the execution certainly made for very chic pieces. Perhaps, for just this season, you might want to switch to Pilati’s aesthetic of making a bold statement instead of just looking pretty.

Every fashionista knows that accessories can make or break even the best of ensembles. If you’re keeping your wardrobe updated to all the new fashion trends, the accessory corner of your closet has to get a facelift right along with your clothes. Here are some of the big accessory trends that were seen on the Gucci runway for the fall fashion shows. You’ll be seeing them everywhere soon, so you’d better grab the trend fast.

Big, Chunky Accessories

If you plan to wear any accessories this Fall, don’t keep it to yourself. Dig up the chunkiest necklaces and bracelets you’ve got, because Gucci’s already got them all over the runways. Skip your platinum and the bling; opt instead for more muted, homelier looking pieces that’ll get noticed because of their size and not as their dual function as a mirror. Take for example this awesome Gucci necklace that looks simply overflowing with charms and small trinkets. They add character to an otherwise simple outfit.

Seeing Studs

Quick! While everybody’s snapping up fringed accessories, go grab yourself studded boots and bags! If you want to achieve that Gucci glamorous look but don’t want to go for fringe (understandable, since it’s on everybody nowadays), studs will be your best accessory highlight. From totes to shoes, studs are the more understated yet no less stylish accessory trend set by Gucci for fall. It’s rather too late to go into fringe. With its current ubiquity, expect to see the obituary of the fringe trend very, very soon.

At first glance, you’d think that Miuccia Prada had gone back to ultra-conservative in a big way – until, that is, you take a look at the details. Besides the novel use of the lovelorn lace material, the accessories also took on a big role for Fall 2008. Now, it’s hardly surprising for new fashion trends to be a bit out of the box. The new Prada fashion trends, however, we’re nothing short of shocking – in a chic way, of course.

Those Fins are Fine

While other designers added volume to their creations with either frills or fringe, Prada was equipped with another F altogether – fins. Fin details are everywhere in the Fall 2008 collection of the fashion house. From bags to shoes and even to sunglasses (pictured below), the fin was a very big element in most of the looks that went down the runway. They gave a bit of flow, bounce and additional volume to the flat yet intricate lacework garments, making for a gorgeous complement.

 

Charmed by Chains

While the bag in the photo might look like just another specimen of the finned Prada accessory, it also captures another major fall fashion trend – chain-handle bags. Sure, it was just a single bag out of a single collection. However, it’s noteworthy that even other fashion houses like Chanel are also rolling out similar pieces, meaning this is a pretty big trend. It’s not everyday that you get two major creative forces to agree on something. And when they do agree on something, you know it can’t be a wrong fashion choice.