Holt Renfrew's Barbara Atkin offers some insight on what looks matter most this season and how to wear them with style
Which heel works best with a flared pant? Which shoe is the right choice for a pyjama pant? What's the best way to combine colours? Should floral prints be dainty or wild?
Amid the bohemian rhapsody that best describes spring 2008, questions arise about how to best wear the clothes and what to wear them with. Not to mention all the eclectic influences (think cosmopolitan meets arts and crafts).
Trailblazing through the trends, Barbara Atkin, Holt Renfrew's Vice-president of Fashion Direction, offers a few tips on how best to pull off the looks that matter most this season and tell us why black is not the new black.
All you need is a free spirit and a fabulous pair of cone heels.
Bohemian Style: Keep the bohemian spirit fresh by making it modern. Rather than young and flighty, think organic and floaty. Flared pants can be paired with a strappy cone heel to give a long and leggy look or with a strappy flat sandal– just make sure pants sweep the floor. On top, opt for a romantic blouse or billowy T-shirt that can be tucked in and bloused out or worn loose, just covering the waist. A decorative belt is the final touch – waist emphasis is wonderfully feminine.
Colour: Let the energy from stylized and painterly prints be a primary way to incorporate colour. Bold florals, kinetic geometrics and colour-blocked designs become wearable art, whether on pants, a top or a dress. Contrived clashing is hot: try pink with orange and brighten up with yellow. A printed tank with a coloured chiffon blouse will make a layered and individual statement. Want a neutral backdrop? White is carte blanche for distinctive accessories.
Masculine/Feminine: Bend the gender line with masculine pieces that go big on attitude. Slacks and pyjama pants borrow from menswear - loose and unstructured. At the same time, vests are polished, and jackets with aggressive built-in shoulders are gradually returning. Pants worn with a flat sandal and a boyfriend shirt allows for a pulled-together yet relaxed look. Alternatively, pants worn with a chunky heel sends a femme fatale message.
Blousing: Let your shirts live and breathe by blousing them out. Shapes are more voluminous this season, and the extra material means that you should be tucking in then blousing out. Such soft and sensuous tops look best with flared or high-waisted masculine pants or the new ballet-length skirt. It's romantic redefined.
Shoes: Now, more than ever, shoes are statement-making and can be considered collectibles. Allow forceful footwear to balance the billowing fabrics of the season, creating a contemporary interpretation that's decidedly town and country. Platforms are back and joined by cone heels and a surfeit of straps. Start wearing them with opaque tights before the official start of spring. And don't fuss over matching - bold colour-blocked footwear is a fashionable foil for a printed dress.
Belts: Don't waste an opportunity to show off your waist. Add a belt to bubble, egg and cocoon shapes and you've created an instant hourglass. Don't be afraid to belt a blazer - it's a new and noteworthy look. In some cases, a belt is purely decorative and assumes the role of jewellery. Wear these with men's pants for an embellished twist on tailored.
Dresses: A woman's wardrobe is not complete without a simple sheath or shift dress. Use dresses as your fashion foundation; add more to the equation by adding an easy oversized jacket and accessorize with multiple strands of semiprecious stones or this season's must-have, the handcrafted necklace. Don't stress over footwear - ballerinas, sandals or this season's more aggressive and decorative heels are elegant and effortless.
Sheer Materials: Visible is in, with transparency becoming an increasingly popular buzzword. Lingerie-inspired clothing is coming to the fore in a tasteful way so that it can be worn throughout the day. Chiffon and satin can be downplayed under a cardigan or played up for evening by showing off the sheerness. These materials are also ideal for travelling; they pack to nothing but amount to something sexy and self-assured.
Skirt Lengths: Mid-calf is neither here nor there - it's everywhere. This may come as a surprise, but the skirt of the season is universally flattering, no matter your height. The length is well suited to flats or gladiator sandals, but if heels are your addiction, make sure they are bold and architectural.
By Amy Verner
