Spring Forward While Looking Back

Hippie Style Dominates Fashion Trends For Spring 2016

Spring is a magical time of year – grass grows, flowers bloom and birds return home. And at the same time nature comes out of hibernation, so does fashion.

While winter is where we store our blacks, browns and greys, we look to the Spring fashion runways for blues, pinks and yellows. We don’t just come out in spring, but we spring out in style.

This year, the runways during Fashion Week brought more to our spring style than a glory of colours. It seems that the recent trend of fashionistas attending Burning Man has seeped into high fashion – bohemian and hippie accents are everywhere for Spring 2016. Here are a few of the top trends that are making their way from the Spring 2016 runways to our closets.

 

  1. Fringe Benefits

From our necks to our ankles, fringe dominated the runway in the form of scarves, vests and pants. Edun, Delpozo and Jason Wu all used their own updated takes on this old Woodstock trend to jazz up women’s wear on the runway, and bring a little swishy-swashy sway to ladies wear this season.

Edun Fringe 1

Edun Fringe

  1. Cut-Out Shoulders

Taking the off-the-shoulder trend one step further, cut-outs on both shoulders reined the runway this season. It’s subtle, it’s sexy and it’s definitely spring-ready. Rachel Zoe, Derek Lam and Wes Gordon all showed the look in various tops and dresses. Think breezy and bohemian, with a little high fashion glamour to seal the deal.

Rachel Zoe Cut out shoulder 1 Rachel Zoe Cut out shoulder

 

  1. Tie-Dye For

A dying technique that was once reserved for boho’s camping at Woodstock is now taking its turn with the hip fashion elite. Thakoon, Baja East and Altuzarra all showcased bold tie-dye prints on their traditional haute fashions this Spring, proving that hippie to high fashion is the trend of the year.

Thakoon Tie DyeBaja East Tie Dye

  1. Low-Rise, Slouchy pants

The high-waisted pants of the 70s had their comeback over the past couple of seasons, but trendsetters Rosie Assoulin, Derek Lam and Tibi are moving us back to the slouchy, swingy pants of the 90s. And not a moment too soon. Thank you and good-bye forever, mom jeans!

Rosie Assoulin Slouchy pantsderek lam slouchy pants

  1. Lace For Days

Lace has been with us for a while, but Spring 2016 is bringing it’s own sheer twist to our favourite fashion staple. Under slips are gone, leaving laces sheer and sexy, with nude-coloured bikinis underneath. Topshop, Preen and Simone Rocha all took this romantic pattern to a new level, including floral appliques, uniquely gathered pieces and full-length lace dresses that left nothing and everything to the imagination.

Preen Lace Simone Rocha Lace

  1. Puffed Sleeves

When you think of puffed sleeves, don’t think of The Pirate Shirt from Seinfeld, or the puffs that Anne Shirley coveted in the Canadian classic Anne of Green Gables. Erdem, J.W. Anderson and Simone Rocha all pulled out the puffs for Spring 2016, but in ways that are workable for ever day. If you’re going to a dinner party, Simone Rocha’s LBD with small puffs that drape down your arm is the perfect look. For a high fashion or red carpet event, you may be a little more bold with floral puffs from Erdem. If puffs are your thing, you’ll find your perfect puff this season.

JW Anderson poofy sleeves Erdem poofy sleeves