Anticipating Spring: The Most Romantic Trends of Spring/Summer 2013

The Spring/Summer 2013 collections are all bound by a cool and purified vibe – they feel sweet, refined and predominantly light. Lavish, wintery materials have been replaced with soft tailoring and gauzy fabrics, yet emphasis on texture and couture detailing creates a complex sophistication.

Being a romanticist, my favourite runway theme was the fairy-tale enchantment that was exuded through beautiful blooms, intricate lattice, crochet, broderie patterns and waterfall ruffles. Florals are traditionally a covetable Spring/Summer print, prettying up the simplest of pieces, yet this year flower power has gone more vibrant than ever. Holly Fulton’s three-dimensional, floral appliqués (above left) were a personal London Fashion Week highlight, while Oscar de la Renta’s sculpted fuchsia roses (above right) were reminiscent of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland garden.

For a simple yet effeminate look, be inspired by Chloé’s texture-tastic show – designer Clare Waight-Keller’s latticed frocks (below left) were incredible. White was a key colour for highlighting texture; with Valentino (below right) offering intricately laced panels as well as eyelet detail on blank canvases.

Chloé continued to deliver their signature flirty and free-spirited aesthetic by unveiling an array of ruffle-detailed pieces in flowing chiffons and organzas – see the collection here. The ever-popular waist peplum has advanced to shoulders, sleeves and necklines, as flouncing models demonstrated at Gucci (below left) and Alexander McQueen (below right). While Gucci’s gowns were accentuated at the bust with soft yet structured waves, McQueen went for dramatic amour, with pannier ruffle skirts. This spring the ruffle is designed to add a polished edge to simplicity.

By Izzy Stocks.