Transnational muses are common in fashion. It’s not accidental that there are fashion weeks in London, Milan, Paris and a multitude of other cities across the globe. Like music, fashion is one of those universal denominators that transcend language, cultural, religious and other boundaries to connect people. In the spring 2014 collections, designers located inspiration all over the world.
Rebecca Minkoff’s muse was Bianca Jagger in Nicaragua and Mexican painter Frida Kahlo; Ruffian’s designers were inspired by Saint Tropez; and Lela Rose’s trip to Copenhagen spawned her collection. Each designer approached their collection differently, but all three saw the value in incorporating global pizazz. We do too. So, in honor of the warmer weather peering over the horizon, we offer five ways to inject international flair into your wardrobe.
Dainty Silhouettes
Related: LBS Runway Report: Tadashi Shoji Spring 2014
Several designers pivoted away from the traditional, female silhouette for spring 2014. Tapered waists and bodices were disregarded in favor of flowing, loose-fitting garments. However, some designers, like Lela Rose and Temperly London (pictured above), found inspiration in the streets of Paris and Copenhagen where multiple silhouettes are celebrated. 1950’s shapes dominated their runways. Crisp collars, flowing knee-length hemlines and nipped waistlines are easy additions to any closet.
Shop dainty silhouettes:
Mod
Traveling to 1960’s London was the spring 2014 goal for several clothes houses, including Mulberry and Roksanda Illincic (pictured above). In an ode to the enduring Mod trend, which stormed London at the beginning of the 60’s, designers went for retro, box, shapes and fierce prints. Mod is not for the fashion timid. Confidence is as important to nailing this trend as the clothes themselves. Snag boxy and bold separates to channel Mod this spring.
Shop Mod:
Military Style Coats
Related: Lover Not a Fighter
I emitted an audible gasp when Marc Jacobs unleashed this gorgeous jacket onto his spring 2014 runway. The detailing is superb as are the layered textures. The military-style jacket has a legacy that extends back to the 1700s, when the British Army debuted single-breasted, red jackets. We’ve seen evolutions of the military-style coat for centuries, and this current reinvention is so worthy of inclusion in your closet. It’s a layering piece that’s designed to keep you cozy and fashionable, especially as we battle (hopefully, the last) winter drought.
Shop Military Style Coats:
Floral
Flowers will bloom, as soon as this drab weather relents, so why not mirror the re-emerging landscape? Floral prints are worn all over the globe, but the cherry blossom can be traced directly to Japan. In fact, cherry blossoms didn’t land on American soil until 1906. Now, floral prints are permanent fixtures in most fashion collections, whether it’s the printed pants on Rebecca Minkoff’s runway, the floral blouses on Ruffian’s catwalk or the gorgeous lime-green floral dress presented at Oscar de la Renta (pictured above). You too can don floral this spring.
Shop Floral:
Bohemian
Bohemians have always been considered a counterculture or rebels. First appearing in central Europe in the 1940s, bohemians were often nomads. Bohemian-chic is much the same thing. Mixing prints that should be outlawed, pairing untraditional silhouettes, and remaining free from the constraints of fashion are all marked signs of boho, which makes it an easy spring 2014 trend. Ask Etro (pictured above). The design house’s spring 2014 collection was full of boho, and it was all fierce.
Shop Bohemian:
How are you making your spring wardrobe international?
Photos courtesy of Getty (Temperly London, Roksanda Illincic, Marc Jacobs, Oscar de la Renta & Etro)
Rebecca minkoff cuteness!