Now Trending: Resort

Posted by Julia Neel

If you’re not familiar with the concept of resort and cruise collections, let me explain it like this: they’re the ranges created by designers that will hit stores before their main spring/summer and autumn/winter offerings. And, generally, they work as a kind of sneak preview into the trends we can expect to see on the catwalks come show season (plus they offer new inspiration for end-of-season, bonkers-weather blues).

Last month designers showed their resort 2013 collections and gave us an insight into what we might be seeing on their runways in September. So, it’s worth paying attention for tips on what to buy now that’ll carry you through to next summer.

Overall, there was a more demure feeling – a prim politeness – to the collections. Goodbye body-con indeed. Dresses were flirter and more feminine, with hemlines that swung out to float around legs.

There were frills and ruffles on the hemlines of skirts at Balenciaga, Carven and Chanel, giving a ladylike attitude and lots of nice girl charm when worn with neat little jackets and blouses.

This girly sensibility extended to sugary pastels, too, so if you bought into this year’s ice-cream colour trend, you’re looking good for spring/summer 2013.

There’s also a seventies vibe happening next spring, coming mainly via flares, which were seen at Stella McCartney‘s garden party, where she showed her collection at the Marble Cemetery in the East Village, complete with outdoor games and a brass band. Wide legs were her big story, where she teamed sunflower-yellow flares with a mustard blouse and a yellow brocade blazer for a smart take on the decade’s tailoring.

Flares were also at Christopher Kane and McQueen. Get used to it, they’re back. Wear with heels (please).

Marc Jacobs also referenced the seventies, but he did it through loud and proud florals. Large psychedelic flowers bloomed on maxi dresses in Abigail’s Party silhouettes. His collection was a cacophony of prints and textures, pairing spots with plaid, more florals with lurid checks, and sometimes adding a layer of sequins over everything. This was no collection for shrinking violets, you understand.

The counterpoint to all this ostentation or femininity was the reappearance of the varsity jacket. It was big this summer, but it’s looking even stronger for next year. Look to Givenchy, Diane Von Furstenberg, Pucci, Reed Krakoff and Diesel for yours and wear it with slim-fitting pencil skirts or tailored trousers.

And, if you haven’t already got involved in the scarf print trend, do it now. It’s still going strong for next year, as evidenced by Celine, Chloe and Givenchy.