SPRING SPLASH

 

Surfs Up! Spring is here, and hanging ten on the fashion wave. This season it is all about beachwear, from wetsuits to biker shorts our sand-worthy wears also take to the streets. Shaded under our straw hats we load up or beach bags and set off for the sunset in what is sure to be a scorcher of a time. 

Straw hats are this spring seasons staple accessory, with many designer putting their own spin to the traditional straw hat. Some of the most memorable hats we saw are styles that have been around and loved for decades. Valentino and Chanel showed off two very different iterations of the classic and the exaggerated straw hat. Jacquemus made our heads turn with his outlandishly large representation, we even spotted a well-rounded bowler hat at Thom Browne that left us wanting more. A good portion of the hats included renditions of the classic pincushion and boater hats, making them a perfectly light accessory for every day wear in the warmer and brighter months. Hat trends are about more than just sun protection and general coverage. This is the season for the resurgence of the statement straw hat.

Designers are going Beyond the Sea with knit netting that is nothing less than mermaid worthy. Get ready to make a splash come spring in a slinky crochet cover up or slip dress that will have you California Dreaming for the craftwork in the chic cocktail dresses from Altuzarra and Dior.

 

J.W. Anderson and Louis Vuitton took on a more futuristic under sea armor with heavy usage of this light and airy material by creating more structural designs using larger volume. But our favorite looks had to be our Hippie Beach babes at Ports 1961 and Ferragamo, where they traded cotton and twine for suede and shells, adorning the models like Maori women from far away islands.

It must be all the talk of climate change that has us gearing up for a future under the sea, as most designers showcased marvelous creations utilizing neoprene as a medium.  Raf Simons kicked things off with Calvin Klein’s homage to Jaws, dressing models in fan girl T-shirts and unpeeling wetsuit skirts. While the Italians caught beach fever with surf inspired collections at Etro, and Marine Serre working her usual magic on upcycled neoprene wetsuits transforming them into show stopping gowns.

 

Whether you like it or not, cycling shorts are set to be bigger than we ever expected. At Chanel models walked through the waves with beachy hair, bare feet and some casual bike shorts and leggings shown in black and matched with elegant fitted jackets and ladylike button-up cardigans, giving a very grown up and Chanel worthy spin on the trend.  Fendi, who also chose to glam up the bike short, giving us a more work appropriate appeal with a structured button-up shirt, while Stella McCartney gave us Florals in stretch as she brought forth a literal spring bouquet in an array of pastel blues and mint greens. 

Splashing into spring 2019 we have come to embrace the Sand and Sun and even the Surf, as designers took us from the Maldives to Marseille in what is sure to be the pre-cursor to a summer on the shore. Whether it’s to the beach or on the streets this season’s fluid style has taken the fashion world over with what is sure to be a swelter from catwalk to boardwalk.