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As temperatures start to warm up it’s time to turn up the heat in your closet in order to bring it up-to-date with the latest looks. Four of the key trends this season four of the key trends are tribal, jumpsuits, block colors and asymmetric dresses.

No ground breaking themes perhaps but there is a new take on both styling and fabrics. High street stores are now awash slouchy jumpsuits in soft silky fabrics, blindingly bold color-blocks, textured asymmetric dresses and ethic influences from Africa and India which favor zebra stripes, tribal-like warrior belts, safari suits in soft silks and plenty of intricate wooden beading and appliqué that take the place of jewelry.

Tribal Trend 

This season’s tribal trend is kept new with modern silhouettes and a pleathora of zebra stripes, leopard spots, snakeskin and other Afrian influences like summer safari pieces in earthy tones. Monochromes feature heavily in this summer’s tribal look, from soft graphic prints to bold zebra stripes.

When it comes to shoes, must-have gladiator sandals of the season feature animal prints in suede and leather (zebra stripes, snakeskin) and wide belts and accessories take on a strong warrior look with large studs and buckles.

To update your tribal look from pieces in your existing wardrobe don’t be afraid to mix graphic prints by layering. Team an outfit with open shoes such as gladiator s to make the look more modern.

Jumpsuit Trend

The soft jumpsuit is a trademark trend for 2009, not least for its versatility and wearability. Jumpsuits combine all the ease of a dress with the comfort of wearing pants.

The utility styles of the ‘70s and‘80s have made way for the silky, soft, drapey fabrics of this season, far more feminine and flattering that their counterparts (especially in dark colors). Up-to-the-minute styling incorporates, according to Marie Claire, “interesting necklines and some bareness at the top” which give the illusion of length. The soft slouchy (and often unbelted) look which communicates a retro-luxe-attitude includes styles that embrace this season’s passion for harem pants, or sleek tailored versions modeled on tuxedo dressing with cummerbund-like sashes and double-breasted tops, a look favored by style-maven Kate Moss.

Color-blocking Trend

Bold single block colors are a key look this season but two-tone color blocking (wearing 2 or more colors, often in the same complementary color family) will set you apart as being even more fashion-forward. You’ll find dresses, skirts and tops in wear-them-if-you-dare bold color combinations such as orange and fuschia pink and royal blue and purple. Go one step further for a show-stopping look by deliberately contrasting colors like designer Marc Jacobs’ fiery orange and regal purple or Sinha-Stanic’s lime green and fuschia pink or three-tone color-block such as Josh Goot’s green orange and candy pink.

Asymmetric Necklines

No matter what your age, show off your shoulders this spring and summer with the latest looks in asymmetric necklines. From loose billowy styles favored by 20-somethings, body-conscious cuts in softly draped fabrics for those in their 30s and 40s or stronger, more tailored silhouettes favored by those maturing in years.

Flounced shoulders that rise like a ruff, space-age cut-outs and modern toga-style mini dresses are just some of the runway looks which are oh-so-this season. Find them in feminine silky fabrics in soft nude neutrals or bold brights of tangerine, fuschia pink and buttercup yellow. Keep your dress short if there is a lot of detail on the top. Add a brooch on the shoulder for more detailing.

These four trends are easy to embrace. If watching your budget a one-shouldered dress, a jumpsuit, a tribal print (it can also be on belts, footwear and bags) and some pieces in strong bold colors, are all you need to look fashion forward this spring.

(via Women’s Fashion)

Tags: Fashion Trends, Spring

This entry was posted on Monday, April 27th, 2009 at 3:49 pm and is filed under Trendwatching and Observations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.