Womens Office Wear Tendencies for Spring 2012

Dress codes in today’s offices vary from none at all to formal tailored business suits. Fashion trends are no longer set in stone for the season. Today’s designers may or may not be drawing inspiration from the same sources but we the consumers certainly are not. For the past decade trends have been more like tendencies towards a particular style from one season to the next but a bell bottom pantsuit may look just as “in” as a pencil skirt and blouse. Color and style choices are whatever looks best on you.

According to fashion critic and editor Robin Givhan the Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 2012 collection – the very one stolen from a London bound train after Paris Fashion week – is the look that embodies the trends for the upcoming season. By sticking with some of the trends seen in major shows throughout the week while completely disregarding others, the Marc Jacobs Women’s Wear and Ready-to-Wear shows provided a unique take on what is to come this Spring 2012.

Work shirts and and dresses in dressed up gingham prints – at times ruffled or cut on the bias. While other designers used patterns inspired in Africa and India this year Jacobs stayed at home with a few shiny pastel versions of the all American classic.
Shoes with pointy toes were seen throughout the runways this year especially in the 1920s dance hall theme chosen for the Marc Jacobs Women’s Wear show. Short jackets with hemlines ranging from just below the bust or just to the hip. These are worn over sleeveless shift dresses. Warm bright colors like orange and fucshia. Aside from a very versatile bright orange shift dress first out in his ready-to-wear show, Jacobs used these colors sparingly, mainly as accent touches colorblocked against navy and shades of green. Only pastel green was notable in his pricier womenswear collection. Skirts just above the knee. Longer skirts can be shortened to above the knee by hiking them up in the front.

In fashion theory “Zeitgeist”; which means “the spirit of the times” in German; refers to fashions growing out of what is happening in the society around us. The fashion industry no longer controls the consumer. We will wear what we want to wear, what we can afford and what looks good on us. The industry is merely offering suggestions.

Bridget Foley; The Fashion System: Donna Karan Women’s Wear Daily; March 11, 2010
Hayley Phelan; “Accesory Ideas to Steal from the Spring Runways Now” Macy’s Blog ; September 28, 2011
Christina Binkley and Paul Sonne; “From Catwalk to Cat Burgular” Wall Street Journal Online November 18, 2011
Robin Givhan, “The Look that Defined Fashion Week” The Daily Beast; Sept 16, 2011
Barbara Vinken; Fashion Zeitgeist Trends and Cycles in the Fashion System; November 2004


People also view

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *