2010 봄 패션 트렌드!?

Lighten up for spring

 

Spring has finally elbowed its way through the unusually long and cold winter.

Fashion-savvy men and women, however, will not have much time to celebrate and show off their spring wardrobe because the spring season seems to be getting shorter and shorter every year.

“It’s too bad because spring clothes are usually the most stylish ones. Now that spring is so short, I’m going to need perfect clothes ready for just the right timing to fully enjoy the season,” said 24-year-old Jeon Hye-seong.

If you feel the same way, here are some key points for efficient shopping before hitting the major department stores for the annual spring sales that run through next weekend.

Look for soft colors … almost nude

Black and monotone colors managed to stay popular last spring, but they are not having such luck this time.

Fashion industry insiders expect that streets will be filled with pastel tone colors like Indian pink, azure, mint cream, extra light yellow and even neutral shades that appear almost nude.

Soft colors dominate most fashion houses’ spring collection, from top-notch brands like Bottega Veneta and Prada to fast fashion brands like Mango.

Bottega Veneta came up with light beige jackets that demonstrate elegant shoulder lines while Prada presented adorable pink beige flat shoes with tiny holes punched in as detail.

Calvin Klein also chose light beige color for its main mini dress line and added some wrinkles to it, giving it a whole new lovely look.

Featuring the theme “Pure Light,” Mango’s 2010 Spring Collection is based on colors that remind one of the Mediterranean sea such as white and blue and also neutral colors like light gray and beige.

Those who dare not take the risk of throwing off black -- the magic color that makes everyone look slimmer -- can try giving some spring-like touches with a soft colored scarf.

Ladies, get feminine

It is time to lose the power shoulder jackets and tough leather booties.

The trend this spring is garments adorned with ultra-feminine touches like laces, chiffon, ruffles or flower patterns.

Fashion brands like Chanel and Ralph Lauren included dresses and blouses overflowing with flower prints or laced flowers in their 2010 S/S collections. When wearing such outfits that remind of "Little House on the Prairie," sandals with wooden details are a perfect match.

More affordable brands for many, like Mango or Le Shop, also joined in on this romantic look trend by adding various laces, knots, ribbons to their shirts and dresses.

This trend is also evident in women’s accessories.

Chanel presented wooden sandals with big, vivid flowers on top and while Christian Dior decorated its mini-size shoulder bag with pink leather lace. Flower or feather detailed headbands are already commonly spotted in Seoul’s fashionable spots like Myeongdong or Apgujeong-dong.

A little tip to help you achieve the right balance: If you think you’ve overdone the feminine touch, tone it down a notch with a neutral tone biker jacket or a denim jacket.

Gentlemen, get slim

Classic look is out and urban casual is in.

“Classic suits were popular during the last two years but this spring, urban casual style in which suits and trendy casuals are mix and matched are expected be in fashion. Try wearing a navy blazer over striped shirts with chino pants. By adding brown toned loafers and maybe a bowtie, you can call yourself fashion-forward,” said Lim Seong-mi, menswear design director at Cambridge Kolon.

When choosing the jackets or pants to mix and match, go for slim. Jacket fits are slimmer, especially on the waist line. The emphasis on slim applies to pants as well.

“In the case of pants, one should keep the length a bit short and have it end a little bit above where the shoe starts,” advised Heo Hoe-cheol, a menswear MD at Lotte Department Store.

Check patterns will come in handy if one would like to add some accent to the style.

Trugen, a menswear brand, presents various check patterns in jackets, pants, suits and trench coats. The patterns are generally a bit lighter that those Trugen showed last autumn.

To give a chic finishing touch to your new spring look, consider carrying -- on your hand not on your back -- a matching big bag. Big bags are not just for women and definitely not a transient fashion fad but a keeper, even for men.

Ice-washed denim still hot

Denim is common, but also fashion-sensitive.

Fashion insiders say that ice wash denim is still in fashion, continuing its reign since the latter half of last year.

Zara, a Spanish fashion brand, for example, is promoting ice wash denim as one of its main lines this spring.

“The collection includes every garment possible in denim, starting from a pair of jeans, shorts, skirts, shirts, jackets and dresses,” said Seo Min-jeong, a Zara spokesperson.

Feel free to go a bit overboard with denim.

Wearing all pieces, like a pair of jeans or a jean skirt with a denim shirt, which was considered taboo in the last few decades, has made a fancy comeback. Several popular young singers are leading the trend, appearing on television in this retro fashion.

Of course, this does risk ending up a trend of only a minority of people, just like the high-rise jeans that came back on the map a few years ago but never successfully reached the broader public.

By Park Min-young (claire@heraldm.com)