Paris Spring 2008: Trendspotting

It's true that Paris is not The Cult's favorite fashion week, but it cannot be denied that the city is still at the helm of the fashion world. Shows in the City of Lights tend more toward the avant garde than in any other of the four best knows fashion weeks (New York, London, Milan, Paris). Accordingly, the French capital is the best place to do a little trendspotting. Some of what you see here will be in New York too... in about 3 years.

Trend 1: Suddenly See-Thru
This is one of those maddening trends that taunts and teases the average fashion-lover. Sure, if you a runway-strutting model, or a daredevil red carpet dweller, this is great. But for us everyday smucks, this see-thru crap is about as useful as cup with the bottom cut out.

A.F. Vandevorst


Christian Dior


Karl Lagerfield


Andrew Gn


Celine





Trend 2: Extreme Asymmetry
We're not talking a crooked hemline or a one shoulder gown here. I mean, it-looks-like-two-completely-different-outfits-sewn-together kind of asymmetry. This, too, is hard for us common folk to pull off. But it a lot less likely to get you a public nudity charge.

Chloe


Commes Des Garcons


Yohji Yamamoto


Yves Saint Laurent





Trend 3: Over-the-Top Florals
Aack! It seems that someone has over-fertilized the fashion soil for next year, because the floral prints have run an absolute muck. Not only are there tons of flowers, there are tons of colors and tons of print mixing. This is an extremely delicate look to pull off. Some of the models couldn't even do it.

Dries Van Noten


Paul & Joe


Nina Ricci


Balenciaga


Kenzo





Trend 4: Color Gradation
There must have been some kind of new technology that made this kind of fabric easier to make. Or maybe it's just one of those "spontaneous" resurgences in such things as rainbows. Anyhow, color shifting garments are h ho hot.

Alexander McQueen


Givenchy


A.F. Vandevorst


Anne Valerie Hash





Trend 5: Future Fix
After several seasons of being mired in retro looks, fashion is turning again toward looking ahead. Designers are present the suppositions on what will be chic post-Jetsons and Star Trek.

Alexander McQueen


Balenciaga


Celine


Maison Martin Margiela

Tags: paris, spring, fashion, 2008, trends, style, runway, designer, chloe, balenciaga, yves saint laurent, celine, givenchy, karl lagerfield, christain dior

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