TOP FALL 2010 TRENDS: #10 TRANSPARENCY

May 4, 2010

Starting today, I will be providing my Top 10 list of Market Trends for the Fall 2010 season.

The Sche Report is all about helping you stay ahead and see what’s next on the radar. Information provided will be broken down in a format that is more directional and informational rather than general. This will allow everyone from the shopper to the retailer or manufacturer best figure out how to wear/interpret the trend.

My #10 Item for Fall 2010 is TRANSPARENCY.

This is by no means something we haven’t seen before, but this season really took the trend to a much wider audience with all of it’s variations of styling and everyone from high-end to low-end will be emulating the looks seen below. Designers such as Valentino, Stella McCartney, Giambattista Valli, YSL, Christian Dior, Vanessa Bruno, Dolce and Gabbana, Givenchy and Maison Martin Margiela all had interpretations of this trend on their runways.

I saw three major interpretations of this trend: LATE 50′s , SOFT FEMININE and MODERN TECH.

LATE 50′S TRANSPARENCY

This Fall, many designers made references to the 50′s in their silhouettes as well as in their styling. Dolce and Gabbana, Valentino and Moschino all partnered transparency with lace and shift style dresses. Traditional tailoring was paired with sheer insets and arms. Bodice styles were accented with sheer connected blouses and full skirts had transparent insets.

Dolce & Gabbana's take using lace within a 50's silhouette

Also Dolce, the crew neck sheer blouse attached to the top of the dress is a classic 50's dress detail. The pairing of lace and the full skirt is also reminiscent of this era.

Valentino's take using the same design technique of transparency attached to a dress bodice.

Valentino also used sheer fabrics with lace cut-outs and panels

YSL's look was a bit less fluid, instead using transparency in capes and capelets paired with 50's styling

Moschino also dictated the same trend with sheer arms and shift dresses

Akris' sheer shoulders paired with a shift dress

SOFT FEMININE TRANSPARENCY

For this version of the Transparent look, sheer chiffon feminine fabrics are used to tell the story. Soft layers of sheer are paired with soft knitwear and furs for a sexy Bohemian 70′s version. Vanessa Bruno paired sheer chiffon with lightweight layers of knits as did Sonia Rykiel. Christian Dior’s collection was amazing using sheer layers of chiffon to evoke a lightweight and luxurious feel.

Christian Dior feminine take on transparent chiffon

Christian Dior's version

Ruffles and frills with see-thru fabrics

Dior paired chiffon with knit underwear and over the knee socks

Vanessa Bruno's girl was a bit more utilitarian but still sexy and layered with lightweight knits

Vanessa Bruno transparent dress layered over fine gauge knit bodysuit

Vanessa Bruno shows how to wear transparent chiffon over lightweight knits

Sonia Rykiel shows transparent knitwear that has a soft feminine take on the trend

MODERN TECH TRANSPARENCY

The last interpretation seen on the runway of this trend is using transparency through modern styling. Whether used in a Utilitarian way or within a modern silhouette, designers from Margiela to Marni and Stella McCartney all graced the runways with their versions. To follow this trend, use transparency to create architectural shapes or to create defined lines within the context of a layered outfit.