Early Fall 2010 Predicitions: Part 2

For the first part of my Fall 2010 trend predictions, check out this previous post.

3. Military/Aviation. Admittedly, this isn't much of a prediciton. Everyone knows military looks were all over the spring runways--I'm simply predicting that the trend has enough steam to keep going for at least one more season. The crisp, severe looks that usually result from a military trend tend to work better for fall anyway. I do have one extra prediction relating to this trend that is new, however: I think that in fall, we're likely to see some looks based specifically on early aviation.


Photo from Style.com (click the image to visit the source).

This look from Burberry Prorsum's Pre-Fall 2010 collection is great; there is definitely something retro about the style, but not so overtly that it doesn't look hip and modern. While this is the only look from Pre-Fall 2010 so far that specifically recalls early aviation, Hilary Swank did recently play Amelia Earhart in a bio-pic, so the look may be fresh in designers minds.


Photo from TheFilmStage.com (click the image to visit the source).

Although the film didn't do terribly well, Swank's look from the film was seen enough leading up to the release of Amelia to have had the opportunity to inspire a designer or two. I've also predicted that the 1930s will be revisited next season, which if I'm correct, ties in easily with looks inspired by early aviation.

So how will this trend translate? The leather bomber with shearling lining (as in the Burberry look) is the sure-fire bet, but jodhpurs, boots, jumpsuits may also pop up. I wouldn't even be surprised if we saw goggles and leather caps with chin straps used on the runways as show accents, even if they don't make appearances in stores.

4. Medieval. Like the military trend, there were hints of medieval-flavored looks on the runways in spring. Since as a trend it make more sense with fall garments--capes, dark colors, rich embellishments--it's a fair bet for the fall collections. The items I saw in Spring 2010 collections that reminded me of medieval garments were quite subtle, but were definitely there:


Photo from Style.com (click the image to visit the source).

Okay, maybe because of my interest in costume history I see references to historic clothing when they're not explicitly there, but the gathering on the leggings and the tunic-like panel over the front of this Issey Miyake look reminds me of the leg bindings and early leggings you tend to see in medieval art. The cape is also reminiscent of medieval clothing. Below is an example of medieval leg binding:


An English King. Photo from Wikipedia (click the image to visit the source).

Early Medieval Celtic-style prints and motifs, featuring interwoven serpentine lines, made appearances in several shows this spring.


Rodarte. Photo from Style.com (click the image to visit the source).


Issey Miyake. Photo from Style.com (click the image to visit the source).


Givenchy. Photo from Style.com (click the image to visit the source).

I think this kind of print looks fresh at the moment. Plus, there's a kind of sinister vibe to these looks that I think appeals to a lot of designers trying to come up with hip clothes.