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Female Fashion Trends 2003/4By Pauline Weston Thomas for Fashion-Era.com |
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Female Fashion Trends 2003/4
Read more below about the colours and fabrics to look out for during 2003. Read more fully about 2004 here, 2005, 2006 and 2007 here. If you love feminine clothes you are in for a real treat this spring/summer. It has been years since the shops have been flooded with such pretty clothes in an array of so many attractive colours and mixtures. Spring - Summer 2003 Fashion Colour TrendsColours for Spring and Summer 2003 include taupe, beige, chocolate, agate slices, peach, nude, soft rose, antique pink, dusty pink, deeper rose, ochre, gold, pale olive green, deeper tones of olive, apple green, chartreuse green, whitened aniseed green, safari shades, misty khaki, military green, soft blue grey, light blue, lapis blue, poppy red, Chinese red and of course the ever present great mixers black, white and cream. Pastels, sherbet and ice cream sorbet colours will help fix the quality of some of these colours in your mind. Think of pretty soft colour mixtures in fabrics like pastel pink with a very soft creamy lemon. The mood it creates is soft, feminine and ethereal. In addition there will also be some fluorescent colours such as hot pinks, electric blue, sea green, peachy orange and canary yellow reminiscent of exotic tropical floral prints, birds of paradise and butterfly wings. With such a range of colours there really is something to suit most complexions and tastes. For this range think of the strength of colour used in both Indian and Chinese traditional ceremonial dress. But remember you make the choice so if neon colours are something you hate just leave the items in the shops. If some ordinary, but bright colours shock you too much when you see them in the shops, yet you want to dare to wear really bright colours, but are not old enough to have experienced them in the 1980s then it really is a good idea to mix and soften some of these stronger colour schemes with safer tones like taupe or grey. Autumn - Winter 2003/2004 Fashion Colour TrendsColours to expect to see in the shops Autumn 2003 include those same soft ice cream looks that may well be described by then as fondant colours. The range includes some of these such as pistachio green, ecru, pale gold, buttercup yellow, camel, tea rose, raspberry pink, pink, dusty pink, bright pink, hot pink, cranberry, orchid pink, aqua, carbon blue, rust browns, brick, havana, tortoiseshell, grey, gunmetal grey, mole, taupe, and khaki. Other interesting schemes include some strong colours with fruit shades which show 60's influence. Colours for Autumn/ Winter 2003-2004 follow on well from summer 2003. But many of the winter's important colours will have a metallic cast or gunmetal sheen making for exciting dimensions in clothing. The grey range travels from blonde to all tones of grey through to deepest black. For Autumn-Winter 2003/4 the top colours will be truffle, cigar and a blued charcoal, but with red and the metallic shimmer of gunmetal, silver, gilt and copper bringing a dynamic note to these neutral tones. Fabric Trends 2003/2004For Spring and Summer 2003 the season's biggest looks will be mist like chiffons and satin in abundance. Movie star glamour will be evident from not just the dance floor as pretty feminine elegant ladylike dresses, but also at the sports field. Satin fabrics are already on the high street made up into bomber jackets, off the shoulder tops, mini skirts, Chinese jackets, cargo pants, wrap skirts and satin dresses. This satin look can work if you are realistic about your size. If you are slender you can slink in satin with ease, but if you have larger areas best kept covered, then choose satin items such as little tops or shirts to be worn under jackets or other layers. Don't dismiss satin as a fad that won't catch on for daywear. Satin was hugely popular as a day fabric in the early seventies. These satin looks will be enhanced by a resurgence in the use of pearls and diamante as accessories. The satin combined with other fabrics such as suede, chiffon, parachute silk and cashmere that heighten the sense of luxury and richness, will contrast beautifully with these light reflective fabrics making them appear even more lustrous and glamorous. When worn with gold or silver sandals and other metallic shoes about to hit the market the movie star image will be complete. By Autumn Winter 2003/4 expect to see embroidered chiffons, plaids, tapestry style jacquard fabrics with rich embossed textures of coppery or other metallic yarns as well as metallic brocades, gunmetal silks, pastel suede lined with patterned soft fine fleeces, macramé style lace knits, laser cut work and diamante and contrast fabric bonding. Fashion Trends 2003/2004There is a look for everyone. You can find anything this season from floaty tea dresses, satin sportswear, Chinese/Japanese styling to techno sporty. Begin to look now for items with cinched waists and if you are a young young girl you can cope with the latest mini skirt and mini kilt styles. In the UK Topshop are already selling a great line in mini skirts and gold satin bomber jackets (Feb 2003). These items are also forecast as heavy sellers for the autumn when worn with solid block coloured tights and flat boots. See this kind of look in the UK in shops like Zara as well as among hot designer labels. If older and your legs are good and you have the confidence go for it. But do remember you do need really good legs to wear a mini skirt and a lined face may not quite match the overall effect the designers intended. One way most can wear the mini is the way it has been presented at some shows with trousers worn underneath. Summer trends include laser cut work and Broderie Anglaise effects in materials and floating chiffon fabrics often with a pale tea coloured background and overprinted in vintage rose patterns. Look out for details in both clothing and accessories of crochet trims, sequins, lacing, coiled leather disc decoration, metal zips, studs/grommets or punched silver holes. Fabrics with spots, stripes, tropical and rose prints will vie with sporty looks including combat pants of every style and description. In contrast watch for V necks that plunge deeply and fabrics that fold and drape in the style of gown folds of Grecian women. The Oriental look will be seen typically in satin, but also as dragons embroidered on the back of T shirts. Chinese ball buttons made of soutache braid and little braid loops will feature with mandarin style necklines and embroidered oriental bags and accessories. Chiffon embroidered long scarves are a simple way to add this look. In footwear, imitation of a pair of Manolos has reached a pinnacle. Look out for thin heeled, thin strappy sandals, T bar shoes, lots of Grecian ankle wrapping straps on elegant high heeled shoes as well as absolutely flat shoes in many colours from acid lemon, chartreuse green to orchid pink and more. Some shoes will appear to float under the foot, because the strap or upper is in a clear quality plastic. Gucci for example have shoes made this way. An old favourite the paisley pattern will reappear made up in just about every fabric available from wool to chiffon. By total contrast to chiffon, next winter will see fur continue to be used as both a trim and fabric. In particular cropped fur bomber jackets teamed with tight velvet trousers will translate to the high street well and will suit many in need of a fresh look. Luxury will still continue as old favoured yarns of recent years like cashmere and alpaca, sometimes silk are brushed to make them airy, whilst boiled wools become softer. Everyone will be on the look out for soft clothes to cocoon in and manufacturers sensing this demand will be meeting it with innovations in softer sportswear and housewear. Italian influences in clothes take the form of some forties styles tailored short wool suits, tweed skirts. Similarly the USA team Proenza Schouler have opted for spick and span tailoring and sophisticated 50s inspired cocktail frocks. Groomed ladies are here to stay this year whether in a summer tea dress or a winter fitted suit. The most exclusive and elusive fashion will be getting the right bag before it's out of favour. Clothes to Avoid or Keep in 2003Avoid the expense of buying as a fad is fading. Start to avoid all over tans and over doing the fake tan look that really is so obvious. Remember this year it's block colour tights, not tans on legs. Avoid too dresses with long thigh splits, now passé rigid bustiers, dungarees, tassels, frilly skirts, and Capri pants. Keep all your denim items and try distressing what you have even more. Get a great scrubbing or wire brush and work up a sweat abrading the surface of the fabric. If you bought into military items from Russian style winter coats to combats hang onto them wearing them with pretty high heels. Chiffon will be everywhere this year so save every chiffon item you have as they are great worn over another item or as stand alone garments. The forthcoming season will have even more floating gauze like fabrics. ~ What Do You Need to Wear in Spring 2003?As February draws to a close and hints of fashion predictions for Autumn/Winter 2003/2004 are flooding our newspapers and television screens, now is the time to start thinking seriously about this season's must have items to add a little zest to your wardrobe. In the sections How to Assess a Fashion Look Parts 1 and 2 I give advice on the preparation you need to make before you hurtle through the shops buying everything that catches your eye. I'll just remind you that the basic advice that works well every time, simply involves a little self discipline:- 1. Before buying clothes for a new season get half a dozen fashion magazines, settle down for the evening and scour them for details of new looks that keep cropping up. Check the colours, silhouette shapes, footwear, hairstyles, jewellery, accessories and fabrics too. 2. Spend 15 minutes putting your own wardrobe into apple pie colour order. Seriously check it for colours and styles you already have as you work on it. Absorb mentally the information within the existing wardrobe and remove items you hate whilst thinking about new items to update and bridge the gaps. 3. If your busy schedule permits time wise, go shopping not to buy, but just to look. The following week go shopping knowing what you really want to purchase. If you have to shop and buy on the first visit, take cash so you only buy what you really need rather than fancy on a whim with a credit card. That way you won't waste money on some useless garment and you really may be able to afford the designer item you lust after. 4. Keep in mind a mental or written note of the colours of the new season that you know suit you and may well already mix well with your existing wardrobe. So before you go shopping you need to be familiar with the basic colours to look out for and shown above. It's a good idea to also be aware of the autumn/winter colours at the same time so you can make decisions that carry well through seasons. Initially you need to be self disciplined about this and first bridge those gaps that will make outfits hang together whilst updating your look. Only then should you splash out on that frivolous item that keeps you awake at night because you must just have it. Remember that fabric manufacturers usually move through tonal families from lighter summer shades to heavier tones of a near colour for winter. Similarly if you buy within a particular garment brand you will find that colour ranges move the same way every 6 to 8 weeks as stock is added to and refreshed. Read more fully about 2004 here, 2005, 2006 and 2007 here. (Page Date 2003) * For more information on ladies and teens fashion trends go to:-
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