As the Spring/Summer 2017 shows are well underway, clear trend stories have already surfaced to steer the direction of design and development for the approaching season. Handbags embodied a playful charm with trinkets, tassels and whimsical embellishments galore.
Size was the point of focus with bags as small as lipstick cases worn across the body a la Valentino, miniature monogrammed iPhone cases at Louis Vuitton and matchboxes coiled over wrists at Hermès standing out against the gigantic extremes presented at Balenciaga, Gucci and Stella McCartney.
Graffiti illustrational prints, beading, iron-on patches and glitter found their way onto bags and shoes in exuberance accompanied with metal accents and vast leather surfaces. The footwear takes on a more laid back look fused with luxury and athleticism at the same time with details like crocs + embellished charms at Christopher Kane and Strappy platforms at Versace, giving us much to talk about. Team FFT presents to you an official report featuring a compiled list of exclusives analysed at the runways of top designers who showcased for S/S ’17.
Bag Brigade S/S ’17
The official arm-candy list pertaining to the runways of New York, London, Milan and Paris has been scrutinized for the coming season. Bags play with structure, size, detailing and shape giving ample room for creativity and unexpected designs to overflow in the approaching season. Details like thick and wide shoulder handles, fur and charm embellishments, and snakeskin prints were seen at show after show, hinting towards a definite trend for the season.
Mini Mania
Mini bags, barely the size of your hand, are in vogue this season. Alexander Wang, Chloe, Givenchy and many other top brands took seriously to the trend by translating it in duffle bags or the dual variety which can be playfully styled and held in the hand or worn as a cross body for ease. Details like riveting, bulky chains and tassels found their way in the collections of Coach, Elie Saab and John Galliano.
The Giants Are Back
‘More is less’, especially this season with designers going all out with respect to size and enlarged proportions for Spring/Summer 2017. Supersized, slouchy bags were spotted on almost all the major runways of New York, London, Milan and Paris. Balenciaga, Gucci and Stella McCartney presented bottomless bags that can be hand-held or carried under the shoulder while Celiné and Loewe introduced a foldable version which can be carried like a voluminous clutch. Marni presented a handheld version of the backpack.
Hands-Free Bags
The cross-body and the backpack have a new addition to their team with belt-bags making a major comeback this season! Hands-free is the newest trend and it has fast gained approval from major designers on the runways of Spring/Summer 2017. The variation in sizes made the styles stand out with Stella McCartney opting for a miniature belted at the waist as a belt bag; Valentino and Hermès introduced two bags clipped together, going to voluminous proportions with Maison Margiela and Marni opting for the famed backpack revisited afresh for the approaching season.
Nice To ‘Feet’ You
Spring romances with frivolity and playfulness with much abandon as the footwear along with its accessories, take on a more experimentative and daring tone. Details like embellishments, fringes, ruffles, athleticism inspired buckles and straps teamed up with tights and stockings under lace-up pumps and platforms demanded our undivided attention. Here are the top trends worth noting for S/S ’17:
Shoe Game
Footwear takes on a more daring tone with unexpected and fun undertones on one side and high-fashion labels adopting a more laid back athleisure inspired look on the other. Luxe meets casual at Dior and Dolce & Gabbana in keeping with the brands signature ideology.
Versace introduces buckled straps which are a throwback to the bygone 2000s while Christopher Kane and Isabel Marrant present a degree of frivolity with little charms and ruffle details, respectively.
Loud Stockings
Layering takes a fresh and dramatic turn with designers tilting towards the bottom after starting all the way from the top (fabric layering has been attempted and re-attempted umpteen number of times). Bold nylon tights layered underdresses and gowns paired with counteracting footwear, were spotted on the runways of Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga and Celiné. Another trend worth taking note of is the sock-in-heel combination which was undertaken by brands like Givenchy and Gucci in materials such as knit, lace and nylon.