The CPD – International Trade Fair for Womenswear & Accessories held from 7th to 9th February 2010 at Dusseldorf, Germany presented 1,010 collections – including a variety of new brands – with the latest looks for the 2010/11 Autumn/Winter season. Despite difficult economic conditions CPD was on a par with last year’s event and slightly better than the July event.
In the fashion winter of 2010 alternatives are out. There are no more rules – at least no ostensible ones. Drawers will be emptied for good because after times of crisis everything is reshuffled – we feel a longing for something fresh, substantial, yet elegant charm and, above all, individuality. As philosopher Thomas Aquinas once said, “Fashion-conscious people are looking for wearable garments and the ultimate basis of all beauty is a certain harmony of contrasts”. And this is precisely the motto for this season. Achieving a balance is called for in fashion, now more than ever: living in harmony with ourselves.
Trends hover between global and regional, on a time line between the past and the future, caught in the balance between reality and imagination, in a calculation between the rational and the emotional and in the polarization between the standard and the avant-garde. Very much true to the motto “opposites attract” the Autumn/Winter 2010 fashion trends look to extremes. The key trends can be put under three directions –
Designers create a new language of form: glamorous armour that challenges eccentricity producing very subdued sex appeal through a precise interplay of classic colours, sharp geometric shapes and high-quality materials. Black leather in conjunction with lavish rhinestone embroidery, jackets with a metallic feel that seek alliances with denim, and jersey dresses in subdued red and petrol shades are the key looks here. Indispensable accessories: high-heel ankle boots and multiple chain necklaces. The special touch of this collection is the mix of casual styling and sophisticated chic.
Pure chill out…
In difficult times, style-conscious fashion followers take to protective cocooning. Security and wellness rank first. Soft wool and enveloping jersey fabrics create a sensual silhouette layer for layer. Here cotton blouses are coordinated with knitted waistcoats, ponchos and capes in delicate nude and powder shades and coordinated with skinny leggings and knitted leg warmers. These are teamed with coarse-knit shawls and caps plus wooden jewellery and big sunglasses to round off the look. Knitwear includes chunky knits, finest punto milano and fancy, multi-coloured yarns in loose-fitting or tunic-length styles. Wide, voluminous collars and long fringes create a luxurious look full of elegance.
Picture-perfect…
Winter evenings present a glamorous and a feminine silhouette. Shiny surfaces, full length robes and high collars are just as much part of this look as high-quality materials and unobtrusive elegance. Fragile shoulders meet with velvety pencil skirts or shot balloon skirts. Here the waistline is stressed by narrow belts or bows. The colour scheme ranges from dark red and blue tones to delicate beige and faded grey.