The Spring/Summer 2020 Runways were an explosion of color, sparkle, and shimmer! There was an air of femininity and opulence not seen for many decades, reminiscent of the 1980's. Let's take a stroll down memory lane as we learn what our favorite designers want us to be seen in this summer.
Ready-To-Wear Fashion
Marc Jacobs brought shock value to the runway with his collection of bright, vibrant color tones in pantsuits and floor-length skirts. Marigolds and yellows were prominent in this collection, along with shimmery fabrics. This summer you will also see a resurgence of dark florals in the store racks, along with plaids and vertical stripes. Pant legs will be huge, wide or flared. The shock factor was most prevalent in his voluptuous mini dresses, and gowns with floral feathers and fluff. Great stuff for people who like drama!
Michael Kors is bringing us a lot of A-line fashion in trench coats and knee-length skirts. Patterns will have bold checks and plaids in navy, blue and red with bright emerald accessories to add zing. Pantsuits will be prominent in his collection as well, with wide legs, pleats, and excessively long leg lengths that will literally trip you up! Jackets paired with pantsuits will still be tailored but with lots of poufy material in the shoulder area a.k.a 1984. Hoards of volume will be prevalent in the hip area in the form of ruffles and lots of ruching on dresses and skirts. Expect a lot of sparkle and glitz in vertical lines on dresses and pants. And don't think polka dots are passe because you will definitely be surprised!
Christian Siriano has created a beautiful collection of coat dresses, formal pantsuits, jumpsuits and cocktail dresses in stunning opulent fabrics. Jumpsuits have billowy sleeves and asymmetrical off-shoulder cut-outs. Color-blocking is prominent in his dresses and gowns with shimmering insets. Pastels are part of the collection in shades of mint green. Fringe with sparkle added to skirts and sleeves are something we will be seeing a lot of in his collection as well.
Jason Wu created the ultimate in flirty fashion and did not disappoint on the 2020 Spring Runway. His collection included mid-length floral dresses in airy, filmy fabric; pretty satin cocktail dresses with asymmetrical and plunging necklines; satin skirts with thigh-high slits; see-thru tulle skirts and dresses with fringe and feather-detailed bodices; and two-piece pantsuits with sashes and ruffled bra tops. Just lovely!
2020 Handbag Trends
The Teeny Tiny Bag
Get yourself a tiny bag this summer. They are all the rage in celebrity circles and some major players are bringing more in. Look for tiny satchels with handles from Longchamp; pretty yellow floral bags by Tory Burch; and small rectangular-shaped clutches from Oscar de la Renta.
The Sling Bag
One of the latest trends is the Sling Bag. These bags have wide shoulder straps and large bottom portions that resemble leather potato sacks or kangaroo pouches and hold almost as much! The designers offering them will include Jonathan Simkhai; Sies Marjan; Miu Miu; Hermes and Bottega Veneta.
Rounded Totes
The traditional tote has been modified with a more circular shape and a top handle made of metal. Alexander McQueen has a lovely new crochet model with floral appliques in white. Other designers of this modified style will be Miu Miu and Chloe.
Circle Shoulder Bags
Chloe brought this bag to the limelight a few years ago and it is still a cult favorite. A lot of similar versions will be available this summer by designers of vegan handbags for the budget conscious.
Bags with Fringe
Fringe was very prominent in the clothing collections on the spring runways but were not the exception. There were many colorful versions of fringe added to bags as well, in everything from pretty pastels to jewel tones. Designers included Missoni, JW Anderson, Prabal Gurung, Staud, and Ulla Johnson.
2020 Shoe Styles
Chunky shoes are absolutely being brought to the fore again in 2020 but the strappy sandal is also a front runner. Loafer-style sandals will be offered by Lanvin and Louis Vuitton, both sporting high chunky heels; a Mary-Jane style shoe with a high chunky heel by Chloe; some clog-like block platform sandals offered in jewel-tones by Dries Van Noten; and some '70's style tall platform boots will be offered by Gucci and Louis Vuitton. The designers of a variety of strappy sandals include Dior, Valentino, Isabel Marant, and Versace, not surprisingly. Etro has gone full-on Bohemian with their strappy sandals with added fringe, and their fold-over stiletto boots with studded patterns on the brims. Fendi has adopted the block heel to their sandal design that appears somewhat like a cross between sandals and loafers. Halpern has a unique way of designing chunky sandals with a feminine flair by adding embroidered detail and large satin bows. Burberry's strappy numbers have slope-backed heels and Christopher Kane has gone right off the rails with odd looking sandals I can't even describe!
If you expect to be overwhelmed by the volume in this summer's collections, don't worry. Just take what you can from them and adjust to suit! Be sure to check out my Bliss & Bling Pinterest pages for lots of great style ideas for every figure and personality!
