The hottest trends this season: 2011 Spring/Summer

LAST week, Meld fashionista Jessica Pang and photographer Yihong Chew had a ball at the Melbourne Spring Fashion Week – but no, they didn’t spend the five days sitting in the front row socialising with fashion’s elites and sipping bubbly at the sparkling bar. They were busy taking notes and snapping photos to bring you the hottest trends this season.

Above, from left: MSFW 2011 runway looks from Bettina Liano, Megan Park, Obus, Alistair Trung. Photo: Yihong Chew.

Colour my world
Colour splash your spring wardrobe with vibrant hues! Bold and eye-popping shades will make your sun-sapped winter self stand out from the crowd. Fuchsia, bright orange, electric yellow and aqua blue were the hottest colours on the runway, but you can wear whatever shade catches your eye. To make an all-over high impact color statement stick to wearing just one colour at a time. Otherwise mix and match multiple intense colours for an adventurous look.

Above, from left: MSFW 2011 runway looks from Megan Park, Alice Euphemia, Bettina Liano, Obus. Photo: Yihong Chew.

Spring fling with prints
Experimenting with patterns is a must this spring with playful and quirky prints turning up in almost every designer’s collection. Bewilder in the sea of frantic graphics or assert your personality with fun tropical prints, sweet floral prints, wild tribal prints or bold geometric prints. Bonus points for mixing different prints in the same outfit.

Above, from left: MSFW 2011 runway looks from Green with Envy, LIFEwithBIRD, Kuwaii, Dhini. Photo: Yihong Chew.

Less is more
Choose clean and sleek lines drawn on pastel palettes to make a minimalist statement this spring. On the runway, chic simplicity was found in sheathes of soft-draped tulle, silk and chiffon. Sheer shirts looked fierce, while still maintaining a peek-a-boo ethereal vibe about them, and a sense of whimsy was in the spring air with buttery nude and white-washed dresses.

Above, from left: MSFW 2011 runway looks from Alistair Trung (all three from left), Limedrop. Photo: Yihong Chew.

Dainty long dresses
Farewell, mini. Hello, maxi. Pack away those short skirts and embrace longer, fuller dresses. Long gowns in a gamut of colors and styles bombarded the runway this spring. Stick to ones that finish below the knee for a romantic and feminine look. Sensual tail hems that are shorter at the front and longer at the back are also hot and let you show off your best footwear.

Above, from left: MSFW 2011 runway looks from Alice Euphemia, FAT, Above, LIFEwithBIRD. Photo: Yihong Chew.

Be down to earth
After a high-power party with the color-seeking clan, your weekend daywear should have all the calmness of warm and relaxing Mother Nature. Rust, tan, sienna, beige and desert-inspired colours should be worn on the days when you’re not looking for anything too colourful, but still want to stay in style. Earth tones are impossible to stuff up, regardless of your skin colouring, so  don’t be afraid to wear them tone on tone.

Can’t get enough of fashion? Check out our Facebook Page for photos and more photos from the Melbourne Spring Fashion Week.