Runway to Street: The trend evolution

Last year, thousands of girls got feather extensions in their hair. The hair trend was so widespread that it caused a plume shortage in fly-fishing shops (where girls originally got hold of their feathers), and salons had to quickly update their menus to fulfill the new style demand. What made feather hair extensions so popular? Who decided that this was the hair trend of the year?

Surprisingly, it's the same people who decide the trends every year -- and not just in the hair department.

The experts say most trends start the same way. First, on the runway. It can be elaborate, crazy, or borderline unwearable. (For example, Cushnie et Ochs and Gucci both showcased hair feathers on the runway in their Fall 2011 collections.) Next, the trend filters down to the red carpet, with stars using the fad in a more wearable way. (Miley Cyrus, Vanessa Hudgens, and Ke$ha are just a few celebs who took to the feather hair trend.) Finally, it reaches the masses: real girls who take the trend and remake it in their own way. It's called a trend evolution, and it happens all the time.

Dark Lips on the Runway

Moving away from bright lip colors, dark shades appeared all over the runways during New York Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week held in February of this year. Christian Siriano paired his deep mulberry hue with dark, subdued ball gowns and black and white knee-length dresses, while Badgley Mischka coordinated dark lips with long, over-the-top gowns. Also jumping on the vampy lip bandwagon were Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Hannibal Laguna, and Alice + Olivia.

Dark Lips on the Red Carpet

It wasn't until the end of spring that stars really began embracing the dark lip trend. One major event that kicked off this trend was the Met Ball (also known as the Costume Institute Gala), on May 9, 2012. Among those brave enough to try the deep red hue were Camilla Belle, Leighton Meester, Kate Bosworth, and Jessica Alba.

On other red carpets, celebs like Emma Stone and Rose Byrne also embraced the dark lip trend.

Dark Lips on Real Girls

Off the runways and the red carpet, the dark lip has made an impact as the current hot makeup look. To pull off this trend, Jessie Powers, Make Up For Ever National Educator, says to consider your skin tone.

If you have fair skin, Powers recommends a gloss. "The transparent nature of a gloss will let a little of your natural lip color come through and soften the overall contrast between lip color and skin." She suggests Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lipstain + Balm Stain in Beloved ,  £5.99.

For medium skin tones, stick with a burgundy shade, like Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Silky Sensual Lipstick SPF 15 in Exquisite Plum, £23.50 , or Clinique Long Last Lipstick in Vintage Wine, £16.50.

If you have dark skin, go for a really deep shade, like Nars Lipstick in Viridiana, £18. "Deep skin tones can get away with pushing the envelope with vampy dark lipsticks, so be daring and choose a color that looks almost too dark to wear," says Powers.

Neon on the Runway

While the neon trend seemed sudden, it actually brewed on the runways for a few seasons, beginning with Christopher Kane's Spring/Summer 2011 collection. His models took to the catwalk in soft neon lace dresses. One year later, Nanette Lepore went for more shocking neon outfits -- complete hot pink dresses covered by neon green jackets, and multi-hued neon shoes. Other designers who featured neon in their Spring/Summer 2012 collections included Peter Som, Jason Wu, Rag and Bone, and Rodarte.

Neon on the Red Carpet

Mere months after Fashion Week, celebrities started stepping out in neon. In January, Ginnifer Goodwin wore a hot pink dress with bell sleeves to the 2012 People's Choice Awards, and Solange Knowles wore a neon green dress accessorized with a hot pink purse to a Tiffany event. Katy Perry, Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, and Kim Kardashian also tried out the trend, but in a more subdued way -- some with just one neon piece like a shirt or pair of jeans, while the rest of their outfits remained neutral.

Neon on Real Girls

When neon hit the streets, a few girls were bold enough to try an all-neon dress, though many opted for just touches of neon, either in a skirt or sheer top. To balance the crazy bright color, many choose toned down fabric for the rest of their outfit. (Something to think about when you decide to try the trend.)

If you're not ready to go full neon, there are plenty of other ways to incorporate it into your wardrobe.

Blunt Bangs on the Runway

Are you a fan of blunt bangs? While this type of fringe has been in and out throughout the decades, blunt bangs made quite an impression at Paris Fashion Week. Elie Saab and Hermes both sent models down the runway with severe, blunt bangs. Other shows followed suit, such as Kate Spade, Versace, and Marni.

Blunt Bangs on the Red Carpet

There are always a few celebrities who pull off the blunt bang look year after year, like Zooey Deschanel and Katy Perry. But it really started trending with the A-listers when Rooney Mara walked the red carpet at the 2012 Academy Awards. Jessica Biel, Kim Kardashian, and Taylor Swift were quick converts.

Blunt Bangs on Real Girls

A hard, blunt bang is not an easy look for most face shapes, so kudos to the girls who can actually pull it off. While the blunt bang is the preferred bang of the season, all types of fringe are in, from rounded wispy bangs to the side-swept swoop. All that matters is that you consider your face shape before you undergo the chop.

Peplum on the Runway

The peplum, a short overskirt usually attached to a jacket, made its first appearance in the 19th century. However, it was in 2012 that the look really came back. On the runway, Badgley Mischka, Jason Wu, Cushnie et Ochs, Givenchy, and Thakoon all showcased the peplum in a variety of ways, attaching the overskirt to jackets, dresses, skirts, tops, and maxis.

Peplum on the Red Carpet

Peplums started appearing on the red carpet as early as the 2012 Academy Awards when Michelle Williams wore a full-length, peplum-included Louis Vuitton gown. Other celebs tried the trend with peplum cocktail dresses, like Scarlett Johannsson, Charlize Theron, and Jennifer Aniston.

Peplum on Real Girls

When the mainstream picked up on the trend, many girls tried the peplum with their jackets, shirts, and cocktail dresses. And with stores like Forever 21 and H&M carrying many peplum styles, it's a trend that easily accessible. Another great thing about the peplum? It's flattering on a variety of body types. It adds the illusion of curves to petite or rectangular shapes, emphasizes a small waist for those with an hourglass figure, balances out an apple-shaped body, or hides a larger lower half for those with a pear-shape.










With all that said, most of these trends have easily transcended from the runway onto the highstreet.  I really feel that these trends for the Spring/Summer was some of THE most exciting that we've had for many seasons.

I can't wait to see what else comes through trend-wise in the next few months for Autumn/Winter 2012.

What do you think? 

xoxo,
Angelique