Five Trends for Spring 2007 From London, Paris, and Milan Fashion Shows-- New York Magazine

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The shows in London, Paris, and Milan were a struggle between rational and romantic. Short shapes dominated, and shiny lacquered spacebots were tempered by sheer layers and the occasional touch of froth.

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By Harriet Mays Powell & Amy Larocca
Published Oct 22, 2006

From left: Dolce & Gabbana, Hussein Chalayan, Balenciaga, Comme des Garçons, and Gareth Pugh

(Photo: FirstView)

1. You’ll Rent Blade Runner for Wardrobe Guidance.
Dolce & Gabbana looked to Judy Jetson for inspiration, while Balenciaga’s vibe was more Tron. Comme des Garçons played both sides (a plastic trench over a relatively old-fashioned suit), while Brit favorite Gareth Pugh’s fembots were dressed for Area 51. The future has arrived: Here’s what to wear.

>> Browse the collections: Dolce & Gabbana • Balenciaga

From left: Prada, Jil Sander, Lanvin, Christopher Kane, and Giambattista Valli

(Photo: FirstView)

2. You’ll Be Bold, Bright, and Brief.
Short was so ubiquitous, it doesn’t even get its own category. There was an abundance of Technicolor minis in the same color schemes we saw here: yellow on a short, full dress at Giambattista Valli and cobalt at Jil Sander. Sharp-edged satins worked the trend for Prada and Lanvin.

>> Browse the collections: Prada • Jil Sander • Lanvin

From left: Gianfranco Ferré, Marni, Jean Paul Gaultier, Lanvin, and Dries Van Noten

(Photo: FirstView)

3. The Sporty Trend Doesn’t Stop With Your Leggings.
Athletic touches are a sartorial perennial. They were back on Adidas-ish leggings at Marni, and a nearly nautical parka at Gianfranco Ferré. Gaultier spruced up a baseball jacket, and Lanvin went poolside, complete with racing backs.

>> Browse the collections: Marni • Jean Paul Gaultier • Dries Van Noten

From left: Balenciaga, Jil Sander, Marni, Lanvin, and Burberry Prorsum

(Photo: FirstView)

4. You’ll Yearn for a High Gloss.
There was so much shine on display, the runways looked like a candy dish. It showed up in primary colors at Marni (red), Balenciaga (blue), and Burberry Prorsum (yellow), and in reliable, basic glossy black at Lanvin and Jil Sander.

>> Browse the collections: Burberry Prorsum

From left: Giorgio Armani, Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, and Alexander McQueen

(Photo: FirstView)

5. At the End of the Day, You’ll Always Have Romance.
Soft, neutral evening dresses were an antidote to days of severe colors, shapes, and concepts, evoking words like sweet (the ruffles on a short dress at Louis Vuitton) and fresh (the milkmaid corsetry at Bottega Veneta).

>> Browse the collections: Giorgio Armani • Bottega Veneta • Louis Vuitton • Yves Saint Laurent • Alexander McQueen