2010 will be an exciting year for fashion; experts predict that we’ll emerge from the global financial crisis and, as a result, we can expect to see a new standard of fashion rise up. Introducing 2010 fashion trends. Classically inspired but with a serious infusion of the sex and skin, this is what we’ll be wearing in 2010.

Spring/Summer 2010 Clothes: Key Looks

Hot pants & boy shorts

If ever there was a time to hit the gym, it’s this Spring. Hemlines have crept up to shorter than short;   in fact reaching the negative. Hot pants, boy shorts, and tap pants are all variations on this shorter-than-short style, which in many cases reveal more than just one’s legs.

Knee high & over the knee socks

Knee high socks – as well as over-the-knee and thigh high socks – are back as a trend, and the options on how to wear them are many. From the sporty to the sparkly, to layering’s of socks over tights; a great pair of socks can add volumes to an outfit.

Future warrior

The military and tribal trends collide to become this fierce fashion trend. Ancient civilizations come to life in leather tunics, metal plating, and war paint. Unequivocally fearless and with room for endless creativity, the main criteria for the modern warrior is confidence.

High dress splits

How to pull off the ultimate in sexy without reaching for the micro-mini? Add a long dress with a high split to your Spring wardrobe. From Versace’s knock-out gowns to Lanvin’s elegantly draping numbers, we look at numerous ways to rock a high dress split.

2010 Bikinis and swimwear

Find out what swimwear you’ll be wearing when you hit the beach this Summer with our Bikinis 2009/2010 trends guide. Which monikinis should you be wearing? And what style of bikinis? And which designer is making the sexiest, must-have pieces?

Sportswear: sporty clothing

Sportswear takes on a whole new level of cool when it hits trend status in 2010. Football inspirations turn tomboy chic to sexy yet effortless looks; while Bond girl scuba inspired clothing is the pinnacle of sporty bombshell. Dance and 20s inspired tennis looks also feature in our comprehensive look at sporty clothing in 2010.

Jumpsuits & play suits

Every so often, one-piece styles of clothing have a revival. What started with bodysuits and leotards is now becoming a fully-fledged trend towards jumpsuits, play suits, and rompers. As a unique style for Spring 2010, they won’t be for everyone, but they will offer more options than you’d think.

Patterned & printed pants

No longer must we stick to boring block colors on our lower half, for all varieties of printed pants have made their way onto the Spring runways. Whether floral, striped, abstract, bold or subdued… patterns on pants are giving us new bold wardrobe options for the warmer months.

Slim Your Silhouette With Leggings

For women that ‘stand out’ look is just about to get a whole lot easier thanks to the hottest trend for shoes in 2010: thigh high boots.

Over-the-knee boots by Loewe, Hermes, Hussein Chalayan, and Louis Vuitto

Yes, over-the-knee boots are back with a vengeance but this 2009/2010 shoe trend won’t stop there. In fact, the top of your boots will be going much higher: thigh-high boots are going mainstream.

Over-the-knee and thigh-high are undoubtedly the hottest shoe trend for women in the Autumn (Fall)/Winter season, but while they scream ‘sex’ make sure they don’t do it in the wrong way. Let’s not forget, that both styles of boots are also the domain of those lovely women one sees quite frequently at night ensuring that cars don’t linger for too long near street corners. So to avoid the “I wonder how much she charges” glances I recommend you also avoid two main things with any pair of over-the-knee or thigh-high boots you decide to invest in: chunky heels and a high-sheen patent finish.

Styles

Classic: for a classic or elegant take on the over-the-knee boot, your best bet is to go for a slim-fitting suede pair with a round or tapered toe. Look no further than Hermes or Isabel Marant for some perfect examples of styles that will stand the test of time.

Rock: the right pair of tight black leather over-the-knee boots screams rock-chic; tough, but sexy. Check out Ohne Titel, Yigal Azrouel, Barbara Bui and Jean Paul Gaultier for some key examples.

Futurism/Cyberpunk: building upon the cyberpunk influences of recent years, some designers have thrown an element of dark futurism into the thigh-high boot mix. Particularly evident in the wound-and-bound effects of boots by Rodarte and Topshop Unique, this is a trend I expect we’ll see more of in coming seasons.

Leather thigh-high boots by Topshop Unique, Chloe, Ohne Titel, & Rodarte

Quirky: if none of the above is quite bold enough for you, and you really want to stand out this winter, there have been many other less subtle takes on this trend to hit the runway. Louis Vuitton introduced metallics and top-to-toe laces, while Hussein Chalayan’s garter-topped thigh-highs are nothing short of brazen. Do be warned though; if long-term wearability is what you’re after then this is probably not the road to go down.

One other thing that you should avoid: wearing thigh-high boots in place of pants, leggings or other form of leg covers as we saw on the Prada 2009/2010 catwalk.

And oh yeah, we were all wearing flannel shirts.

The flannel shirt trend came out of the Seattle thrift store culture and it accompanied the Grunge music wave that swept the nation. It seems that pre-Starbucks, Seattle only had one other employer of note, Boeing, which was having a tough time of it’s own back then. When the dismal state of Seattle’s employment picture combined itself with our national hangover from eighties excess, the stage was set for the emergence of Grunge as nineties teens sought to own their moment, recession and all.

Two recessions later, it appears that the flannel shirt is coming back.

Today’s Grunge Comeback
The children of the the eighties and early nineties are now grown up homeowners and they’re cutting back on the allowances they give their now-teenage children. With teenage unemployment in the 20 percent range, what once was old is new again as that grungie feeling is coming back.

The kids of this generation are being offered the flannel shirt look from just about every teen-focused retailer in their rapidly-deteriorating local shopping mall. The cool kids will hit the vintage and thrift stores like mommy and daddy did back in ‘91. The rest will take mommy and daddy’s maxed-out credit cards to the mall and miss the point of grunge fashion entirely.Return of the Flannel Shirt: Recession Kids Get Their Grunge OnReturn of the Flannel Shirt: Recession Kids Get Their Grunge On

In fashion there’s no winter without fur. And it doesn’t matter how many people will protest against wearing fur and how many times they will try to persuade us, fashionistas that it’s cruel and unnecessary -  fur is always back for winter.

Great designers don’t deny that fur is a part of the industry and some of them have even a funny excuse to the accusation of killing animals.

The fashion designer Lagerfeld has defended the fur industry saying it is justified because the “beasts” fur comes from would “kill us if they could.”

Fur for Fall 2009 and Winter 2010

Fur has always been a leading trend for winter and this time it is hotter than ever. It’s not only about how many different styles of fur you can wear but also about the variety of colours that you can choose from. Designers such as Giambatista Valli and Emilio Pucci subtly dyed their fur green or blue while Dolce & Gabbana made a big impact with a crazy pink faux fur.

Types of fur for fall 2009 and winter 2010:

Stoles

Is a great choice. Christian Lacroix suggests a one made of white foxes’ tails. Derek Lam, on the other hand choses minks.

Boleros

The hottest ones are elbow-length. Kenzo suggests a wonderful silver beaver fur and combines it with a colourful dress so that the outfit doesn’t get dull. Givenchy goes for a sable fur.

Black and white monochrome looks are one of the few real trends in woman’s fashion.  Monochrome is one of the simplest, most chic of looks to work whatever the year.  Monochrome never fails to gain attention when done well.

Monochrome is easy for creating a fairly effortless travel wardrobe, and it can be given the lift of the moment with a bright accessory taken straight from the latest color trend chart. If color blocking with paintbox colors is not for you, then go monochrome.

Think neutral. Think black with white. Think of alternating all black or all white garments with the opposite contrasting accessories.

The Monochrome Touch For The LBD

The simplest looks depend on a basic black or white dress, with the alternate tone as an accent.  In these cases you don’t even have to work hard on getting an accessory as it comes with the garment.

Starting simply with a little black number and a touch of white or ivory cream here we see the major floral rose trimming trend that features throughout clothes for 2009.

Roses are either added as applied pin-on pieces, appliqué, or fabric print as shown below right. If you are suffering with credit crunch wardrobe deficits then the addition of simple contrast corsage or belt to an existing black or white dress maybe your instant update.

The first two images left feature a bold ivory white corsage rose. The near right cap sleeved LBD is brought bang up to date with bow trim at the waistline. You are reading an original article about how black and white monochrome fashion designs are influencing fashions in the USA and Europe for 2009.

Geometry in Dress

Architecture and geometry are a feature of many pieces even on the high street. Catwalk inspiration comes from many designers, but for circular references Chloe was inspirational.  Geometry can affect both the cut shape of a garment and also be introduced as linear patterns and print.

The first dress feature a play with striped pattern, crossover back straps and tulip skirt. The central shift dress below looks to the catwalk with its feature collar using circular scallops. The last prom dress uses dynamic angles and parallel lines to create a bold striking pattern that will ensure lots of attention.

Simple shift dresses in plain white accessorize well with black patent or mixed black and white accessories. The high street has plenty of selection among white dresses or white and black garments. Tribal and animal references are used across the fashion ranges.

Wide belts instantly create a dynamic look on any black and white dress.

I found this dress on a very cool website called Barterquest.com. I love this dress, it is so simple and cute, if you don’t want to spend money you should visit this website because I am sure you would find something for you too.

Dress Up, Dress Down

Dressing up or dressing down can be very easy with a wardrobe based on monochrome. Monochrome is simple and elegant. It can be the perfect answer when you have no idea what to wear as it adapts itself so easily to any occasion. The look is always chic, never tawdry or out of place. The most classic example of all is the nautical fashion take, but as a black and white striped top, trimmed with this season’s hot haberdashery a self fabric rose flower.
The first image below is courtesy of Boden.

Military-cut jackets are a trend for this season, with a sober and classic style that transports us back to Waterloo with armies in war. The military style is a trend originating from the XIX century, including velvet or wool garments with golden buttons in double row.

Nowadays, the military-cut jackets have a Sargent Pepper style. However, it is different to the Michael Jackson’s look as if he would have been participating in a circus band. Instead, the current trend has a sober and elegant style in dark colors, mainly black. These colors emphasize the golden buttons and some embroidery details.

There are several ways to wear chunky knits this season. Easiest, of course, is wearing the look as an accessory. Topshop Unique Autumn (Fall) / Winter 2009/2010 certainly took that to be the case, sending a knit scarf down the catwalk that was so extreme it might even look out of place on a couture catwalk. Made no less eye catching by its use of an unseasonal blue, those looking for something extreme that doesn’t verge on the ridiculous might instead turn to a chunky knit jumper.
The sweater / jumper look again featured on TopShop’s catwalk, and while extreme it did so in an interpretation of red better suited to a Winter wardrobe, though the over sized jumper dress from Missoni was more to our taste.
Those looking for an infusion of sex, however, can’t go past open-weave knits, such as Julien MacDonald’s Autumn (Fall) / Winter 2009 / 2010 chunky knit dress offering. Again an extreme interpretation of the look, while it certainly features a mass of knitting perfect for the look it is the Winter interpretation of the cutaway fashion trend that makes this dress a must-have piece for a woman’s Autumn (Fall) 2009 wardrobe.
For some chunky knit fashion trend inspiration be sure to click on the pictures below and peruse some of the looks from the Autumn (Fall) / Winter 2009 / 2010 catwalks.

And oh yeah, we were all wearing flannel shirts.

The flannel shirt trend came out of the Seattle thrift store culture and it accompanied the Grunge music wave that swept the nation. It seems that pre-Starbucks, Seattle only had one other employer of note, Boeing, which was having a tough time of it’s own back then. When the dismal state of Seattle’s employment picture combined itself with our national hangover from eighties excess, the stage was set for the emergence of Grunge as nineties teens sought to own their moment, recession and all.
Two recessions later, it appears that the flannel shirt is coming back.

Today’s Grunge Comeback
The children of the the eighties and early nineties are now grown up homeowners and they’re cutting back on the allowances they give their now-teenage children. With teenage unemployment in the 20 percent range, what once was old is new again as that grungie feeling is coming back.

The kids of this generation are being offered the flannel shirt look from just about every teen-focused retailer in their rapidly-deteriorating local shopping mall. The cool kids will hit the vintage and thrift stores like mommy and daddy did back in ‘91. The rest will take mommy and daddy’s maxed-out credit cards to the mall and miss the point of grunge fashion entirely.

Step into avant-garde fashion by adding feather accessories to your clothes this fall and winter. Feather trend has been hitting the runways since spring, as well as worn by many celebrities such as Jessica Alba, Drew Barrymore and Mischa Barton.

To my delight they are finally available everywhere! They can be worn on or be a part of pretty much anything: shoes, clutches, hats, jewelry, coats, dresses and other garments.

The good news is, you don’t have to spend a fortune! Forever21 and Urban Outfitters have many affordable options. I found this Feather Headband a while ago on BarterQuest . The best, I get it for free, because on this site you can swap your stuff for pieces like this Headband. I love the colors and style, and it works well with most of my other outfits, especially those of blue and neutral shades. I find feathers to be very angelic and elegant, so I’m definitely going to get more feathered items in my possession.