Slide Show: Will You Wear It in Seattle? Resort 2012
Slideshow: A look at recent resort collections through the lens of what our city needs and wants. Here, Celine’s ombre transparent rain coat over a a crazy floral pant suit. Everybody is talking waterproof trenches these days. By fall you’ll have plenty of opportunity to stay dry and look amazing, but this little number will be tough to out do.
Proenza Schouler’s earthy/ethnic thing shouldn’t be a stretch for Seattleites. The designers are often credited with the recent revival of tribal textiles and world-sourced accents, and that flavor doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.
Paisley’s been having another moment or two, and given Seattle’s 90s thing, it seems like a pattern we could and should embrace. But what I really like about this Marc by Marc Jacobs look is the mix of patterns. Designers are still doing a lot of that whole motif mix-up thing; bold florals with big black-and-primary stripes, or throwing together seemingly unrelated abstract patterns. This example is relatively low-key, which feels like a very NW way to take on the trend.
This Helmut Lang layered look is a little spare for Seattle winters, but add some tights and an ankle boot and you could pull it off. A little bit of bared shoulder in the gray months might be just the thing.
Inventive layers always get me, and Seattle always gets the military look, so this Givenchy two-piece feels perfect.
More layers—in Seattle we can never have too many. I’m still loving cropped sweaters, like this Phillip Lim one. You?
Dear Seattle, I have seen you in your mid-length skirts this spring and I have liked it. Keep on keeping on through fall, and, from the looks of things, right into next spring. This look is by Jonathan Saunders.
It might be that you’ll want to add a few basics to your closet this winter. If so, might I suggest houndstooth slacks from Stella McCartney?
Orange. Start wearing it now, when it’s sunny and warm, and it’ll feel all the more natural when the neutral months are upon us. This great example of color and classic-yet-updated lines is from Rachel Roy.
Another example of color; this Zero + Maria Cornejo look gets us into neutral tones paired with brights and neons. While there’s no way you’re gonna rock these particular pieces in January around these parts, the color trend can serve as inspiration.
Note the small but high-pitched note of lime green in this black-and-navy Jason Wu ensemble. Start now with hits of neon, and know that they’ll continue to look good for the next year.
Again, brights with not-so-brights, this time courtesy DVF.
And just one more time with this neon-and-neutral thing. My favorite shades of the trend: pink-y taupe and lemon yellow.
Okay. Let’s have a serious discussion about this sweat-pant look, okay? This example, by T by Alexander Wang, takes things to an extreme (you wouldn’t wear the pieces as a matched set if you weren’t posing for a look book shot), but in general, this gray sweatshirt-as-the-new-gray cashmere thing is more than fine with me. I love it. Ditto the athletic vibe in day wear. Key to doing this well, however, is footwear. Note that this gal is not rocking trainers. A high-heeled ankle boot or a heeled oxford is the way to go.
This is all about the sweatpant-like bottoms, and the pretty sandal, and the fact that you definitely could wear these Adam separates to work. Or wherever.
Here, Alexander Wang is definitely counting on his customer taking the resort thing literally, but still, look at that coat.
Donna Karan’s scuba-like suiting? I’d love to a see this walking down Pike.
I’d love to see some Seattle women go with patterns—particularly florals, particularly on neutrals with bright accents#&8212;come gala season. This gown by Lela Rose.
Also for gala and holiday season, separates. These by Yigal Azrouel, and the mix of colors—red, grape green, hot pink—provide great inspiration for New Year’s Eve.
