10 Spring 2011 Trends We Love

The days following New York Fashion Week are always somewhat schizophrenic. The dust is barely settling from all the shows, the taxis, and the very late nights, and we're already wondering what's to come from London and the rest of the shows on the horizon. But what NYFW does that none of the others do, is lead the way for all those big ideas that anchor the season. The New York collections come first, so we naturally applaud all our favorite designers—from Phillip Lim and Jason Wu to Rag & Bone and Marc Jacobs—for making all of these bold declarations first...and so beautifully. So, herein lies our list of the 10 spring 2011 trends that made the spring shows so unique and iconic. And if you're like us, you'll want to start giving some of these looks a whirl right now...those high-waisted wide-leg trousers and the dolman sleeve? We're on it.

1. The Re-Return of the Wide-Leg Trouser—For some of us, the high-waisted, wide-leg trouser will never really go out of style. So, when we saw it popping up on practically everyone's runways—the sidewalks outside the shows, included!—we knew these '70s-inspired bottoms were back with a vengeance. And Marc, Tory, and Tommy all fashioned them to perfection.



Above, from left: Spring 2011 runway looks from Marc by Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, Jason Wu, Tommy Hilfiger. Photos courtesy of the designers.

2. A Zest For Orange—Rich mango, persimmon, ripe pumpkin—however you slice it, bold orange was one of spring's sweetest color trends. And whether paired with white at Marc Jacobs or with bad-girl booties at Chris Benz, this intense shade feels fresh once again.



Above, from left: Spring 2011 runway looks from Carlos Miele, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, Chris Benz. Photos courtesy of the designers.


3. Futuristic Militaristic—We have to honor Victoria Bartlett for planting the seeds of this trend when she first launched her line VPL in 2003. And this season, a venerable army of otherworldly whites, straps, and harnesses all pointed to a more ethereal, somewhat abstract take on the more traditional military trends of seasons past.



Above, from left: Spring 2011 runway looks from Alexander Wang, VPL, Rag & Bone, Altuzarra. Photos courtesy of the designers.


4. A Full Skirt Moment—The mini craze that has swept closets and women's gams for the past few years has slowly given way to longer hemlines (could that century-old connection to a conservative economy be true?). But spring's skirt obsession wasn't so much about restraint as it was about elegance and sophistication. And the styles we spotted at Marc Jacobs, Suno, and Band Of Outsiders were nothing short of serious statements themselves.



Above, from left: Spring 2011 runway looks from Marc by Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, Suno, Vena Cava. Photos courtesy of the designers.


5. The All-Day Pajama Party— We're not sure how practical it is, but we really, really loved all the many plays on pajama dressing, from Karen Walker's sleepy-time head-to-toe look to Suno's slouchy dotted silk trousers.



Above, from left: Spring 2011 runway looks from Karen Walker, Vena Cava, Suno, Band of Outsiders. Photos courtesy of the designers.

• Keywords:
• Spring Fashion
• , Spring Trends

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