by Hannah Chertock ‘12

With each change in season, the fashion world reveals what will soon be the trends and fads in the consumer realm. Common themes always appear in the collections of top designers such as DKNY, Chanel, and Dior and these commonalities dictate what will soon be in style that season. Ralph Lauren, for example, just unveiled his runway theme of floral prints and bold patterns in the Winter/Spring fashion week. Designers’ crazy concoctions and dizzying designs on the runway have set the trends for this Spring’s trends.

Current trends on the runway include exaggerated floral patterns and bright, bold prints. “A floral dress is about the most versatile thing you can own. If you need to wear it to work, add a blazer. If you want to go shopping, just take a little tote bag and a wide brim hat. And if you want to wear it out at night, just throw on a shawl and some great jewelry,” wrote Noria Morales, style editor for Fab Sugar.

Junior Stephanie Feigenbaum said the success of the floral look depends on the person wearing it. “I own some but I’m not a huge fan. It’s not unflattering […] but a lot of the color schemes in floral look good on certain girls depending on their hair and eye colors.” She chooses her style less based off of the runway trends and more on what suits her. “I like to wear blue to complement my eyes” she explained.

In order to determine the real-life popularity of the seasons’ runway trends, I set off on a hunt for a variety of consumers’ perspectives. Lord and Taylor held a fashion show last month featuring models they chose around the mall and dressed them in designer clothing. I got a chance to ask one of the models her opinion of the clothes she modeled. “If I were going out […] I would wear the fashionable outfits they put me in. I like [the floral and bright colors] a lot. It’s been a long winter and it’s nice to see the bright pops of color. I think it flatters everybody.”

Runway trends offer styles for all sorts of trends but people do put their own spin on it. “I usually take a style that is […] becoming popular and put my own twist on it so I can make it my own,” senior Haley Adam explained.

Bold patterns and colors are becoming popular. Sarah Cristobal, Brand Editorial Director at Diane von Furstenberg, reviewed Ralph Lauren’s bohemian style cardigan that she described as a “blanket cardigan.” “It’s a smart look. But because it’s so bold, you want to keep your accessories minimal to let it shine,” she noted.