How to wear: The Safari Inspired Trend

Usually my trend reports are inspired by high end designer collections that I have spied in catwalk shows, but this blog post has actually been inspired by the SS15 collection I have been eyeing at Warehouse!

So, what can you exactly expect to see from this trend?

Colours to look out for:
Ranging from beige and khaki green  for that traditional safari vibe to vibrant oranges and greens in the form of bold prints, this trend really does have a colour spectrum for everyone!

It’s all in the details:

Fringing and tassels are seen adorning sandals, handbags and even dresses and kimonos whilst even loose cotton shorts are seen with cute little pom poms attached to the hem!
Even the fabrics echo cool safari vibes- thick fabric shopper bags are embroidered with bright ethnic prints, and as part of their holiday shop collection Warehouse have an amazing range of loose fitting cotton dresses, shorts and even wide leg trousers!

Styles to grab now:

A part from a few mentioned above, I am absolutely loving the gypsy dress- off the shoulder, with an air of both cool and casual in light cotton materials screams safari, or at least for most of us a nice sunny holiday abroad. But let’s be honest, I’ll be wearing mine everywhere- I love dresses that can double as day and night attire.. (I will just have to wait until pay day). If you don’t fancy a dress though, why not get yourself an off the shoulder, boho style tee instead? And not forgetting the fringed kimono and poncho that have returned for another season!

The prints:

We’ve seen how amazing just the plain brights and neutrals can look, but if you aren’t afraid of a little print then this trend is the perfect way to update your wardrobe. Think oversized African Florals for the more bold efforts, or for a more subtle approach why not try paisley or Aztec?

Don’t forget to accessorize: 

I’ve mentioned the beautifully embroidered selection of fabric handbags, but what about jewellery? I accept that maybe it isn’t the most practical for a real safari trek- but we are probably just playing pretend when we try out this trend. So when on the hunt for some new jewellery this Summer, why not think about layering a few necklaces together? Or if you want something a bit louder, why not try something new with chunkier ethnic bracelets, even fabric bracelets are a great alternative!

Proenza Schouler at NYFW

The designers at Proenza Schouler emphasised the importance of both fun and humour behind their collections before their show in New York, and this definitely shone through in their bold clashing prints. In previous seasons the designers had moved away from the prints they had become known for, but for their AW collection it was good to see their vibrant, fun side make an appearance-sometimes it works for designers to stick to what they do best.

With a strong safari theme throughout, the collection saw a whole host of clashing animal prints in both monochrome and bright, bold hues of mainly blues, greens and blood red, with hints of pink and orange also making a rare appearance. It was not just colours and prints that were mixed together though, as the collection saw a brilliant clash of textures too, the most impressive being a boxy patchwork dress that mixed both black leather with blood red suede. It was such boxy, oversized shapes-seen in the rounded shoulders of jackets and tops-  that gave the collection a masculine edge (as well as those chunky two toned loafers), which was softened by combining these more masculine elements with more fitted skirts and dresses, as well as the use of soft roll neck sweaters and the cinching in of oversized shapes at the waist.

The collection was obviously all about the layering of thick, chunky textures (those spongey jacquard jackets), vibrant colours and contrasting patterns, which is a great way to look at dressing for the colder months! It shouldn’t be about dull colours, but feeling warm and cosy in rich, opulent textures and prints (think a boxy dress over the top of a fitted long sleeve). And definitely don’t forget to layer up on your accessories either-this collection put lots of chunky rings on each hand, even matching them to an equally beautiful clutch bag!