It’s the fashion game Carrie Bradshaw played in Sex and the City a decade ago, but it still works today. The rules of “take or toss” are pretty self-explanatory – if unsure whether to keep or charity shop an item, gather your most stylish friends and make a call together. This method can still be used to determine which of your own 2017 garments could transcend the year and step up to the next sartorial level – SS18.
With major fashion labels such as Gucci and Saint Laurent now forgoing the pressure to reinvent themselves every season (the past few Gucci seasons could have run seamlessly into the next), we’re very happy to roll that way, too. There are many of 2017’s trends you can transition easily into spring, and obviously don’t actually toss anything if you don’t want to (just vacuum pack it), as everything saunters back one day through the ever-revolving doors of fashion. Case in point: Samantha and co told Carrie to toss the banana clip, but hair clamps are now having a revival as spearheaded by Saks Potts for SS18. So, looking into our fashion crystal ball, here’s what we recommend you “take” ...
Space age
Let’s start the journey with Chanel; its space age show and corresponding silver boot from AW17 – the most-wanted shoe of the season. The show ended with a 35-metre-tall rocket launching 10 metres into the air inside Paris’s Grand Palais, but for SS18 seems to have landed in some futuristic utopia, with modish women now wearing clear-plastic knee-high boots. So you take your metallics, which showed up in the strangest of places, such as a chainmail leg on a pair of denim jeans at Alexander Wang, and bring them with you into next season.
The modest dress
Nothing to see here. Gown decor continues to be chicest when dressed up, down and all the way over with the head-to-toe-dress. The Vampire’s Wife – cult favourite of Alexa Chung, Florence Welch and Laura Bailey, and pioneer of this recent trend – took further fashion flight for SS18 with its signature dress coming poker-straight, long-sleeved and ornately puff-shouldered. Simone Rocha styled her modest dress in champagne shades, while Emilia Wickstead dropped waists, cinched long sleeves and frilled high collars. Enhance the elegance with ribbon-tied heels, as seen at Alessandra Rich.
Tailoring
Fully powered up now, the strong suit is officially at cruise level. Relax, this look is going nowhere. If you’re not wearing jumbo-sized suits this season – in tangerine such as at Marc Jacobs, with matching turtleneck and turban, or in fuchsia, as at Gucci – then feel free to mix it up a little. Add the season’s new pencil skirt in a mismatched style to your existing blazer – with all the flair of Gucci’s Working Girl-style opening ensemble of boxy grey blazer, pink pencil skirt in check made from the brand’s miniature logo and a pie-crust-cuffed shirt peeking out from underneath. Or, throw the blazer over the gauziest chiffon blouse as seen at Saint Laurent with jungle khaki shorts. Alternatively, freshen up your tailored skirt with another key player for 2018 – the zippy anorak.
The slip
This dress hasn’t given SS18 the slip either, but it’s less 1990s Courtney Love for now – she’ll be back though, grunge never dies. Taking on more of a silhouette from the 1960s at Miu Miu, the slip dress came in various lengths, worn belted over acid-yellow sleeveless or short-sleeved shirts. Saint Laurent took more of an approach from the 1970s, pairing its slips with a slouched-down boot.
Pink, pink, pink
Violet might be the newly-elected shade for 2018 – but your millennial pastel pink does not have to go anywhere. In fact, most designers were still freely mixing their pinks. Predominant at Versace – certainly a leading look of the season – it came in a sugary concoction of matching trousers, logo T-shirt, handbag and shoe. You can actually take any existing garment – ideally an ice-cream shade or Crayola bright – and colour-block it head-to-toe.
Statement wear
Got something to say? We’re still listening. The statement sweater and slogan T-shirt klaxon continues to sound. Update for the new season by layering up. Position T-shirt over printed summer shirt – with the collar worn out – as Louis Vuitton did with its Stanger Things T-shirt worn over a plump-sleeved peach shirt. Or keep it casual under the new anorak.
Anything athleisure
Polish up your game. Fashion’s love for sportswear endures – but it’s slinked up another level. This was clearly demonstrated at Louis Vuitton, which opened SS18 with pastel blue satin boxer shorts, Little Lord Fauntleroy jacket and trainers. So take your hoodies and sweatshirts, and wear with statement necklaces and shorts with a little varnish to them, or with cycling shorts a la Off-White and Christian Dior. Sports day just got an upgrade.
So what can we toss?
Nothing really – but we can certainly relegate these to the back:
The micro-mini
Update your A-line skirt instead. Wear with a folksy shirt (they’re everywhere) and buckled black ankle boots as seen at Chloe, or with a sherbet-shade cropped jacket like at Versus Versace. Nothing needs to match.
Plain leggings
Try printed as seen at Versace or longer cycling shorts that hit somewhere around the knee.
Plain tights
Go for smart socks and sandals, or socks and stilettos or kitten heels instead.
Sweatpants
No ifs or buts. Full tracksuit or shellsuit this season – as seen at Gucci – or a sweatshirt and tailored trousers.
Stud earrings
Increase the volume. Take inspiration from the crystal hoops at Christopher Kane and Saint Laurent and the golden beetles that lined up earlobes at Gucci.
No background
Dior opened with a feminist quote on a Breton stripe and Saint Laurent sent out spectacular butterfly and daisy prints on boys. Make a check or unlikely print your default setting.
