Loyola Greyhound

Issue date: 3/17/09 Section: Arts & Society

Media Credit: Photo Courtesy of Teen Vogue Graphic mix-ups are a prevalent trend in many spring lines.

Spring is finally in the air and as the weather becomes hotter and hotter so do this season's trends.

The recent economic downturn equaled an unexpected turn for the better for fashion design this spring. The economy has had obvious negative effects on the fashion industry, but an unpredicted positive result comes in the form of one of the most popular trends this spring season, cleverly referred to as "depression chic."
"Depression chic" is the fashion world's straight stab at bringing back the glamorous dresses and floppy hats popular during the decade of the big crash of 1929. In the 20s, hemlines rose, waistlines dropped and flapper fashion took over with colossal force.

This inspiration was obvious in the spring 2009 collections of fashion favorites Alberta Ferretti and Roberto Cavalli, where frills and feathered fringe transported us back to the roaring 20s, and metallic beading and plush fabrics like chiffon and lace nailed this look down to a tee.
In a fashion world far away from 1929, geometric dresses have also established themselves as another major trend this season. Designers added deep dimension to clothes for spring, and the end result was nothing short of contemporary.

The collections of design greats like Fendi, Christian Lacroix and Karl Lagerfeld showcased a folding-fabric effect reminiscent of Japanese origami. These designers manipulated and sculpted fabric to make their mini-dresses miniature works of art, and the obvious level of time and difficulty spent crafting these garments was almost inconceivable.

Alexander McQueen sent a geometric mini sashaying down the runway that took the female figure to new heights. The texture of the dress was reminiscent of sleek industrial steel, and the garment had an extremely chiseled hour-glass shape that made an even stronger statement.

Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig, designers behind the popular brand Marchesa, also whipped up dresses following this geometric trend, but through sharp sculpting they managed to keep their dresses feminine, light and flirty; all important factors for any spring season.

Marchesa's most memorable runway design was a floral number with crisp fabric folds that showcased draping expertise. The dress' delicate pattern and color palette perfectly contrasted its severe structure, making it the ideal dress to get inspired by and the look to replicate this season.

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