No.2: Materials & Treatments

As it is often the case, newness in fashion is not about re-inventing basic silhouettes, but rather it is achieved with exciting new materials and treatments. London designers, particularly the talent incubator, Central Saint Martins took full advantage of technical fabric developments and experimented with wearable plastics. Many designers opted also for extreme lightweight tech satins, sometimes iridescent, and used them for dress and casual looks alike.

Glamour was a major factor in many collections. Sparkly sequins and metallic fabrics were one interpretation whereas see-through tulle added a strictly feminine note.

Add-ons were plentiful, from cage-like overlays to 3-D sweater decorations and fur collars. In fact, fur, faux or real, remained a major trend often cololured to reflect the season’s palette.