♥ Spring/Summer 2016 Trend Guide

Before getting into the nitty gritty of the trend details for the Autumn/Winter collections that have already started with New York Fashion Week. Let’s tune into the season that is only just beginning, uncovering the season’s biggest trends and looking at the details with Secret Style File’s trend guide for Spring Summer 2016 ♥

Season of Contrast

Spring Summer 2013 is a season of two halves; on one hand there is so much bold and bright colour and London Fashion Week showed us a lot of print and texture, Milan carried on this trend with bold colours in the Gucci show but then BOOM in the comes monochrome and Paris went mad for it! With monochrome prints and checks, clashing stripes and simple colour blocking all of a sudden it just went black and white. This is the trend which comes across in many of the other trends, shimmer stripes in Moschino, the power suit, monochrome ruffles a la Balenciaga and shimmer fabrics giving colour some texture and a 3D effect seen on the Burberry and Versace catwalks.

Monochrome Effect – Marc Jacobs, Victoria Beckham, Miu Miu, Louis Vuitton, Rouland Mouret, Ralph Lauren and Celine (clockwise from left)

This season is all about the art of contrast, you can indulge further into this trend here ♥

Making a statement with Black for Summer

Of course, as part of the monochrome there is a lot of black and white. Wearing black for summer is making a clean, fresh statement using texture and light fabrics. The focus is on what is revealed and concealed, with a simple plunging neckline, thigh high slit adding a touch of drama to a hemline or geometric cutouts. Don’t just stop at black, think laser cut out, lace, broidery anglaise and mixing different textures with black on black.

‘The violent accent of black makes it the most elegant colour‘ Dior ♥


Patchwork, mixing textures and prints to create a 3D effect in styles was an emerging trend this season, this idea was seen in the shows of Preen, Alexander McQueen, Erdem and Fendi. Social media sites such as Tumblr and Pinterest have apparently been the inspiration behind this trend, with the idea of collaging random elements to create inspirational pieces. Florals are always associated with Spring/Summer and this year it is about floral embroidery and applique seen by Valentino and Chanel, this trend came through in a big way in the Couture Collections.

Shine and Shimmer in 3D

Adding to the 3D effect is the use of shimmer fabrics and high shine plastic macs by Miu Miu, Burberry and Valentino. It is a playful trend giving the idea of retro futurism.

The big frill and ruffles emerged as the idea of tumbling fabrics making a modern and clean statement for Dior and Chloe. This trend is more about the red carpet than the cute frill, they are to outline shoulders and give more structure to thigh high slits by Balenciaga.
‘I like the idea that a ruffle seems to come from nothing. I like things that are sculptural and yet soft‘ Halston, New York fashion designer ♥


Masculine Tailoring is this seasons’s power player, whether they are nipped at the waist for that feminine touch or more relaxed sillouettes a la Stella this dominant male trend is about the timelessness and ease of wear. Read more about this trend here ♥

Sheer and light fabrics have a real summery feel, the skin is concealed yet revealed under veiling like fabrics. Roberto Cavalli, Stella McCartney, Emilio Pucci  and Chloe along with a few other designers enjoyed playing peekaboo in their catwalk designs. This trend with ruffles and big frills gives a feminine edge to masculine tailoring ♥

With inspiration from the East and geisha-like influences? Well this inspiration has hit the catwalks in a big way. Geisha platforms, golden embroidery, kimono dresses and obi belts are a must this season and Prada, Emilio Pucci and Lanvin insist on the kimono trend. The Asian trend can be kept simple, matching tunics and trousers, but satin is a must ♥

To round up the trends for this season take a look through the gallery, let the catwals looks inspire your style and allow you to mix the trends ♥