Summer is in the air. Actually, for Thailand, summer never really leaves the air, but that’s not the point. We are talking about season in a chronological sense here.
Disaya.
As March approaches, Thai designers unveil their latest collection to give their fans some super summer staples. This year, there are three key trends, as featured at the preview of the 2015 spring/summer collections organised by the Bangkok Fashion Society (BFS) on Feb 10 at Siam Paragon.
These three major trends presented at the BFS Press Preview, which featured spring/summer collections by 14 leading local brands, are Summer Feast, Self-Rule and Culture Club. However, Thai brands that are not BFS members also seem to share their ideas on what this summer should look like, and their collections, too, can be categorised into the three.
In a nutshell, Summer Feast means the summery colours — sweet pastels and eye-catching brights. This year, we don’t see a lot of neon colours or metallic, and our weary eyes thank the designers for that. The most popular colour seems to be blue, from pastel baby blue to aquamarine blue.
Self-Rule reflects a strong and independent mind. It’s a cleaner, more sophisticated look, with a pinch of rebellion. Many brands include monochromatic pieces into their collection to play with this classic trend.
Culture Club essentially means clothes inspired by culture. It can be anything — music, ethnicity, art, or even geography. It is represented through prints and graphics, which can range from feminine traditional florals to quirkier cutting-edge prints.
Here’s the summary of each trend presented at the BFS fashion event.
Into the blue
Blue is a great colour for summer. In this stifling weather, what’s more refreshing than a dip into the blue swimming pool?
Disaya’s “Beau du Jour” collection features cerulean Gingham print decorated with breakfast dishes, as well as plain blue pieces inspired by lingering in bed in the morning. The ultra feminine look has an effortless feel, exuding ease and elegance.
Kloset’s “Holiday Heartbreaker” is lively and mild, emphasising the dream of summer. The fabric is lightweight, supple, and comfy, perfect for the hot weather. Some pieces feature little red hearts which remind us that summer is all about travelling, falling in love and being happy.
“The Surfanista” collection by Something Bourdoir is inspired by a weekend pool party, the sea and surfing. It is the brand’s first beach walk collection, which includes swimwear, sandals and a beach towel big enough to wrap around two persons.
Araya Indra, top stylist in Thailand’s fashion industry, said that blue is one of the hottest colours of this summer and is a great look for everyone.
“Some shades of blue can make light skin appear outstanding, while some work very well on darker skin. If you pick the right shade of blue, it’s a colour that can’t go wrong. However, it doesn’t mean you should dress top-to-toe blue. Try to remember that you are not Smurfette.”
Seeing things in black and white
There’s nothing more classic than black and white pieces. Monochromatic pieces are timeless, easy to wear and suitable for any skin tone.
Vickteerut’s “Spirited Away” collection features a lot of black and white. The forms and silhouettes abide by the minimal aesthetics. The colours reflect an interplay of light and shadow, oozing a relaxing atmosphere. Lightness is the keyword for materials, which revolve around cotton, chiffon, silk and satin.
Greyhound Original’s spring/summer 2015 collection is titled “The World on the Bright Side”. The highlight of the collection is colour blocking to portray light and shadow of geographic landscape. The collection is inspired by Henri Matisse’s art and landscape painting by Kenneth Price. Layering adds texture to the otherwise minimal pieces.
Asava’s collection titled “The State of Mind” features timeless shades and flowing satin crepe fabric which comes in both a matte and shiny texture. The silhouette is straight to offer comfort and savoir-faire that conceals insecurities of women when wearing clothes that are too revealing.
Prints princess
Over the years, certain prints have attracted more designers as a way to express themselves uniquely in a less straightforward manner. Although prints have been a fashion staple for quite a while, a wider array of patterns, designs and techniques keep them fresh.
Angelys Balek’s “Nostalgia” collection was inspired by the designer’s trips to Venice, in Italy. She loved the city’s opulent Gothic architecture and sculptures. Those experiences, Venetian landscapes and her personal emotions are combined, resulting in original prints that look glamorous and bold.
“The Runaway Rum” collection by Sretsis is a story about Sunset Boulevard roller-skating culture, Hawaiian vibe, rock star lifestyle and endless parties. The Aloha Mermaid print showcases three mischievous mermaids playing rock music. The Roller Noise print features roller skates, fun colours, and music details, best complemented with this season’s ultra chic Roller Skates platform boots.
Issue’s spring/summer 2015 look was inspired by King Rama VI’s quote: “I don’t want them to be walking textbooks. What I want is them to be young men whose personalities are honest, loyal, have pure pattern and pure mind.” Those sentences were said when he established the Wild Tiger Corps to teach young men to become real men. Based on that inspiration, this collection features tropical prints — something you would likely see if you were training in the wild — and loose silhouette that is comfortable and fun befitting summer.
Patinya.
Senada.
Something Boudoir.
Angelys Balek.
Issue.
