We all saw, (or at least heard of, I hope) 2009’s The September Issue with infamous Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who exposed the amount of time and work that goes into the September issue, fashion’s biggest magazine. What you may have not learned from the documentary is that March is the second most important issue. Months of preparation and a couple hundred pages of ads go into it— for Harper’s Bazaar, about 15% more ads. Their March issue is exciting for another reason this year: the launch of their redesign. The Harper’s Bazaar makeover includes: an inch more of thicker pages, more white space, new typography and less emphasis on celebrity. It’s the first time the magazine has been revamped in a decade, and its new editorial aesthetic seems to be consistent with the new tailored minimalism we’re seeing on runways.
This season, less is more. This all-encompassing trend includes a color blocking, straight clean lines and silhouettes, smooth and soft fabrics, well tailored and relaxed fits, wide leg pants, vests and even peplum. I know, it sounds like a lot. But it’s really quite simple: more and more we want to be cool, comfortable and able to seamlessly transition from work to play. It seems only logical that our clothes are becoming more and more minimalistic. There is an emphasis on quality in tailoring and fabrics and a strong influence from menswear: especially with all of the vests and wide-leg pants. For a more feminine shape, try peplum. It’s not old fashioned; more subtle modern versions of it are everywhere. It can complement your shape and accentuate your hips, in a good way, of course. For jewelry, think modern art deco and geometric tribal-inspired. Gold, black and jewel-tones against soft simple silhouettes makes for a chic 2012 get-up.
The beach is an obvious muse for summer, but it is nevertheless a gorgeous place to go and to emulate through fashion. From the moment I began flipping through the March Harper’s, the sea-inspired trend was evident. Chanel’s ocean foam-like dresses, McQueen’s corals and even the spread with the long, loose ruffled summer dresses reminded me of ocean waves, brilliantly colored coral reefs and, to some extent, the smooth wavy lines of Antonio Gaudi’s “sandcastle” architecture. This trend extends into beauty and accessories, too: deep turquoise blue glitter eye makeup, pearls and mermaid-chic shell clutch purses graced the Harper’s pages. To interpret this trend in a less literal way, you could incorporate coral nail polishes into your look. Try Nars shimmer nail polish in “Orgasm”. Speaking of mani-pedis, now is probably a great time to get one so you can sport some ankle-strap heels. Ankle-strap shoes are one of my favorite trends this season. A thick strap on a chunky heel can add a little femme fatale feel and a thin strap on a pointy-toed Mary Jane can add a feminine touch, which would be either a great contrast with a menswear-inspired ensemble or a nice complement to peplum.
