As temperatures rise, so do hemlines, especially for evening attire. After legs and shoulders were concealed underneath piles of sweaters and pants for the long winter months, who can blame a student for wanting to embrace the warm spring temperatures?
Female students have been taking cues from high fashion designers’ spring 2011 collections, which reveal a little bit of skin in creative manners. This season’s evening trends receive the stamp of approval from the girls and guys of College Park.
Members of both genders agree that dresses and shirts with cut-outs are one of the flirtiest and most desirable evening looks. It’s one of the more daring fashion looks and, if done correctly, the result can be modern and glamorous like the models on the 3.1 Phillip Lim runway. Simplicity of cut is the key. By choosing smaller geometric cut-outs in solid colors, one may create a polished yet seductive look.
“You think it’s just a regular dress but then, bam, there’s an [opening],” said Amanda Chavenson, a senior environmental science major. “The cut-out, it’s not on the front, like the side thing. That’s kind of sleazy, but if it’s in the back it’s revealing without being inappropriate.”
Open-back dresses such as American Apparel’s Interlock Cut-Out Back Mini Dress sell for $42. The vibrant colors, such as eggplant and cranberry, dress up the sporty jersey material without stealing the attention from the open back and contribute to an even more dramatic exit.
Layering is a powerful tool for blouses with shoulder or sleeve cut-outs. When two shirts with similar cut-outs are placed on top of each other, a new cut-out is created where the pieces don’t overlap, leaving a hint of skin exposed to the evening air.
Sheer material can provide a similar flirty but conservative image, which is especially evident in Cynthia Rowley’s collection — many of her items are done in sheer, stiff silk. The combination of the material and the crisp shapes gives the collection a sportswear vibe while maintaining a feminine and light attitude. For instance, one look features a loose cropped see-through T-shirt with strategically placed stripes made of solid material.
“It’s not too flashy. You look at the person as opposed to how flashy the pattern is,” said Colin Handzo, a sophomore history major.
Urban Outfitters carries a similar shirt by Sparkle & Fade. The Colorblock Crop Tee ($49) is cobalt blue and sheer with slim horizontal stripes. The solid dark blue color and loose cut balance the revealing nature of the material.
On the runway, designers chose to pair the risqué nature of see-through items with long calf-length skirts. While this may be suitable for day attire, most students would find it too out of place in a college night environment. However, jeans, capri pants or high-waisted A-line skirts can also give the scandalous nature of the pieces a more ladylike vibe.
Lace is another way to incorporate sheer material in a more romantic style. Dolce & Gabbana, the brand famous for its leopard-print and corset-based collections, took a different turn and made lace its focus for spring. When worn in the evening, the innocence of the material contradicts the danger of the night, creating an intriguing ensemble. The Ruffle Lace Slip by Free People ($78) offers a similar look.
“I think it’s so frothy and feminine,” said Caroline Lacey, a senior art history major who interned with the fashion department at Glamour magazine in summer 2009. “It automatically gives something a vintage feel but it’s also fresh at the same time.”
The guys of College Park agree.
“I like lace because it’s not exactly see through, but it hints to what’s underneath,” said Steven Sosnick, a sophomore computer engineering major.
While there may be many new ways to dress this season, beware of springing into warmer-weather fashion too quickly. As the models teetering in their heels down the spring 2011 runways exhibit, balance in fashion is always essential.
kbulav@umdbk.com
