Summer 2017 Fashion Report

As an art form, fashion is perhaps best known for its fairytale quality, its ability to sweep and stretch our imaginations, making us dream boundlessly and lovingly. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and Gala exemplifies this idea with this year’s theme, “Rei Kawakubo / Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between.” After all, fashion is just that: an in-between; a sartorial carousel where reality and fantasy come out to play. And as always, fluidity is the emblem of a thoughtful trend with staying power, which is why you’ll see celadon in Giambattista Valli and suggestive flamingos in Valentino.

Schiaparelli’s couture collection offers a lesson in the sheer power of shapes, from hands to hearts to rectangles. It’s the use of circles, however, that steals our breaths away this season. So subtle, this trend is far removed from its less innovative and sophisticated little sister, the polka dot. Delicate circle motifs climb up dresses and circular eyelet cutouts peek out from underneath layers of fabric. It’s playful and mysterious, exciting and timeless.

Model Camille Rowe embraced this trend in her accessories with Rebecca de Ravenel earrings. The tiered circles were reminiscent of dandelion yellow chandeliers or sun-tinted wind chimes.

Actress Emma Roberts creatively interpreted this trend in her Markarian dress. Miniature white orbs danced across the solid black silhouette insinuating a voluptuous and imaginative look.

This trend excels when translated into the diction of ball gowns. Create trompe l’oeil and optical illusions via swirls of sequins, embroidery, keyhole cutouts, and circular gatherings of fabric.

This romantic and whimsical trend is marked by its delicate and sophisticated color palette and exaggerated silhouettes. Giambattista Valli’s couture collection is a love letter to swan lake. Scrumptious abundances of fabric and hues of petal and diamond make this a trend both deeply nostalgic and delightfully fantastical, the embodiment of the fashionable ideal of the in-between…

Sienna Miller’s tiered Chloe jasmine dress evokes the right amount of glamour and wistfulness. Blossoming circles along the hem remind us of can-can chorus girls.

Naomi Watts’s graceful cerulean Stella McCartney dress garnished with sparkling streams of glitter was both royal and youthful, striking the perfect balance worthy of the classic ballet.

Rosamund Pike’s eggshell Erdem gown featured airy cutouts and playfully attention-grabbing hands reminiscent of a magician’s glove. The effortless, imperial, and, magical number evoked swan lake’s drama and allure.

From feathers to froth, experiment with flowing cascades of fabric and shades of white from pearl to lace to dramatize and innovate your summer looks.

Created in China, celadon is the jade or rosemary-colored glaze-covered porcelain dating back to the Shang Dynasty. Today, the color transcends pottery, reinventing green on the runways. It’s still kicky, but packs a little more grit and elegance. Valentino’s couture gowns dipped in swipes of celadon offer a lesson in the art of je ne sais quoi.

Gigi Hadid graced the streets in a Morgan Lane-designed pajama-inspired getup with pinstripes of celadon and ivory, giving the trend an updated, upscaled vibe.

Kate Bosworth’s J. Mendel gown steals the celadon celebration. Layers of foamy fabric in an artichoke heart hue remind us of lush gardens that exercise self-restraint and self-reflection.

In your wardrobe, glean inspiration from this trend by curating pieces in unlikely, unexpected, and intriguing shades of green. Hunt for parakeet, viridian, harlequin, sage, avocado, and emerald for starters.