Fashion Trends for Winter 2002 and Summer 2003

The fashion trends for winter 2002 and summer 2003 are varied: glamorous, classic, antique, or Egyptian, Latin American or Wild West inspired.

 A feminine 50's-inspired silhouette for suits and dresses; lingerie-inspired pieces, with touches of gold and silver; the return of the glamour wrap – all worn for day or evening. Stylish are feminine trouser-suits with short jackets, some more fitted at the waist than others, in cotton or linen gabardine with double cuffs.

Blouses are in asymmetrical-styled cotton. Wool jersey with short-fringed sleeves appear as do pure white, knee-length dresses layered with lightweight cotton voile or organza with meshed structure and casual draping in natural colours and fabrics from denim to silk; baby-doll and halter-style dresses in silk/satin blends with beaded, embroidered touches for sultry summer nights. Fur and lace are the key touches for flowing skirts with diagonal layers and cutout dresses with oversized shawl sleeves.

We’re seeing a combination of looks inspired by ‘Egyptian mysticism’ [rococo prints mixed with either Egyptian cotton or beige satin] and the glamour of Hollywood during its golden era with red and black satin dresses being very popular. Slim tops and skirts with circle and flower mohair embroideries; flowing silk chiffon skirts and a bolero jacket, both with confetti-like detailing and a sheer black silk chiffon wrap-up scarf op.

Designers are featuring both classic and street styling, offering tailored silk/wool palazzo pants and a short, fitted jacket, or unisex hip-hop looks using glowing fabrics for contrasting piping, pocket flaps and colour-blocked tanks. Very popular are acid-frayed denim skirts, furry mini-vests, patchwork denim pants, triple-belt dresses and knitted halter tops with long fringes.

There is also a turn-of-the century style for everyday wear, the austere and casual style of peasants and pioneers. A masculine influence, harking back to the pioneers of grandparents' days, was paired with a Wild West look, with gaucho-style divided skirts.

Ultra-sexy, slim and low-waist pants came in all sorts of colourful styles— red herringbone and corduroy, blue plaid, stripes—with Western-style leather and lace-up trims. Tops also come trimmed in leather but varied in style from black or printed kimono-styled numbers to tanks to a denim jacket that screams rock 'n' roll.

The popular colours are shades of brown, slate blue, sepia, beige and prints, with black seen everywhere. In style is the look of an old-fashioned trousseau or vintage neo-hippie bohemian dress; layered skirts of lace and chiffon matched with simple knit tops and bodysuits adorned with lace trim; Liberty florals with faded colours; and floral patterns in a multi-coloured patchwork pattern or antique-look camisole, cotton petticoat [short or long] with broderie Anglaise, narrow pleats and horizontal tucks, or lace blouses in faded pastel shades, as if found in old trunks. The "used" and "washed" looks are currently popular.

‘In’ are Kimono-styled shiny dresses in an asymmetrical cut; ribbon-style hemmed gowns; feminine looks with micro-mini denim skirts; pink plaid strapless tops; fringed dresses; acid-frayed denim skirts; furry mini-vests; patchwork denim pants; low-rider jeans; stretch fabric dress shirts in a variety of colours; triple-belt dresses; legwarmers made from jacket sleeves, in leather and suede; plush sweaters; calf-length coats and shearling maxi coats.

For the face: clean face, dark brows, light eye makeup for daytime or smoky eye makeup for evening, glossed lips or red lips, hair messy and in-the-face or French twist with messy front, otherwise it looks very prissy/matronly.In young women’s wear we see designs of the 60s and 70s, in pre-washed denim and embroidery. Country-style blouses are still very popular, but with a more North African look or with a touch of India: djellabas, sahari jackets, cloaks with hoods, and caftans. The Latin-Cuban tropical look is in style, with soft fabrics in dark, sharp colours - with bare shoulders and descended necklines. 'In' is beading and embroidery on crocheted, knitted, woven or a mix of fabrics. Sexy denim pants and skirts [some with lace insets] worn with lace-trimmed tops that were stylish in the 1980s.

A favourite for young women is the black off-the-shoulder sweat jacket with ivory lace pockets; soft colored tweeds — blue, gray, brown and butter yellow on simple and sometimes 1950s-style pieces, including a yellow tweed "swing" coat with a brown knee-length circle skirt and a gray tweed short trench jacket with a matching flared mid-length skirt; silk sand-washed crepe pieces in turquoise and cream; a blue patchwork leather dress and maxi-coat, and a romantic group of cream-colored long, layered skirts; sheer blouses; and leather corsets worn over ruched leggings.

In men’s fashion, the Russian army or the bullfighter's costume is in. For men’s and women's jackets we see knitted items and casual wear, targeting the medium-to-high market. Denim-with-leather jackets are popular. 
Men's fashions will be in warm-weather fabrics of poplin, cotton and seersucker, with pale colours for summer 2003.

White and bleached will be everywhere and in every sub-shade: white, off-white, natural, ivory or antique white and in most materials. The "monsoon" look, inspired by over-dyed denim and drill, also including batiks and checks in greens and blue-greens promises to be popular as well as the ‘Latin Dandy’ look, aimed at nonchalance: panama hats, linen and linen blends, in a retro version with dark colours, dusty, pale shades and stripes that grandfathers wore.

 
Also popular is ‘comfort wear’ in tweed coats, dark-washed, sand-caked jeans, cuffed leather pants, easy-fitting sweaters, and leather-patched coats; and casual jeans and T-shirt-style looks.

Underwear has to be casual and cool: men are wearing more boxer shorts with placement designs in silk, polyester and cotton also being worn as swimwear or sleeping wear. Stylish are movie characters such as Spiderman or The Simpsons - and women are into a sporty, casual look. Highlighted is men's and ladies' seamless underwear - like a second skin in 100% cotton and 100% silk as well as fabric mixes with Nylon, Spandex, Polyester and Lycra.