Sheer clothing for spring: dare to tease.

  

It's the trend that dared to bare and won. Sheer fashion remains a statement to make in spring / summer 2013, and our guide takes you through all the looks, from the subtle to the sexual, from the monochromatic to the colourful. Read on to find out all you need to know.

Just like with everything else that dares break the rules of conservatism and that is easily defined by ambiguous terms like right or wrong, sheer clothing had its own share of drawbacks throughout its controversial existence. During the past six years, the see-through clothing trend managed to evolve form a seasonal accent into a year-round trend, meeting a fabulous ascent during the spring and summer of 2012.
This season the sheer clothing dominance met new heights, with runways all over the world caving in to the alluring aesthetic that highlights femininity as a fashion weapon for the spring and summer of 2013. Still perceived as on off-limit trend by some, the see-trough garments can quickly cross the delicate line between seductive and sexual, but at the same time they can be turned into memorable statements.
Learn how the sheer clothing evolved for spring 2013, what exactly changed and how to make this sensual trend work for you by reading on after the break.

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See-through clothing for spring 2013

Nearly impossible to avoid, see-through clothing filled the runways with fresh and exciting takes on the trend, thus offering even more tantalizing alternatives to go sheer for spring and summer. From subtle to pure sexual, from classy to sassy and from subdued to obtrusive, this trend leaves plenty for the imagination, while still pointing towards your best features in a totally unexpected way.

Sheer clothing at Blumarine S/S ’13

How to sport the trend without baring it all

Sporting the sheer clothing trend doesn’t imply baring all, allowing you to still feel comfortable and establish a reasonable limit for how far would you actually go.

• The safest way to embrace the trend remains highlighting your assets through sheer elements subtly injected in your clothing (sleeves, trouser legs, midriff)
• If you don’t feel comfortable with total transparency, opt for translucent or delicately embellished fabrics instead
• Keep your overall look clean and choose a minimum of accessories
• To achieve a sophisticated feel, select neutral colors and relaxed lines for your garments

Sheer clothing at Gianfranco Ferre  S/S ’13, Felder Felder S/S ’13 and Blumarine S/S ’13

• If you opt for a see-through top, layer it on top of statement lingerie, another sheer undergarment or wear it underneath a blazer
• Rather than going sheer from head-to-toe, balance the see through pieces with opaque ones (sheer tops with opaque bottoms and vice versa)
• Embrace color in order to slightly distract from the sheerness
• Choose delicate fabrics like lace, tulle, chiffon to complement the see through elements

Sheer clothing at Alberta Ferretti S/S ’13, Francesco Scognamiglio S/S ’13 and Temperley London S/S ’13

Day versus night

Just like sequins, feathers and obvious cut-outs, see-through clothing isn’t really envisioned for office hours, however it can carry you throughout the day with little efforts. As the sheer fabrics send a strong message for feminine dressing, they also leave little to the imagination at times – so finding the perfect balance, the perfect environment and the right ways of incorporating transparency in your looks might prove to be challenging. For night, the scenario is likely more fitting, allowing you to switch the little black dress for something more modern that accents the outer layer without calling attention to what’s underneath.

Sheer clothing at Gabriele Colangelo S/S ’13 and Francesco Scognamiglio S/S ’13

Sexual sheer: pushing the boundaries for spring

Some women are born to do justice to the unconventional, while others build the confidence and the strength progressively, across years and years of experimenting with the trends. If you’re past the subtle sheer stage and your body begs for more on the revealing side, dare make a statement but remember to keep it sophisticated. From sheer blouses worn without bras or bra-lets, to see-through dresses complemented by matching pieces of lingerie, the sexualised sheer implies taking a risk and being fearless.

Sheer clothing at Anteprima S/S ’13
For summer embrace lightweight fabrics, subtle lace accents and lots of white to complement the sheerness. Highlighting your femininity by using heels and wedges, alongside floral crowns, hats and delicate jewelry. Play with the lengths and layers, but keep your beauty look as close to natural as possible.  For an alternative to the delicate see-trough clothing, check the transparent / clear plastic trend.

Sheer clothing at Blugirl S/S ’13 and Moschino S/S ’13

How to wear sheer

As a statement look the question really isn’t whether to wear sheer clothing or not, it’s how to wear it. Some will argue with that and it’s likely that such people will be imaging the breast-baring, sheer fashion of the catwalks – but remember that it doesn’t have to be worn that way. Thus the question arises as to how you want to wear it. And here’s the number one tip for doing just that:
Sheer fashion is about showing something off. Sometimes it’s a sheer fabric layered over a nice cloth, but more often then not sheer is about showing off skin. Like all things in fashion, that means when you’re wearing sheer don’t do it to shock but to flatter – wear sheer to show off a great asset.
If you’ve got great arms that could mean sheer sleeves. A great midriff? There’s sheer for that. From plunging necklines to backless dresses there’s a sheer interpretation of it, thus no reason not to be wearing the statement this year as long as you have something worth showing off. Once you’ve decided what to hide and what to reveal, you can theme your pieces accordingly.

Sheer / see through clothing styling inspiration

What follows is a list of links to photo shoots, catwalks and street style photos designed to give you ideas for how to style the sheer clothing trend for yourself. The most recent examples of the look are at the top of the list.

Metallics trend: shimmers and futurstic twists.

  

Metallic clothing makes it presence felt in spring / summer 2013. From futuristic motifs to classic reimaginings, read our guide for inspiration on how to wear the trend.

Exhilarating and ever-present, shining on all of the major runways of the world (and we mean it literally), the metallic trend was envisioned as a noble enricher of spring / summer’s fashions that have been treated with delicious shimmers and futuristic twists. Stepping outside of the common grounds and heading towards an ultramodern destination, cutting-edge metallics are now here to stay within your wardrobe.
As the major highlight of spring 2013′s fashion, metal is being carried across into the new season within fresh reinterpretations and unexpected combinations, bringing along a sense of novelty best described by the delicate pastels, high-shine textures and mirrored effects that took over the increasingly popular leather treatment. In a game of opulence versus casualness, everything else is allowed.

Working great when topped by lots of confidence and a laid-back attitude, 2013′s metallic clothing trend can be balanced between both an elegant and a far more relaxed aesthetic for making long lasting statements. The runway stands as a vivid representation of the trend’s undeniable versatility.

Metallic fashion for women.

From flirty, feminine frocks and shimmering pencil skirts, to iridescent pastel coats and delicate brocade jackets, everything fashion option has had a metallic make-over for spring / summer 2013.
Mirror-shine metallics.
Embracing iridescent oil slick alternatives and ultra-shine gold metallics, some designers’ sci-fi visions lured the eye with a series of bold separates, striking through illusive simplicity and love for minimal embelishments. The silhouettes were only meant to further accent the hard-edged source of inspiration.

Mirror-shine metallic skirt from Jonathan Saunders S/S ’13.
Brocade metallics.
Based on a past-meets-future kind of concept, metallic brocades in luxurious hues are one option for your spring / summer wardrobe especially when they adorn a beautiful selection of utterly feminine silhouettes. The overall tendency here is to emphasise the metallic clothing trend’s glamorous undertones and its timeless flair.

Metallic brocade from Behnaz Sarafpour S/S ’13.

Metallic brocade from Roccobarocco S/S ’13.
Pastel metallics.
If you’re looking to make a unique statement of metallics in spring 2013, then you’ll want to steer away from the overexposed shades of silver and gold. Instead you’ll want to focus on the pastel metallics that make a delicate addition to the trend’s otherwise blunt color palette. Gorgeous shades of lilac, pink and aqua blues debuted on the spring 2013 runway, infusing the garments with imaginative appeal and retro flavour.

Pastel metallics coat from Burberry Prorsum S/S ’13 and Roccobarocco S/S ’13.

Pastel metallics outfit from Roccobarocco S/S ’13.
Textured metallics.
Betting on the effervescent shine reflected by a deluxe treated tweed, as opposed to a snakeskin-like textured silver that got a metallic treatment, much of the metallic trend is about rediscovering cool femininity to the point where the luxurious aesthetic and the effortless edginess pass up on a chance to be solely a futuristic trend. In this textured element of metallic clothing, it’s particularly relevant to reinterpret mid-20th century silhouettes into metallics – think of the continuing peplum look as the perfect trend-fusion.

Textured metallic peplum skirt from Badgley Mischka S/S ’13.

Textured metallic skirt from Reed Krakoff S/S ’13 worn with contrasting sheers.
Silver metallics.
Reestablishing metallic silver’s deep rooted appeal, designers like Donna Karan and Alexander Wang opted for the most common metallic hue to pump some much needed contrast into their signature athletic aesthetics; the resulting garments reached new levels of urban polish.

Sporty metallic top from Alexander Wang S/S ’13.

Sporty metallic skirt from DKNY S/S ’13.
Gold vs. rust metallics.
Metallics were interpreted as the defining element of Emporio Armani’s spring 2013 collection, amongst them a beautiful shade of gold gently glossing the collection’s perfectly structured silhouettes. Karen Walker took the parallel road that lead to an equally stunning metallic rust, updating the designer’s collections with inspiration from a distant past.

Gold coloured metallic dress from Emporio Armani S/S ’13.

Russ coloured metallic top from Karen Walker S/S ’13.

Metallic fashion for men.

Somewhere between smartening up and going totally rogue, the fashion trends for men caught a little bit of the metallic fever. More or less unexpectedly, the shimmery styles that took over the spring 2013 runways made quite the statement as mixed with a spectrum of classic silhouettes, setting the tone for what later appeared as a fabulous battle of contrasts. Loud, nontraditional, effervescent, the garments playing upon metallic finishes felt like a much needed electricity spark in a sea of muted tones.
Few were the designers that took a significant risk by choosing flashy metallics to the detriment of some other rather conventional fabrics for spring 2013, but their futuristic approach might had just revealed another side of men’s fashion, one exciting enough to conquer and last for seasons to come. Although jumping the metallic wagon requires a bit of courage, taking on a new verve could serve as proof that sometimes change is for the better.
The metallic trend might had just found its biggest advocate in the person of Christopher Bailey. Colliding Burberry’s tradition with an explosion of shiny fabrics, the designer’s fearless collection came across as irresistible and above all fearless. From an ice-blue metallic shirt, to a bold fuchsia foil trench and a selection of metallic leather jackets, everything on the runway pointed towards brilliance.

Metallic fashion for men at Burberry Prorsum S/S ’13.
Agreeing upon the fact that it is indeed time to elevate fashion, Lanvin infused is refined spring 2013 menswear collection with a series of high-tech elements meant to put an emphasis on the entire concept of fashionable opposites. Edged metallics were used to accent a silver-glazed peacoat, a flashy bomber jacket, skinny pants and a memorable suit that carried across a strong futuristic metal flavour.

Metallic fashion for men at Lanvin S/S ’13.