The dress-over-pants look, long a favorite of bohemian girls who layer vintage dresses over jeans, gets a chic update for Resort. Any dress length will work, but most hit below the knee. Pants can be cropped or extra-long, knit or woven, flared or straight. The combo looks right in mismatched prints or calm solids. Several designers showed the long-over-long proportion in matched sets as well, giving the look a beach pyjama feel.
The newest color-blocking is a simple two-color split. The effect can be as subtle as two shades of a single hue or as graphic as black-and-white. The duotone feature brings a bit of individuality to the season’s minimalist dresses, which are often softened by a center pleat or knot. Sportier styles might use bold color, and the two opposing halves can be laced-together, Frankenstein-style.
In a movement away from all the big and slouchy carryalls or teeny-tiny “necklace bags”, the small and structured bag is looking just right. Big enough to make a statement and petite enough to go from day to dinner, the neat bag will bring a polished note to everything from wear-it-to-work looks to casual dresses and jeans. Many have dual handles — one short and one for shoulder or cross-body — making these perfectly-proportioned handbags even more versatile. Ornamental closures and surface decorations add more interest.
Nothing captures resort informality better than a billowy dress. For next season, designers propose effortless smocks and frocks in delicate shades of white and ecru, adding an unbleached purity to the look. Scarf-tie necks, drop shoulder seams and side slits provide even more ease, and crochet-doily appliqués add dimension. Silhouettes range from shirtdresses to caftans, and lengths go from midi to maxi. The look can be achieved with 2-piece sets as well.
Scarves are the new “it” accessory. For resort there are all sorts of desirable neckwear items, from extra-long fringe-tipped sashes to narrow cravats and classic silk squares. Designers even styled with multiple scarves, as in a printed headwrap shown with a coordinating (but not matching) neckerchief. Most are silky but there are also alternatives, like a knitted sash or velvet bow choker with trailing ribbons.
Red, white and blue remain a go-to for warm-weather apparel. As in our SS19 Trend Tale American Dreamz, the associations may change, but the references remain constant. For resort, there are western yokes, ginghams, fresh shirting stripes and intarsia knits, all in flag colors made more sophisticated with offbeat touches like pink, wine or light periwinkle blue. Wide leg pants, flared shorts or knitted briefs bring in a 40s bathing beauty feel, perfect for exotic beaches, country picnics or urban rooftop celebrations.
The newest color-blocking is a simple two-color split. The effect can be as subtle as two shades of a single hue or as graphic as black-and-white. The duotone feature brings a bit of individuality to the season’s minimalist dresses, which are often softened by a center pleat or knot. Sportier styles might use bold color, and the two opposing halves can be laced-together, Frankenstein-style.
Gingham always comes around for Resort and Spring, but this time the newness is in the scale and the attitude. Rather than sweet little checks for flouncy Bardot dresses, the new checks are bigger and bolder, and are used for stronger silhouettes. There are slouchy gingham pantsuits and oversized checks for camp shirts, knit dresses and slubby sweater sets. The pattern is used head-to-toe or mixed with florals. Our favorite mismatch is the juxtaposition of gingham with checkerboard, an approach that brings out the graphic quality of this timeless warm-weather motif.
Pieced denim doesn’t necessarily mean hobo patches. The newest jeans in Resort collections are more sleek than scruffy, with contrasting fabrics or multiple shades of denim sewn in neat panels or subtle insets. Because the novelty is in the segmented construction, silhouettes remain relatively classic with straight-legs and natural waists. Utilitarian stamps or screen prints add to the clean, graphic feel.
The bucket hat, a key accessory for next fall, continues right into Resort. The hat, with its easy crushable shape, has an unpretentious quality that makes it more wearable than more structured fedoras or sun hats. Newness comes from higher crowns and textural effects created with raffia fringe, crochet, raw edges or resort-ready prints. Brims range from the classic trapunto-stitched narrow band to face-framing and floppy for more drama.
