FASHION FORECAST

Despite the fact that fall 2011′s fashion trends still seem like a dot on the horizon they’ll be with us before we now it. With them will come the first full hint of 2012′s fashions; its trends, its clothes, its accessories.

Women’s spring 2012 fashion trends

5 pieces to keep for the New Year

As the seasons turn, we look not just to new trends but to new ways to interpret the pieces already in our wardrobes. And this year the options are many. So what to keep from fall? Here are 5 key pieces from last season that will continue to serve you well into spring / summer 2012.

1960s fashion

Yes there’s the 1970s revival, but there’s also a revival for the decade the 70s replaced. The swinging 60s are back as a spring / summer 2012 fashion trend.

While it’s a revival that was born with the first season of Mad Men, for spring 2012 the trend has lost its pure-American tones to become thoroughly British. Follow the link to our 1960s fashion guide see what’s on trend.

1920s fashion

Another era is making a return, and its influences are here to stay for spring 2012. Born of a perfect storm of cultural references – the likes of TV show Boardwalk Empire and upcoming Great Gatsby film – the new take on flapper fashion is roaring twenties with a modern twist. Elements of the Deco 30s will also creep their way in.

Keep an eye on our 1920s fashion guide for more.

Apron dress

Aprons, those little pieces of fabric that have such connotations of wholesome vintage housewifery through to kitchen complexity, are quietly cooking up a storm in spring / summer 2012. But don’t think of this as a literal example of the apron worn fashionably – anything but. Instead an apron motif features as one of the embellishments of spring 2012′s dresses. Read our full guide to the apron dress and skirt to find out all about this fashion trend and how to wear it.

Swimwear and bikini trends for 2012

While it’s unlikely that you’ll wear one in winter, with the ease of which we can travel to sunny destinations it seems that there’s always the need to have statement swimwear on-hand. And for that reason the in-fashion styles evolve slowly. Read our guide on fashionable swimsuits and bikinis to find out the styles and elements that will be in fashion in 2012.

The year marks the true start of a new decade, and yet 2012′s fashion trends are all about revival. True, there is a unique undertone of a modernist style appearing, but take some of the most iconic styles of the 20th century, infuse them with quality, and you’ll find the basis for the dominant styles of 2012.

The year’s hair trends are no different. For fashionisers in 2012, hair is all about revivals and evolution. With styles and colours we’re seeing the best of 2011 reborn, whereas cuts are offering reworked and luxurious revivals of styles that sit perfectly with the year’s clothing trends.

2012 long hairstyles

Long & bouncy

Described as a gorgeous blow-out the bouncy blow dry gives long hair a groomed, elegant yet relaxed finish. Inspired, in part, by the 70s fashion revival but working across most of 2012′s looks, you can read our guide to the bouncy blow dry for a step-by-step tutorial on getting the look and ensuring that you have the optimum bounce in the roots and the soft waves to frame your face.

Hair type suited to: long straight hair & long wavy hair.

Hair colour suited to: all.

Homemade curls

Both nostalgic and modern, this girlish and quirky hairstyle features many an element of other 2012 hairstyle trends: it has a parting and obvious product definition. Soft and eye-catching, homemade curls give off a laid back air as one of 2012′s long hairstyle trends. Follow the link for a full tutorial as well as tips on what to style the hairstyle with.

Hair type suited to: long straight hair & long wavy hair.

Hair colour suited to: all, though we feature it with blonde hair.

French twist

Given that classic fashion revivals define 2012, it should come as no surprised to find that classic hairstyles also go a long way to defining the year. Equally of no surprise is the fact that the French twist hairstyle features for the year. Click the link for the full how-to and styling tips guide.

Hair type suited to: long straight hair & long wavy hair.

Hair colour suited to: all.

Season suited to: best as a spring / summer 2012 hairstyle

Looped under ponytail

Less of a bun and more of a ponytail that’s been folded and looped under, this hairstyle offers up a mood somewhere between easy and casual, and tightly equestrian. It provided the perfect compliment to Carolina Herrera’s spring runway; as it can to your own outfits. For your own looped under ponytail click the link for the full how-to guide and styling tips.

Hair type suited to: long straight hair & long wavy hair.

Hair colour suited to: all.

Season suited to: best as a spring / summer 2012 hairstyle

Half up Brigitte Bardot hair

It’s so classically sex kitten that we’d hardly limit it to a 2011 hair trend; but this Brigitte Bardot bouffant hairstyle – half up, half out and as sexy or as sleek as you want to make it – is one that sits perfectly with the year’s fashions. This is a modern, understated take that will suit day or night.

Women’s rockabilly hair

It’s the one 2012 hairstyle that’s in for both men and women. Emerging first as a men’s hair trend and now as a women’s, the women’s rockabilly hairstyle plays to the country Americana theme running through some of 2012′s fashion. Seldom subtle, but best worn rough and ready as on Proenza Schouler’s catwalk, you can see that style and all the others by following the link to the guide.

Side pinned waves

Flowing, bouncy waves accessorised by a side-pinned barrette create something of a girlish charm. While long hair works fantastically well for this look – as seen on the spring runway of Sonia Rykiel – this hairstyle can also work for short or mid hair lengths. A collision of forties glamour and seventies relaxed cool, you can create the style for yourself by following our side pinned waves how to guide.

2012 mid-length hairstyles

Retro faux bob

As perfect as a Stepford wife, as ice cool as Betty Draper, as vintage as yesteryear and as modern as tomorrow, 2012′s faux bob hairstyle gives the year a structured, pristine, ‘done’ hairstyle that borrows much from the 60s fashion revival. Read our guide to the faux bob hairstyle for the 6 key steps to making the look your own.

Wet-look chignon

Don’t be afraid to get your hair wet in 2012 – or at least give the impression that it’s wet. Amongst a long list of wet look 2012 hairstyles, this wet look chingon offers up plenty of versatility along with a relaxed feel. Follow the link for a step-by-step tutorial.

Hair type suited to: straight hair, relaxed curly hair & wavy hair.

Hair length suited to: mid-length haircut or long hair.

Hair colour suited to: all colours and complexions.

Piled up and pinned hairstyle

If there’s a middle ground between being stylishly done and carelessly undone, this 2012 women’s hairstyle occupies it. Elegant to a tee, it doesn’t require precision or complex tools (bobby pins are your friend – and lots of them) but it does require a little finesse to pull off that undone-done look of effortless chic. Our guide to the piled and pinned hairstyle takes you through each of the steps.

Hair type suited to: straight hair, relaxed curly hair & wavy hair.

Hair length suited to: mid-length haircut or long hair.

Hair colour suited to: all colours and complexions.

Chignon with side waves

As seasons change, hairstyles are given new twists. This year the always dependable chignon gets reinvented. In this take, it gets a sweeping side part with soft waves on one side, creating a unique effect that varies with the angle you view it from. Visit the step-by-step tutorial on creating the chignon with side waves.

Hair type suited to: straight hair, relaxed curly hair & wavy hair.

Hair length suited to: shoulder length to long hair.

Hair colour suited to: all colours and complexions.

Double French twist

On the spring / summer 2012 runway of Diane von Furstenberg, models emerged with a back-combed crown that swirled back into two mirrored French twists. The effect? A 1960s style bouffant hairstyle that crowns any outfit with an elegant vintage vibe. We call it the double French twist, and that link will take you to a galleries worth of photo inspiration, as well as taking you through the 8 steps needed to getting the twist hairstyle in 2012.

2012 short hairstyles

Mod bob

Short. Voluminous. Messy. This is the 2012 women’s hairstyle that marries a short hair cut with the best of the 1960s fashion revival to create a Mod bob that’s been inspired by the likes of Brigitte Bardot and Twiggy. Follow the link for photo inspiration and a styling tutorial.

Afro hair

With the return of all things 1970s it should come as no surprise to find that the afro sits amongst 2012′s hairstyles. Appearing on the streets and in many a photo shoot, Afro hair is being interpreted for 2012 in a soft and dreamy way. Follow the link for styling inspiration.

Rock crop haircut

Given it has so many devotees, the pixie crop isn’t disappearing from amongst 2012’s haircut trends. But it is being adapted. In the face of the likes of the 1920s fashion revival, we’re seeing the pixie crop deviate into several different styles. There’s the 60s and 70s crops, there’ll be the 20s crop, and, for 2012, there’s the rock crop.

The short haircut for those to whom both the very short fringe (see below) and the rockabilly hairstyle (see above) appeal, the rock crop takes on an androgynous edge in 2012. And it does so for both autumn (fall) / winter and spring / summer 2012 courtesy of Lanvin popularising the haircut on both of its seasonal catwalks.

While in autumn / fall the rock crop haircut is given a rockabilly edge, for spring the haircut sits better alongside the wet look hairstyle (see below).

2012 hairstyles (all lengths)

Women’s side part

Whether you have short or long hair, or something in between, the side part is the fashionable hair parting in 2012. Working across most of the year’s fashion trends, and compatible with a large number of the other hair trends, our guide to the side part for women takes you through the different ways to wear the parting and provides over 80 different photos for styling inspiration.

Wet look hair

Perfectly slick or unceremoniously textured, flowing free or tied up high. A vast number of hairstyles across the spring / summer 2012 runways had one thing in common: they all had a wet-look finish. Read our guide to 2012′s wet look hairstyles to be taken through the key wet hairstyles.

Center part

As the default hair parting for most women it seems somewhat silly to cite a centre hair part amongst 2012’s hairstyles. But bear with us. Hairstyle trends often have more than one element about them, and that’s the case with the centre part in 2012. Suited to all hair colors, the centre part aligns itself with two or 2012’s revival trends: ‘60s fashion and ‘70s fashion for spring / summer 2012.

(Clockwise from top left) long and blonde with a 70s air at Kevork Kiledjian S/S 2012; a center part with 2012′s wet look at Alexander Wang; with a near-shoulder length bob at Luca Luca; with thick and dark hair at Luca Luca.

 CREDITS: http://www.fashionising.com