BEIRUT: No need to wait for shops to put out their spring collections before shopping for warm-weather items. Spring 2013’s hodgepodge of trends makes this post-holiday sale season a gold mine for spring shopping – and at a considerable discount.
The international runways for spring-summer 2013 showed highly eclectic collections that included items already popular this winter, such as cutouts and laces in dark fabrics, women’s tuxedos and leather.
With holiday shopping done, high street shops have slapped red sale tags on some winter items that –with a little restyling – can be worn well into the warmer months.
For instance, this winter’s gothic revival meant that shops from designer boutiques to the high street were full of black leather and lace.
One of summer 2013’s trends will be lightening up the heaviness of black by using translucent fabrics, peek-a-boo patterns, cutouts and lace that shows the skin or light-colored fabric beneath.
Take for example one of Calvin Klein’s black dresses for spring-summer 2013 – very loose knit with bright white fabric underneath. Zara has several black lace minidresses from the winter collection on sale from $40-$60.
Post-holiday sales have also put countless sheer black tops out at 30-50 percent discounts.
Though a little unconventional for hot weather, leather will also play big among spring collections. On the runways, designer Jason Wu showed black leather dresses and Yves Saint Laurent featured black leather jackets.
Stock up on sun-appropriate leather with discounted faux-leather skirts and pants, light leather vests or jackets and leather-detailed dresses and tops.
Mango has a basic black minidress with leather panels along the sides on sale for LL81,000. Or Zara offers leather and lycra pants on sale for LL70,000, and faux leather T-shirts or sleeveless tops for LL49,000.
Tuck leather tops into a pair of straight black pants to mimic a spring look created by designer Salvatore Ferragamo.
Scarcer to find, but perfect for summer if you do, are oriental-inspired patterns, which were hot items on the runways for spring 2013. Mango has discounted a number of loose, silky tops and dresses with Asian-inspired motifs as part of its winter sale.
Likewise, most jackets for winter kept their sleeves for maximum warmth. But if you’re lucky enough to stumble upon a sleeveless blazer, snatch it up.
This spring will see feminine spins on the tuxedo, especially the sleeveless jacket. Though they are hard to find, Zara has one brass-buttoned, sleeveless waistcoat on sale for LL50,000.
And the silk pajama-style trousers that have elegantly replaced winter cocktail dresses at local brunches and evening parties can get their summer lift in the monochrome look.
One of spring’s popular looks was pairing bottom and top in the same color. Stella McCartney paired loose silk pants in emerald green with a light-weight summer sweater in the same color. Gucci did the same in a shocking cobalt blue.
When spring rolls in, give the loose satin pants – on sale at stores like Zara and Massimo Dutti – a touch of trendiness by pairing them with a silk, knit or lace top in exactly the same hue.
And if you’re looking for the absolute cheapest sales, H&M has put its winter stock – including loose shorts perfect for the monochrome trend – on sale for as little as LL5,000.