Fashion forecast: London 2013

Peplums, purple and pleated skirts? Darlings, that’s so 2012. Karen Dacre gives us the style lowdown for the exciting year ahead
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19 December 2012

1. The Face

While we mourn the loss of supermodel Jourdan Dunn, who is leaving London for the bright lights of New York next year, we celebrate the arrival of one of the hottest faces on the planet. The divine Arizona Muse has chosen our capital over her native US. Already lending a hefty dose of glamour to London’s party scene, Muse is set to be the capital’s girl around town during 2013 — we’re hoping for a couple of London Fashion Week appearances too. God bless America.

2. The Opening

The wait is over. Following years of empty promises — and costly trips to NYC — J Crew’s London following are to be treated to its first UK store. Due to open on Regent Street in early spring, J Crew’s first off-US-soil venture will feature mens-, womens- and kidswear. The perfect new addition to our rapidly expanding middle market — see Whistles, Maje and Sandro — J Crew’s reassuringly expensive offering for next season includes vibrant colours and workwear to die for. Roll on March.

3. The Colour

They call it mellow yellow. We call it that difficult-to-wear hue that looks terrible with a hangover. But we had better get used to it because thanks to Marc Jacobs, who went mad for sunshine in his latest collection for Louis Vuitton, yellow is next year’s super-shade. A favourite with everyone from Christian Dior to Simone Rocha, incarnations of the colour were all over the spring catwalks and will be ten-a-penny on the high street next year. The good news? This shade looks great with navy blue.

4. The New Look

For purveyors of fashion there is no denying the influence of Prada. When Mrs P says jump, we ask how high and with what handbag. With this is in mind, we are preparing to dress like luxed-up Harajuku girls this spring. Prada refuses to confirm or deny any Eastern influence following Mrs P’s spring/summer show but there is no escaping its juvenile theme. Think mini-kilts, thick framed glasses and, if Mrs Prada gets her way, leather ankle socks.

5. The Designer

If 2012 belonged to Raf Simons, Christian Dior’s newly appointed designer-in-chief, Alexander Wang, is the toast of the new year. At least, that’s the dream. He’s certainly the man all eyes will be on. Picking up the baton from Nicolas Ghesquière as the man on top at revered French fashion house Balenciaga, Wang’s charge is to keep fashion’s greatest purists onside with a collection that delights and surprises in equal measures. No pressure, then.

6. The Brand

Could this be the year Christopher Kane gets the recognition he deserves? He’s certainly on course for monumental success. Following a year in which he emerged as one of the most prolific and critically acclaimed designers the capital has ever produced, 2013 also looks set to belong to the 30-year-old from Lanarkshire. While Kane’s people are yet to confirm what changes are afoot, we’re praying for more astonishing collections, a diffusion line and the designer’s first flagship store. A girl can dream, can’t she?

7. The Silhouette

Boobs are back. British Vogue has decreed it. In selecting the stunning Kate Upton as cover girl for the January edition, Vogue waged war on the boyish, straight-up-and-down shape that has dominated for seasons. This doesn’t mean we’ll be suggesting you show your boobs off but, rather, embracing designers who cater for curves. See Victoria Beckham and Roksanda Ilincic for dresses, and the perfectly endowed supermodel Lara Stone for divine inspiration.

8. The Shoes

The year started with a rubber pool shoe, as seen at Christopher Kane’s show last February, and it ended with a fur-lined flat sandal unveiled in Phoebe Philo’s latest collection for Céline. Quickly renamed “furkenstocks”, Philo’s deliciously tactile shoe style is set to be the most talked-about shoe of the new season. Designed with comfort and nesting in mind — Philo designed the shoe after giving birth to her third child— these are the ultimate in post-natal accessory choice. Dear Duchess, are you listening?

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