Topshop

Spring Summer 2010

Body Armor

Body armour takes inspiration from military training camps and sportswear in the barracks, taking utilitarian pieces and giving them an urban twist. The silhouette is body conscious, clean and sleek. Sportswear influences prevail; jumpers and tracksuit bottoms are realised in jersey, grey marl and sweatshirting, whilst leggings and unitards feature aertex and mesh panels and sporty side stripes. Jackets and tops are given protective padding and strong armour-like shoulders. Prints bring an urban element to basic pieces, and include cityscapes and a speeding train motif that resembles stripes. Finer details include harness-style strapping, elastic trims, rucksack lacing and utilitarian zips. Footwear echoes the clothing, and includes an ‘american sportswear’ tan leather and canvas chunky heel, a shoe boot sandal with bondage-inspired strapping, and a lace-up boot inspired by hiking and ice skating attire.

LA LATINA

La latina is casual, sassy streetwear with a kitsch and tongue-in-cheek feel. Pieces take inspiration from the new york latin quarter and hip hop heroines of the ‘80s and ‘90s – think neneh cherry in buffalo stance, with a twist of salt’n’pepa. Tropical fruit, flamingo and hawaiian-inspired prints run across crop tops, hotpants and spray-on jeans, all finished off with bright gold buttons and accessorized with provocative gold jewellery. A pair of faded denim shorts features repeating hearts, whilst a super-cropped black sequin tee is brightened up with a palm tree print and an all-in-one is covered in cherries. Pieces are designed for maximum sex appeal, worn tight, slashed or rolled-up to show off the body beautiful. Corsetting is key, worn in black lace under hotpants and peeking out of knotted shirts. Colours are bright and tropical and are perfectly highlighted against a backdrop of faded denim. Ruffles and lace pieces have a sicilian feel, perfect for hedonistic summer nights. Footwear includes a high-top sports trainer in bubblegum blue or pink, a chunky wooden sandal that updates the wedge, and other styles with cork and raffia wedge platforms

MEADOW

Meadow invites you to take a trip to the english countryside in summertime. Billowing, languid, light-as-a-feather chiffon, lace and crochet pieces are toughened up with a studded leather waistcoat or bleached denim jacket. Floral prints featuring buttercups, daisies and poppies decorate boho maxi-length dresses, worn with tough leather belts and flat lace-up boots. Prints also take inspiration from the animal kingdom; a full-length chiffon dress is covered in butterflies, whilst a cute tee features embroidered ladybirds. Shirting is faded and vintage in feel and often features floral prints. Fabrics are intricate and feminine with an edge; a beautiful cropped jacket features cornelli embroidered flowers on mesh, whilst a vintage silk slip is embellished with studs. Footwear nods to the prairie, with crochet-insert, faded floral print and tan leather flat lace-up boots taking centre stage

Techno Traveller

The global traveler goes digital - techno traveller is a mash-up of festival trends from around the world, including americana, rave gear and nomad-inspired embellished and tribal pieces. Hyper-real animal prints are realized in fluoro colours and decorate dresses and mini skirts. Many pieces are moroccan-inspired with a hand-crafted feel, covered in bashed and tarnished coins and sequins, studs, delicate embroidery and woollen pom-poms. Traditional keffiyeh scarves are modernised with bright colours and techno prints, and layered up with chunky knitwear and do-it-yourself patchwork jackets for when the sun goes down. Denim is super-distressed, ripped and bleached and covered in hardware. Some knits use tape yarn which gives a loose, unravelling feel, whilst others have holes and a ‘nibbled’ effect or are decorated with tassles. Chains and chainmail are key to this look; a tape yarn waistcoat has the appearance of fine chainmail, whilst bashed metalwork hangs from tops and jackets. Military shirts and army fatigue harem trousers are customised with sweatshirt panels, patches and cammo netting prints, whilst a scrunched-up military waistcoat dresses down a billowing maxi-dress. Fringing can be found throughout this trend, including a multi-coloured show-stopping dress and a fringed crochet waistcoat with leather and lace panels. In footwear the clog heel is a key shape.