Despite the gloomy weather that much of the Northern Hemisphere is still experiencing, one can still look to the recently unveiled resort collections as inspiration for warm-weather dressing. Every year, the inter-season resort collections give a hint as to what trends one should expect for the coming spring collections. There were quite a few common trends that many of the collections shared this year, so let’s take a look at three of them and how you can work them into your summer wardrobe now (if and when it warms up, that is).

Shades of Orange
Shades of orange ranging from burnished pumpkin to vibrant persimmon popped up everywhere in the Resort 2012 collections. Orange, one of the richest yet oft-forgotten colours, is making a refreshing return to the runway. Though orange pairs beautifully with neutrals (other than black for the most part – too Halloween), it looks equally great when paired with shades of blue, pink, and yellow.

The Wet Look
This slick textural effect was running rampant all over the runway. It gives a futuristic, modernist spin to any look, even if the silhouette itself is more traditional. These pieces look amazing paired with basics, but if the shiny material is in a darker or more subdued colour, feel free to play with other textures or patterns in your look.

Pattern-Crazed
Floral patterns made a huge appearance this year – from Yves Saint Laurent to Acne, bright pops of floral print were certainly the order of the day. However, patterns in general were big – they really elevated what could have been a simple shift or pair of trousers to a truly artistic, attention-grabbing piece. Though it’s easy enough to pair patterns with solids, mix your prints to create a truly bold style statement. If you’re not sure of where to start in terms of pattern-on-pattern looks, check out this easy pattern play guide!

By: Alexandra Grant, Vancouver

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