Fashion from the capital: 8 fashion trends to get excited about in 2018

CEBU, Philippines — You don’t need to have spent too much time (as in, literally a few hours) to know, this early in the year, what fashion trends are going to dominate in 2018. The writing’s been on the wall: Designers, influencers, and all the incredibly stylish people you see on the street seem to be on the same page about a handful of trends – a certain type of coat, a particular kind of sleeve. Before you know it, those trends will be at your neighborhood purveyor of fast-fashion; and from there... you won’t be able to go anywhere without noticing them. So, before they reach that level of pervasiveness, brush up on the eight fashion trends that are going to be big this year.

Ultra Violet. Pantone announced 2018’s Color of the Year to be Ultra Violet, “an enchanting purple shade that offers designers versatility of expression,” per its press release. The shade represents “our shared desire for deeper understanding in an increasingly complex landscape, and our eagerness to experiment to reach that level” – and it’s one that’s already had a presence on the Spring 2018 runways, at shows like Rochas and Zadig and Voltaire. Expect to see the saturated purple hue everywhere in 2018.

Balloon Sleeves. We’ve already seen sleeves get super-sized in 2017. The next iteration? Voluminous blouses that feel a little bit 19th century, a little bit Louis Vuitton. Nicholas Ghesqui`ère has been playing around with the silhouette for a while, but now other luxury brands – like Burberry and JOUR/NÉ – are joining in on the fun.

Bike Shorts. The Spring 2018 runways confirmed it: Whether you like it or not, ‘90s-style bike shorts will be the inescapable trend of 2018. Kim Kardashian has been on this comeback train for a while, but her penchant for the thigh-hugging bottoms were validated on the runways of Fenty, Nina Ricci, and Agnes B.

Plastic Jackets. Raf Simon’s Calvin Klein has re-ignited our interest in super-slick coats and accessories. Two seasons after he first sent them down the runway, we’ve begun to notice more plastic-looking jackets on the street and at our favorite retailers than we had since the heyday of “The Matrix” – trenches, moto jackets, overcoats...  you name it.

Disco Flair. It wouldn’t be a fashion trend roundup if there wasn’t a mention of a decade past suddenly making a comeback. We’ve seen the return of the ‘90s and the aughties. (Hello, new Juicy for spring!) In 2018, we’re seeing designers’ fascination with ‘70s disco manifest into all-over sequins, power suits, and embellished bustiers. Look to the runways of Marc Jacobs and Halpern for endless inspiration.

Primary Color-Blocking.  Calvin Klein, Marni, and Oscar de la Renta seem to be in agreement: If you’re color-blocking in 2018, keep your palette restrained to those three primary colors. With this limited collection, you can focus on the graphic combination of these hues. The more saturated the shade, the better.

Tinsel Fringe. You can leave the suede fringe in Coachella’s past; in 2018, the boho-chic trends gets festive and futuristic, rendered in tinsel and other stringy metallic materials. Whether it’s Paco Rabanne’s neck-to-ankle fringe or Erdem’s tiny accents on all-over silver sequins, this trend is all about a “more is more” mentality.

Measured Sheer. Sheer, mesh, and other translucent fabrics may have once been considered strictly nighttime wear, but no more. Think of Molly Goddard’s fantastically voluminous dresses and Dior’s dreamy maxi skirts – pieces that are elegant, playful, and, yes, see-through. So? When worn over a slip dress, or with plain trousers, or with a leather bustier, the overall look doesn’t necessarily say “risqué,” but rather, “chic.” (www.glamour.com)