THE first thing I did when I entered 2017 was to re-organise my wardrobe and that includes my showroom. It looks nothing like the one at Vogue magazine or the sample room you see in The Devil Wears Prada, where all the latest samples hang beautifully.
Mine is more like a vintage shop you find hidden in the middle of Amsterdam, where you can find local designers’ samples.
In my showroom, there are Neelofa’s MeleTop outfits, Scha Al-Yahya’s big avant garde gown (which she going to wear for her fragrance line debut), Swarovski jewellery and since I’ve been styling male actors like Awal Ashaari and Fattah Amin, there are some men’s samples too.
Cleaning my showroom makes it easier to organise my mental wardrobe. I wish I can have Professor X’s powers whenever I think: “Do we have a skin tight dress?” or “Where is that Lemaire belt?”. I don’t, so manually cleaning it helps me sort out what I want and don’t want.
I later discover that I have thrown away most items that I wouldn’t want to put on myself or my clients in 2017. My goal has always been to make a difference in women’s lives.
I want to simplify everything because when you don’t have to think about what you’re wearing, you can get on with what really matters.
Clothes are never as important as the person. When she walks into the room, the woman should always be the first thing you see, not her clothes.
This empowerment is the most important thing for me.
That said, a great outfit will take you miles and you will always be very welcome wherever you go because people will greet you differently.
But fashion moves at a speedy pace, and when your time and budget are precious, it’s not always possible to test out everything on your seasonal shopping list. Still, you don’t have to sit out completely, it just takes knowing which trends to cherry-pick and which to leave behind.
In order to help you narrow things down, these are five major trends that are going to take over in 2017.
SLEEVE DRAMA
The thing with trends is that they reach their tipping points and the off-shoulder trend has certainly gotten there. I felt it a few months ago when I saw it on every single person I knew over and over again, and I wish to not see it this year.
We’ve migrated to sleeves that make an entire outfit. Let your sleeves do the talking! According to my fellow fashion editor, whether they’re mutton, pirate-inspired, ruffled, long, oversized, big, massive, buckled and strapped, they’re in.
It kind of goes with our daily drama. Those dramatic sleeves perfectly fit into my routine when I get all theatrical and talk with my hands and beautifully complement bracelets or rings and the phone that’s always in my hand.
But leave your bell sleeve statement in 2016, because we’ve pretty much done it all and seen it all last year. It’s time to make room for a fresh new wave that will take your outfit up a notch.
1980S-INSPIRED
It’s back to the future - or past, rather with the 1980s-inspired exaggerated shoulders, metallics and more. We’re talking about metallic pleated skirts and velvet high neck tops.
With most major fashion houses on board, expect to see this all over. Thanks to exciting collections like Balenciaga, the square shoulder is perhaps the coolest silhouette for this year.
The approachable way to pull it off would be with a cool cropped jacket or blazer but not the predictable bomber jacket. Still sounds scary? Then start with an oversized sweater and pull the sleeves up until the elbow, secure it with safety pin and create the volume silhouette on your arms.
CORSET DRESSING
Instead of layering your slip dress with a white tee because this style has been used to death, try layering it with a bustier. After its appearance on the runway and some street style stars, corset-dressing has arrived as a major trend.
Style yours over a T-shirt, button-down crisp white shirt or light sweater to give it the 2017 twist. International designers have started selling this new trend and local brand Thavia leads the pack with this daring trend. I suspect the masses will pick it up soon.
BOLD EARPIECE
No matter what you’re wearing this year, it will be your jewellery that makes a major statement. Keep all your chokers in a “Don’t wear this in 2017” box. As Alexa Chung declares, “chokers are so dead.”
Statement earrings are veritable works of art for Spring/Summer 2017, drawing arty inspiration with futurist lines, graphic shapes and innovative use of materials. Ear cuffs on the other hand, blur the line between jewellery and accessories even further with bold, as well as delicate motifs. You could also style it on a single ear but make sure it is oversized.
This shoulder-skimming trend will definitely make the most impact. Outstanding, sculptural, eye-catching ear pieces are the styles you will see on the stylish stars you admire. That’s right, the bold earring is here to frost your outfit.
BRIGHT HUE
This year, fashion goes back to the drawing board, redefining a confident look with exaggerated lines, metallic effects, graphic prints and the most celebrated colour on the runway - bright candy pink and sunshine yellow.
These electric hues are bound to be especially popular as candy pink, baby pink, deep cherry and raspberry provide a sweet new way to see fashion through rose-tinted glasses.
From lemon to fluorescent, yellow is a chromatic shot in the arm that lights up major runways. Whether your style is feminine or leans more toward the masculine side, there’s a piece for everyone. Adios pastel, 2017 looks shiny and bright!
Fashion stylist Min Luna can be seen regularly in local top celebrities’ Instagram stories because to them, she is a style magician. She has a self-inflicted obsession with Valentino’s romantic dresses and thinks resin slip-ons have no place in anyone’s wardrobe. Follow her journey on Instagram @minluna or #minlunaonset. write to her at minluna.k@gmail.com.