Top 5 Fashion Trends for Winter 2012

Dressing for cold weather doesn’t have to mean looking unstylish. For Winter 2012, lots of classic looks inspired by vintage fashion are in style. Here are five of the top trends.

Hemlines

Longer hemlines: Dresses or skirts with very short hemlines are going out of fashion, and this is good news since the truth is this length is not really flattering on anybody. This year the ‘midi’ skirt, that ends at calf length, has become more common, and this trend is continuing in winter 2012. Big circle skirts and fitted pencil skirts are both in fashion, as long as they have a hemline that ends between the knees and ankles.

Fur Collars (Faux, Of Course!)

Fur collars: Faux fur collars are not only warm, making them really practical for winter, but they add classic style to your outfit. You can either choose a coat with a fur collar already attached or a detachable collar for more versatility. A fur collar is less attention grabbing than a fur coat, but has a little bit more elegance than a normal scarf.

Fitted Waists

Fitted waists and belts: In recent years clothes with ‘straight’ silhouettes such as oversize tops and shift dresses have been fashionable. But in autumn and winter 2012 the fitted waist has finally come back. The classic, ladylike style of the 1940s and 1950s is back in fashion, so you should wear a coat with a belted waist and a fitted A-line or pencil skirt to look really elegant. Skinny or thick belts look good with dresses as well as tied around jackets or cardigans.

Velvet Is Back…

Velvet: Velvet is really luxurious and is starting to come back into fashion. To look natural the trick is to choose just one piece of velvet clothing, like a blazer, and wear it with plainer jeans or a pencil skirt. Velvet dresses are also stylish. You should choose darker colours, since the idea is to look Gothic and vintage rather than 1980s.

Peplums

Peplums: A peplum is a ruffle attached at the waist of a jacket or dress. This is a classic 1940s look that has reappeared this year, especially on cocktail dresses and skirt suits. Although they can look a bit costumey, peplums are also really flattering. This is a dressy look that needs to be worn with heels for a really ladylike style.

Keep It Simple!

It’s probably not a good idea to wear all of these trends at once, but you should shop for at least one if you want to look really stylish this winter season.

Thanks to Jane Harrow from Lyst.com for this post. For leather jackets, boots, jeans and loads more women’s fashion, visit Lyst.com.