The asymmetric one-shoulder style was dominant in this year’s Fall/Winter collections and was seen on the catwalk of major design labels like Ralph Lauren, Celine and Valentino. Also making a comeback were the turtleneck, floral on floral and sequins as seen at Moschino, Giamba and Valentino.

Nothing’s Really New!

One shoulder – the toga, worn by the Romans and Grecians thousands of years BC, reappeared in the ’40s as a style detail in glamorous ball gowns and has never gone away.

Turtleneck — the turtleneck worn centuries ago as a protective gear, first became popular in the early ’50s with athletes, however; it would be the film industry with icons like Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe who would immortalise it.

Floral on floral — and we’re not referencing sofas or cushions! Did you know that floral was once considered a luxury, used as a symbol of dominance in a hierarchy? Floral printed garments became popular in Europe and America during the 17th century and were worn by the wealthy, however, the Industrial Revolution and its advent of mass production made floral available to all. Floral returned with a bang with the Hippy movement of the ’60s.

Sequins — long before the discovery of plastic, this shiny trend was a hit in Rome and Greece — holes were drilled into coins and attached to garments to demonstrate wealth. Ecologists also discovered that Egyptians too, had worn this style. A mummified King Tut was found adorned in garments made of the circular coins, which is said to have been worn to ward off evil spirits with its glare. The sparkly trend made its way well into the ’70s and ’80s finding favour with designers like Bob Mackie and Bill Blass.