Fashion fun and inspiration with H&M live from Central Park
‘We want to inspire people with our autumn collection. We want them to have fun with fashion – and to use our clothes to create their own personal style’, says H&M’s Head of Design, Margareta van den Bosch.
The H&M autumn 2005 fashion show has been held in New York’s Central Park – offering an inspiring blend of style for the season. There are minimalist classics with new proportions to the season’s look. Rustic is another theme which focuses on handicraft and natural materials. Extravagant baroccoco styles round out the mix with historic references from baroque and rococo fashions. Key concepts for H&M’s autumn collections are layering, new proportions created by wide volumes teamed with narrow cuts, and contrasting material combinations like matte and shiny, or course and sheer fabrics.
‘This is a very positive era in fashion history. Fashion has become accessible and individual. I’m thrilled about the fact that today’s hottest looks are the most personal ones,’ says Margareta, whose design team created the three main themes for the autumn to come.
The Rustic trend continues from the spring season with inspiration from nature. Folklore influences come from Eastern Europe and Northern Canada and are combined with uniform inspired looks. Materials used are leather, suede, and rustic wool and tweed in greys, browns, and rich autumn colours like wine, olive, rust, and ochre. There are checks and folklore floral patterns, heavy knits, washed-out denim, and worker style canvas. Important details include fake fur, embroidery, prints, and applications with a handicraft feel and finish.
The Minimalist direction is clean and simple. Garments have classic tailored references or futuristic techno-sport styles with new proportions and dimensions. The H&M design team has experimented with contrasting volumes, lengths, and surfaces such as an oversized sleeve or hood on a shrunken jacket teamed with wide men’s trousers, or a maxi-length coat with a micro-short skirt or dress. Materials are soft jersey, fine knits, shiny nylon and satin, unwashed denim, and cool wool in neutral shades like grey and white, black and ink, with accents in lime.
Baroccoco is the most extravagant and romantic of autumn’s trends and mixes dramatic retro styles from the baroque and rococo periods. Napoleon uniform coats with gilt buttons worn with riding breeches abound as well as lingerie inspired pieces. Wool, brocade, velvet, and satin are teamed with sheer chiffon and lace in dramatic black and rhinestone colours or powdery pastels. Glorious bijouterie in gold metallics with pearls, strass or precious stones, long gloves, and evening bags complete this season’s most distinctive party look.
‘We are extremely excited about inviting the international press to Central Park in New York, as North America is one of our most expansive markets right now,’ says H&M’s Managing Director Rolf Eriksen.
KEY PIECES FOR WOMEN
Uniform inspired outer garments
Dresses with volume
Men’s style trousers
Romantic blouses
Cropped tops
Heavy knits
Lingerie inspired tops
Cropped, shrunken jackets
Tailored waistcoats
Reconstructed denim
Long necklaces
Bangles
KEY PIECES FOR MEN
Uniform inspired outer garments
Velvet blazers
Brocade blazers
Canadian style plaid jacket
Shirts
Grandad shirts
Bold stripe T-shirts and jerseys
Narrow tailored trousers
Cargo pants
Heavy knits
Long scarves
Large size bags
Necklaces
KEY HAIR TRENDS FOR WOMEN
Rustic: Messed-up and sexy, with a lot of volume.
Minimalism: Simple and elegant, chic and sleek.
Baroccoco: Full, romantic hair accented with accessories like feathers, pearls, and combs.
KEY MAKE-UP TRENDS
Rustic: Dewey skin with pink lips.
Minimalism: Pale skin with white highlights and glittery eyes.
Baroccoco: Modern Marie Antoinette, pale skin with beauty spots, and red ‘kiss’ lips.
KEY HAIR TRENDS FOR MEN
Rustic: Long hair, but with a slightly wild windblown look.
Minimalism: Clean and trim, sometimes neatly slicked back,
or parted on the side.
Baroccoco: Mozart meets Punk with combinations of styles such as Mohawks and braids together.
Press pictures can be downloaded at www.hm.com
For more information please contact:
Annacarin Björne, telephone: +46 8 796 57 57
E-mail: annacarin.bjorne@hm.com
Liv Asarnoj, telephone +46 8 796 53 82,
E-mail: liv.asarnoj@hm.com