Economic downturn changes the look of 2009-2010?

Open any newspaper and you'll quickly read of the doom and gloom of the global credit crunch. Much like the economic downturn of the 80s and 90s, will this current 'crisis' have an effect on future fashion collections? How about fashionisers' fashion tastes?

In their fashion trend report for 2009 fashion trends and 2010 fashion trends,Stahl doesn't claim to have the answer, but they're certainly noticing the shift.

After several seasons of over-abundance, eccentricity and the triumph of artificial over the natural, there is a strong desire to return to a state of equilibrium. Is this a reflection of the current world economic climate? Has this resulted in a wish for fashion to take things steady rather than go overboard? Or is it simply a question of pausing for thought while we mix technical and traditional once more?

Of course, we won't really know what sort of changes we can expect until the Spring 2009 catwalk shows being shortly. Personally I'm tipping some subtle changes. We have to be mindful of the fact that we live in a time of faux luxury, where expensive designer labels are really what most people are investing in (as opposed to quality luxury fabrication). As a result, designers could well use lower quality fabrics as a means of creating less demure, though cheaper, collections. On the flip-side however is the issue of who the credit crunch is actually effecting. Will the likes of Gucci be forced to create cheaper collections for the shrinking wallets of the middle classes, or can they find survive solely on the purchases of the largely unaffected upper classes?

Nada Fall 2009 and Project Runway

Tight security at the tents today - “Please have your tickets out at the door” - so it makes getting past the club-style bouncers to do our job that much more difficult. And while we think it is great that the FDCC opened up the shows to the public (runway access = revenue), it has become a little too night clubby with its overcapacity numbers and sweaty, cocktail-fueled revellers.

Project Runway Canada’s finale show is up first and will be taped to air at a later date. The venue is like Fort Knox, but we finally make our way to our front row seats and take a peak around. All that security and there are definitely empty seats everywhere. Maybe people aren’t as obsessed with the show as we are!

After signing our gossipy lives away on the required media waiver, we sadly announce that we can’t dish on the show…you’ll just have to watch the finale to see who we are in fashion love with. But we can tell you our top 3 juicy tidbits:

1. Iman wore emerald green and some very impressive sparklers (which we are betting are from her own Global Chic line sold on the Home Shopping Network).

2. Coco Rocha sat front row wearing top to toe Greta Constantine from their fall 09 collection. Loved her posh ponytail - sporty yet sexy. Perfect.
3. Our Front Row Folly award goes to actress Elisha Cuthbert. Her buttoned up jacket and “number crunching” office slacks combo said soccer mom not sex symbol. C’mon Elisha, do your fellow puck bunnies proud and at least highlight the girls or the gams.

Nada’s Fall 09 show took inspiration from utopia, although it seems as though she was channeling a more futuristic, existential version. Her line sheet notes: “We are now living in the future. Technology has a affected human nature to such an extent that eating, sleeping or even reproduction are now unnecessary and have been replaced by artificial means.” Hmmm…how very Uma Thurman in Gattaca.
Highlights: ruffled vests, shiny leather leggings, feather-trimmed frocks, dhoti shorts and fur collared jacquard coats.
Colour palette: black and more black with the odd white and blush toned piece thrown in.
Music programming was by Fritz Helder and the Phantoms. Love Fritz. Briefly met him at the Ruffian cocktail party before the show and was mesmerized by the precision of his eyeliner and stick straight shiny dark locks. Very Andre 3000.
What was your favourite look? Check out the slideshow below and tell us!