See the Top 12 Trends From Resort 2014

Most major trends tend to be set during fall and spring's fashion months, leaving resort season — which just concluded —  as the time where the crazy, outlandish, and generally unwearable from the big seasons evolve into something more realistic. Take the Muppet fur that was everywhere for this upcoming fall, for instance: The fluffy blue, pink, and green pieces were slimmed down into sleek styles, like the delicate suspended blue coat at Emilio Pucci or the cropped hot pink bolero at Valentino. The heavily embellished looks that glided down the runways all year were scaled back into 3-D gems that dotted dresses, coats, and sweatshirts. Stella McCartney took it further by creating whimsical shapes like lips, matches, and hearts out of the rhinestones.

Lace continues to be popular with designers, though the takeaway styling lesson from resort would be to layer those pieces; create a head-to-toe effect using the blazer and trousers at Givenchy or the jacket, blouse, and pool slides at Nº21. For those looking for a jolt of color following a somber winter, the newest go-to hue would be a pink reminiscent of a certain stomach medication. Alexander Wang, who normally favors black, white, and shades of gray, used it in a pleated leather trouser, while J.Mendel and Nina Ricci both opted to present pretty dresses in the same shade. And while most trends skewed toward the wearable, the ascending bralette demonstrated that midriffs are certainly not going anywhere; in fact, let's reveal ourselves even more! Click ahead to see all of these and more, in our handy cheat sheet for the warm weather ahead.

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Zoom on Resort: Valentino, Christopher Kane, and More

Florals for resort are expected, but Christopher Kane took a sci-fi approach to the blooms for his collection. Instead of the digital prints that have been popular for the past few seasons, Kane chose 3-D graphic renderings. The sweeping lines added a sense of delicacy to pieces, like this navy shift dress with its cobweblike bodice.

Valentino started off as a sedate collection of separates in subdued colors like navy and beige before becoming a neon scene. Incorporating technicolor camouflage, brightly hued dresses, and bold bags, the pieces were youthful and commanded attention. Toward the end, embroidered gowns were revamped by swapping normally sedate beading for eye-catching bits of hot pink, neon green, and acid yellow.

Over at Calvin Klein, Francisco Costa remained true to the house's minimalist aesthetic while turning up the sex appeal using crop tops and bralettes, revealing generous amounts of waistline. For the more practical girl, slim suede dresses in emerald, black, and navy looked incredibly soft and luxurious, while the opening ostrich coat was truly opulent. Click ahead to marvel at every last bump.

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Zoom on Resort: Erdem, Marni, and More

Erdem, known for his ladylike florals and delicate lace pieces, did not disappoint with a resort showing filled with pretty dresses, elegant gowns, and feminine separates. As a contrast to all of the lovely pieces, leather sweatshirts, shift dresses, and jackets added a tough edge. One moto is sure to be a retail hit, with its mix of floral print and ribbed, sporty-inspired detailing.

At Emilio Pucci, Peter Dundas was beach-bound with the house's iconic psychedelic print emblazoned on everything from maxi skirts to swimsuits to the requisite tunic tops and caftans. For those chilly nights spent oceanside, a suspended fur coat seemed to defy gravity, as each strip of electric-blue fur perfectly floated above one another.

Marni honed in on their signature quirky and intellectual sensibility with silk separates in rich jewel tones accented by graphic patterns. Relaxed basics like Bermuda shorts, slouchy track pants, and flat leather sandals were ideal for a woman who leisured in luxury while midi skirts, and perfectly cinched coats offered up options for long, relaxing lunches. One standout purple look touched on the crop-top trend, while revealing nothing thanks to a simple white under layer. Click to get a closer view of the outfit, including a simple yet statement-making necklace that was the ideal finishing touch. 

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Zoom on Resort: Carven, Thom Browne, and More

Inspired by a coffee-table book of photographs by Malick Sidibé, who captured wealthy African teens during the sixties, Carven's resort collection featured vibrant prints, bold blocks of color, and beautiful cocktail-ready attire paired with flat sandals or chunky wedges. For those of us not fortunate enough to jaunt off to an exotic locale for the holidays, one printed dress with a lush jungle landscape was everything you would expect for a season dedicated to tropical vacations.

At Thom Browne, pieces were heavier and more fit for days spent in cold climates, with looks consisting of nubby tweeds, wools, and striped tights. The dizzying array of patterns layered over more patterns was only accentuated by the elaborate wallpapered wall behind the model. A boxy, pleated look was a toned-down version of the unusual proportions common to Browne's work and featured a skirt that could have almost blended in with the background, were it not a different color.

Peter Pilotto is best known for their kaleidoscopic digital prints, and resort does not disappoint with its explosion of florals and geometric patterns. Quieter moments included several tops with a single arranged flower, a nod to ikebana, the Japanese tradition of spare and careful arrangements. Another dress resembled a hall of mirrors, with its seemingly never-ending array of rectangles acting as a modern representation of the tokonoma,  a recessed alcove where ikebana arrangements would traditionally be displayed.

Alessandro Dell'Acqua put together a group of easy-to-wear relaxed separates for his Nº. 21 resort collection, which was punctuated by feather, lace, and leopard accents. Hazy watercolor flowers mixed in with digital prints of roses and palm trees, but it was a series of green dresses and skirts that required a closer look. Click ahead to zoom in and see his take on toile, with scenes of pastoral living — donkey included.

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Zoom on Resort: Rochas, Givenchy, and More

Joan Smalls debuted Givenchy resort 2014 at the CFDAs, wearing a long white gown with a sheer panel at the hem. She followed up by modeling most of the collection this week, which began as a series of delicate lace pieces before seguing into the more familiar exuberant blooms first seen at the house's fall runway show. Toward the end, designer Riccardo Tisci showed a series of exaggerated paper bag waisted pieces in denim and silk, including several slouchy evening-appropriate looks. One, consisting of a strapless bodice paired with culottes, made for an unusual yet relaxed silhouette.

J.W. Anderson experimented with Japanese minimalism for his collection, drawing inspiration from clothes folded and wrapped into unusual shapes. Exaggerated pleats at the neck, bodice, and arms emphasized the weight of fabrics and drew focus to the unusual textures that included elaborate ribbing and puckered PVC. A knotted skirt paired with an asymmetric top is worth a closer look, if only to discover all of the subtle surface changes as the look progresses from ribbed to perfectly smooth.

At Rochas, Marco Zanini took inspiration in a New England fishing village by showing printed pieces featuring starfish, crabs, and stingrays along with other sea creatures. One voluminous white evening look was finished off with his high-end vision of a classic fisherman's hat, but it was a mint green version that proved to be more zoom-worthy. The billowy gown was crumpled to add a texture reminiscent of the sea at a particularly turbulent moment. 

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Zoom on Resort: Acne, Prabal Gurung, and More

Acne's resort 2014 collection mixed night and day elements in an odd way that worked. There were electric-blue suede flatforms with plenty of utilitarian straps paired with fluid satin gowns knotted haphazardly at the knee; silk gazar bustiers worn over a cotton-organdy parka and matching trousers. The most striking part of the collection was the clever mix of magentas, blues, and greens, and iridescent sequins that never overwhelmed.

Later, Prabal Gurung presented a lengthy collection of graphic separates accented with navy, poppy red, and citron yellow. The best looks had unusual touches that seemed fanciful for resort, like raccoon fur woven in a black-and-white intarsia, or ostrich feathers rendered in a white and red dégradé on a blocked halter dress that seemed like it was reappropriated for a cocktail party from the tennis court.

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Zoom on Resort: Jason Wu, Tibi, and More

Wearing a sunshine-yellow gown, Kerry Washington provided the first look at Jason Wu's resort 2014 collection at the CFDAs earlier this week. The rest of the collection was filled with graphic botanical-print separates and other dresses we'll see on a red carpet, probably, as the designer stuck to his signature of femininity mixed with sex appeal. A black-and-white bralette paired with a rich green patent leather skirt was yet another take on the navel-baring trend. 

In contrast to the bold prints, Ralph Lauren's collection of quiet separates was reminiscent of the clothes a ballerina would choose to wear off-duty. Pale-pink wrap sweaters, leggings, and airy chiffon pieces opened the collection before moving into darker evening staples. One black silk shift was simply tied with a gold belt and featured a hint of menswear styling with a sharply tailored collar.

Over at Tibi, Amy Smilovic found inspiration in the utilitarian jumpsuits worn by painters, also showing paint-splattered pants, sweaters, and jackets. The popular tea-length skirt that debuted during last year's resort season was reimagined in bold splashes of red, black, and white. Worn with a matching jacket, it's especially striking. But it was also seen with a simple black crop top, revealing that currently popular narrow sliver of abdomen.

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Zoom on Resort: MaxMara, Clover Canyon, and More

If Gucci's sparkly pajamas aren't your speed, today's batch of resort shows offers up the usual helping of bold color and graphic patterns, along with some legitimate winter staples. At Sportmax, the collection went the corporate route, drawing inspiration from Ron Jude's photographs of American Wall Street types from the nineties. Filled with pinstripes, heavy leathers, and wool staples including trousers and skirts, the palette was limited to black, white, gray, and a hint of pink — a nod to the color of the Financial Times. One sweater was especially interesting up close: a printed organza overlay bonded to the wool of the sweater, creating an unusual texture. 

Over at  MaxMara, the collection was more abstract; ballet, the Fauve spirit, and Henri Matisse's Dance served as reference points. Bits of candy-colored mink accented the collars of coats while duo-tone clutches and tiny fur bags were crave-worthy. A color-blocked coat in pink, green, and gray was reminiscent of a delicious ice cream treat —  a welcome reprieve from winter's drabness.

For those looking for something more exotic, Clover Canyon demonstrated their understanding of kaleidoscopic digital prints with vivid images of Cuba and other tropical locales. The pieces felt appropriate for a modern-day Carmen Miranda, with cheeky references like a sweatshirt featuring an older woman wearing a floral crown while smoking a cigar. Another dress combined the lush imagery of the jungle with clean white inserts, creating a graphic and architectural option for your next vacation. Click ahead to see these looks up close and personal.

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Resort 2014 Shows: Oscar de la Renta, Dior, and More

Resort season has begun, which means crop tops, sheer panels, and floral everything will soon be out in full force. Unlike ready-to-wear and couture, the resort collections trickle in at their leisure, giving us bursts of Antibes-ready daywear at a vacation-appropriate pace. So far Oscar de la Renta has produced a sweet collection filled with flowery, lace, and light tweedy separates; Christian Dior showed vibrant suits and dresses with stealthy cutouts; and Versus showed its first safety-pin-heavy collection with J.W. Anderson. See these collections and more in our runway galleries.

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