Germany : Body & beachwear trends in four themes at Body Look

Making fashion trends tangible in the truest sense of the word is the mission statement of the Trend.Forum, which visitors of Body Look Düsseldorf (10-12 February 2008) will find in hall 15. In advance of the trade fair for body, beach and legwear, renowned fashion experts have summarized body and beachwear trends for Autumn/Winter 2008/09 in four themes.
Materials and colours that satisfy modern expectations and lifestyles play a crucial role here modern in the sense of harmony between ethical and ecological aspects and technological innovations.
Crossing frontiers also plays a substantial role: sport meets luxury, technology meets tradition. The result is exciting and awakens curiosity and interest.
The apparent contrasts continue with the materials: soft yet dense, smooth yet textured, natural and technological, light yet voluminous. The new surfaces reveal their effect through bold colours, while neutrals with their fine gradients awaken interest, and warm, shimmering nuances lend naturalness a luxurious flair.
Soft Focus:
The first theme—with its colour scheme characterised by lightness, brightness and warm neutrality—is inspired by modern interiors whose austerity is livened by expressive materials and animated surfaces. Accordingly, modernity and reduction are in the foreground.
Skin-beige and wax white leave centre stage free for hand and surfaces; here and there bold accent colours animate flint grey and cosmetic tones as well as a light metallic shimmer.
The bodywear materials feature lightness and dimension. Fine yarns encounter natural irregularities smoothness meets relief, dullness meets a subtle gloss.
Animated surfaces are an absolute must, represented by generous jacquards, ribs, waves and grid textures. But also coatings, checks, gradients and subtle two-tone embroidery have the desired effect. Colourful, shaded and cloudy motifs enrich the design palette, as do micro-patterns, stripes or colour blocking; edges, seams and hems are accented.
Glazed:
Anyone who has ever admired the works of art that frost creates on windowpanes knows what we're talking about here. The colour scale is also frosty with its icy neutrals that radiate a strange lightness. Crystal shades, light mineral blue, grey and green nuances appear just as do silver-shimmering grey and green shades that spill over into yellow.
Naturalness and technological appearance work together this holds true for materials and designs as it does for styling. The look varies between ultra-feminine styles and sporty-dynamic bodywear. On the whole, the appearance is moderndecorative, created for example by designed high-gloss effects, animated textures and technological alteration of natural motifs.

Extreme delicacy and translucency are equally important as soft, voluminous looks, for example in velour or with wool embroidery. Lightness is achieved in part through high-tech fibres, but also through voiles, crepes, tulles and fine lace. Punch-outs, burnouts and ajour join in for added effect.
Next to felted and flannel surfaces, sparkle and shimmer are also represented, taking the futuristic role. The curtain has risen, then, for effect yarns, papent, the play of matt/glossy as well as gradients and metallics. Gentle colour gradients round out the picture, along with fine stripes, micro-patterns, grid and net textures and light/shadow designs.
Multiply:
Individuality is the trump card. Here you'll find a colourful, global hodgepodge that combines western and eastern influences with sport and streetwear elements. Bold colours and daring patterns reflect the fashion spirit from the streets of the world. The result: bodywear—classic, casual or sporty—that is modified with eye-catching ethno accents.
The gaudy palette with intense red and pink shades, violet, yellow, turquoise and green—as areas, accents or patterns—allow neutrals to especially shine. The mix of technological and natural materials by all means has its place here. Solids appear with bold colours or subtle textures and gain expressive power through gradients and blends.
Decoration is used both in areas and as an accent; handiwork embroidery and knit looks enrich the appearance. Coloured stripes and blocks, as well as contrasting facings, edges, seams or sippers also set accents. Digital prints and silkscreen looks can be found, as can floral, abstract and geometric themes that never deny their global origin.
Obscure:
Daring and extravagant, a bridge is built here between the decorative elegance of Art Deco and modern clarity. Sophisticated, valuable materials with illusionist patterns, as well as an expressive darkness of colour that sometimes allows lustre and light effects to shine through, are in the focal point.
Comfort, perfect shapes and clever details all have their day, lent an artistic impression through depth of colour and warm intensity such as created by wintry reds, night colours or sensual pastels. Silky fabrics, crepes, jerseys and jacquards are ideal for the realization.
But also lace backgrounds, imaginative nets, fluffy voile or striped tulle fulfil the demand for the appearance of fine fabric. Opulence is represented through broderie anglaise, fine guipure lace, shallow pleats, drapes and elegant mini-patterns.
Diffuse textures, stripes, waves, arabesques and paisleys appear as colourful motifs, while imprints and prints in velvet and velour lend a nostalgic touch. Punch-outs, imprints and laser cuts stand for modernity.
Flowers and flower petals appear at times as all-over patterns, at times as garland or as colour accents. Matt/gloss and matelassé effects, animated cloques and fine lustre are also not be missed here.