The Project

From head to toe, draping has one key style feature – simplicity. This look has normally one block colour, in shades of champagne, rose pink, and dove grey. Its other feature is that it either bunches in at the waste to create a feminine curvy figure, or has no shape at all, creating an almost Grecian Goddess look that many celebrities (including Katie Holmes, Kylie Minogue, and Beyoncé) are making their own. The style itself uses soft, rich fabrics, mostly silks and velvets, helping draping become the most feminine and romantic look to hit couture for a while. Rich oyster and pearl tones are the colours to go for.

Designers such as Lanvin, Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, and Chloe are taking relaxed, drape-style designs to the catwalk in their latest collections, and now the casual drape look is hitting stores. Check out Topshop and H&M if you haven’t already. The high street is obviously taking its own, more wearable, slant on the new trend, featuring loose tees and boyfriend jackets. By keeping the ensemble simple, it means there is more room for experimenting with accessories: add heels or sandals; or a waistbelt for more definition; or perhaps chunky jewellery, which can be used to dress the look up or down, depending on the occasion.

Vogue has also taken an interest, featuring it as one of the new trends for AW09, mentioning Nicolas Ghesquière, a French fashion designer and current creative director of Balenciaga, who "turned away from last season’s futuristic collection and went drape-tastic… a sure sign of a key seasonal trend."

JEAN RANDELL
WRITER