Despite the distinct chill in the air, the time of year where we begin to think of sunnier days ahead arrives early in the fashion world. Runways across the globe showed their Spring Summer 2020 collections last Fall, and the design team at Olsen has been hard at work ever since. We have dedicated the past months to drawing plenty of inspiration from the latest trends and interpreting them into the versatile and easy-to-wear styles you’ll love to wear. Below, we break down the colours, prints & styles of the season you’ll find at Olsen in the coming months. Warning: Major fashion inspo below!
COLOURS
A host of hues graced the Spring Summer 2020 runways, and we handpicked our favourites that are sure to perfectly balance keeping on trend & longevity in your wardrobe.
Neutral Territory
Ah, yes – neutrals never go out of style, and that’s why we love them. Across the shows, the timeless pairing of black and white (or in some cases, off-white) and a more modern neutral of khaki green were shown, alongside closet staples like sand, brown & navy. We carefully selected our neutral shades for the season, to ensure versatility and easy pairing for some of our bolder coloured and printed styles. We also love the neutral head-to-toe look, which (as far as we’re concerned) will always be evergreen.
Slide 1 – Left: Alexander McQueen SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection; Slide 2 – Left: Stella McCartney SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection
Blue Zone
Whether periwinkle-tinged, watery like a Carribbean beach, or deep & dark, one thing is certain – blue was everywhere for Spring Summer 2020. And for good reason! In a range of shades and undertones, this colour comes in an option perfect to flatter every look & personal preference. As our collections come in this Spring you’ll notice the same – a shade to suit every style. Gentle muted sky blue, tropical aqua and dark navy are just the tip of the (metaphorical style) iceberg you’ll discover.
Slide 1 – Left: Stella McCartney SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection; Slide 2 – Left: Salvatore Ferragamo SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection
Hello, Yellow!
Spring & Summer guarantee sunshine – so should your warm weather styles! We were ecstatic to see cheery whisper-of-neon lemon & buttery yellow shades make an appearance during fashion week… the shades brought instant inspiration to the design room. We know that yellow can sometimes seem intimidating, but we can’t wait to show you how we’ve interpreted the various yellow shades for the season in subdued hints and bold pops alike – equally wearable, for the subtle and adventurous alike!
Slide 1 – Left: Tods SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection; Slide 2 – Left: Kristina Fidelskaya SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection
Temperature Rising
It only makes sense that as the barometer goes up, the shades of our styles match the heat. Orange-tinged chili reds and eye catching tangerines were seen on everything from power suits, to formal wear, to outerwear (and everything in between) for SS20. We paired the red a few different ways – with black and neutrals for a chic, Parisian look and again with navy later with nautical inspiration in mind. During the Summer months, you’ll find solid and printed tangerine styles mixed with the perfect dash of neutrals for looks sure to make your Summer even hotter.
Slide 1 – Left: Roksanda SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection; Slide 2 – Left: Christian Wijnants SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection
PRINTS
At Olsen, we pride ourselves on keeping our thumb on the pulse of the latest prints & motifs, and boy there was no shortage prints to preview after the shows in Paris, London & Milan. Take a quick tour below of some of the stories you’ll see spanning the season in our range…
Eternal Classics
There are some prints that are just too perfect to give up. Instead, the runways breathe new life into the ones we know & love on styles updated for the season. Stripes, dots & florals are the ‘big three’ of prints. They can be mixed and matched or stand out on their own without ever looking out of place. This season, you’ll find a range of stripes (awning, shadow, variegated, Bengal and candy stripes are just a few) an updated interpretation of dots (multi-sized & modern!) and a slightly retro-inspired floral (is there anything more feminine than daisies?) adorning everything from dresses to tees to sweaters that will remain timeless favourites for the season and beyond.
Slide 1 – Left: Alexander McQueen SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection; Slide 2 – Left: Elie Saab SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection; Slide 3 – Left: Arthur Arbesser SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection
Totally Wild
We’ve said it before & we’ll say it again – animal prints are not going anywhere! With the rising popularity of monochromatic neutrals, animal prints make easy work of adding interest to a look without having to worry about clashing. Plus, they pair perfectly with bold colour too! We love a little something in our wardrobes that says “Look at me!” Over the season, you’ll find tiger, snake & giraffe (oh my!) alongside cheetah, leo & zebra prints that’ll add the perfect mix of wild style to your looks.
Slide 1 – Left: Dolce & Gabbana SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection; Slide 2 – Left: Luisa Spagnoli SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection; Slide 3 – Left: Dolce & Gabbana SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection
World Traveller
Looking beyond our own backyard is so important when creating. Our inspiration this season spans continents & millenia… Paisley traces back to textile design in Persia around 221 AD, while folding fan motifs are inspired by those with history rooted in ancient Japan and China, with earliest written references in the 10th century. Batik is thought by historians to hail from Indonesia, though the technique predates written record. Botanically-inspired prints like leaves & flowers can be traced to 12th century China, with predominance in the Middle Ages, Baroque & Rococo periods, the 19th century Industrial Revolution, and the Flower Power era of the 1960’s-70’s. The beauty of clothing design is that it can marry centuries of historical, cultural & artistic influence into gorgeous garments, and they tell a story as we wear them.
Slide 1 – Left: Nicole Miller SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection; Slide 2 – Left: Patricia Vieira SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection; Slide 3 – Left: Luisa Spagnoli SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection; Slide 4 – Left: Christopher Kane SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection
STYLES & SILHOUETTES
This common thread binds each of our styles together – they are effortless, comfortable & versatile. Within these pillars, we seek to interpret design aesthetics on our garments that combine to create a range of looks. This season, three main themes are seen across our collections, direct from the runway, starting with…
Timeless Necessities
Capsule wardrobes, staples, classics… There’s a reason these buzzwords never go away – it’s because the styles don’t either! Blazers, tailored trousers, simple knits, blouses and Chanel-inspired jackets are worth investing in for one simple reason: with a little TLC, you’ll wear them forever. Having tried and true foundation pieces in your wardrobe can make all the difference when it comes to easily pairing your trend-driven pieces and putting together classic looks alike. Plus, the longevity of what’s in your closet is sustainable and helps contribute to a greener future – timeless styles truly do it all.
Slide 1 – Left: Chanel SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection; Slide 2 – Left: Miu Miu SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection; Slide 3 – Left: Shiatzy Chen SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection; Slide 4 – Left: Giambattista Valli SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection
Functional Fashion
Utilitarianism is ultra-cool, with patch pockets, buttons, zippers & other details that dress your look down with ease. This trend, drawn from work, military and safari uniforms throughout history blends menswear inspiration with a modern feminine twist. Across the Spring Summer runways, the look appeared in styles like cargo pants, camp shirts & safari jackets, all of which you’ll see in our stores this season. We’ve added the Olsen touch to the look, ensuring styles are ultra-comfortable in lightweight linen and jersey blends, and a range of shades to suit every personal style.
Slide 1 – Left: Dolce & Gabbana SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection; Slide 2 – Left: Faith Connexion SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection; Slide 3 – Left: Koché SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection
Athleisure Sport
Similar to utility-inspired styles, the athleisure look is laid-back and cool. The difference (aside from their details) is rooted in their history – utilitarianism spans decades, while athleisure is completely modern. As the way society dresses has relaxed, the runways have begun to draw inspiration from styles that were once thought to be for exercise only. Now, fabrics, fits and cuts perfectly blend high comfort and high style. During the SS20 shows, we saw pieces like graphic tees, jogger pants and bomber jackets in many iterations ranging from ultra-casual to dressed-up. We’ve designed these styles for the season infused with the perfect amount of polish so you can wear them any way you like – enjoy the sneak peek here of just a few of our favourites, arriving soon.
Slide 1 – Left: Koché SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection; Slide 2 – Left: Kristina Fidelskaya SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection; Slide 3 – Left: A.P.C SS20 Runway Show / Right: A sneak peek at Olsen’s SS20 collection
As you can see, there is plenty to look forward to over the coming fashion season. These fabulous colours, prints & styles are just scratching the surface of what you’ll find from Olsen in stores & online – our team is thrilled to share each and every piece designed with you in mind, with inspiration straight from the runways.
We can’t wait to welcome you to discover all that’s to come – wishing you lots of fun with style this Spring & Summer.