Who will be the hot names in fashion in 2008?
This year, the hot names in fashion were Agyness Deyn and Christopher Kane. But who's stepping into the spotlight now? Harriet Reuter Hapgood asks the experts
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Your support makes all the difference.Few things are easier than looking back over a year and being a style guru in hindsight: of course, Agyness Deyn was the model face of the year, Christopher Kane the designer, Beth Ditto the icon of cool and nu rave the trend that left everyone over 13 perplexed.
Less easy is predicting the future: will we suffer once more under a surfeit of smock dresses and leggings? Is fast-fashion dead? Will we finally get bored of discussing size zero and just whose style will we all be copying in 2008? According to the experts, this will be the year of diversity: anything goes, as long as it's customised and edgy. Fine but what are we going to wear?
Sarah Leon, Head of new faces, Select Model Management
The model Daisy Lowe will still be big. Everything will be cinematic and glam, but with an edge: Alice Dellal is a great new face, as is Eliza, who looks like a model Elvis. You just know she has "it".
Lovefoxxx, the lead singer from CSS, will be the fashion icon. She's done Dazed and Confused, she was number three on the NME's cool list, she's totally charismatic. A label I'm loving is Bolongaro Trevor [the new label from the creators of All Saints]. It's different from anything else. Generally, I think we'll continue to see velvet and lace: very luxe, but with a punk edge.
Ethical fashion will be even more massive. But it worries me whether people are actually understanding the message. My greatest 2008 fashion wish is to see an end to Ugg boots: Ugg is for ugly.
Bev Malik, Browns fashion store
This year will be about embracing individuality and mixing things up. Bold colours will be as relevant as neutrals as witnessed in Lanvin's stunning collection; and Donna Karan's colonial chic is as attractive as full-on florals at Balenciaga. Anything goes; there's a wonderful freedom that's been long overdue.
Eco-fashion is also here to stay: Mr and Mrs B [Joan Burstein and her husband, the founders of Browns] are big believers in eco values we're currently working with Stella McCartney, Bamford and Dosa towards those goals; and also Pippa Small in our fine jewellery, steering our love of fine things away from blood diamonds.
Tailoring is back: Pilati's collection for this summer is very special, but we will be kissing goodbye to baby-doll dresses and smocks; and our attention will shift from bags to jewellery, shoes and ready-to-wear.
Rebekah Roy, Fashion stylist
Bargain luxury will be big in 2008. We will continue to see designers on the high street; fast-fashion retailers will turn around at an even faster pace; and eco-fashion will be trendier and more profitable.
Hannah Marshall is a designer to watch she uses luxe, UK-sourced fabrics and just received New Generation sponsorship to show her autumn/winter 2008-9 collection at the next London Fashion Week. Christopher Beales will also be big: he has amazing tailoring skills and is worn by Victoria Beckham, Prince and Heather Graham.
Natasha Kahn from Bat for Lashes has enough style to become influential this year: she combines edgy alternative with folk and vintage to create a very distinctive look.
Jaana Jätyri, Trendstop.com
Key trends on the high street this year will include: tribal prints, safari chic, tie-dye, maxi dresses, printed chiffon, 1990s-style minimalism, glam grunge, oversized bangles, Surrealism, and gradient dip-dye.
At a designer level, it will be about Claire McCardell plaid dresses, early- 1980s "bad taste", Indian inspiration, fake brocade, 1920s watercolour prints and sovereign rings.
The speed of fast-fashion turnaround will accelerate; but conversely, eco-fashion will continue to be embraced, especially by students and Hoxton trendsetters, who will buy even more vintage. Affluent consumers with a conscience will increasingly choose sustainability over the easy option.
Consumers will be less interested in paying for brands: instead of 800 for a Balenciaga, they will buy a Bi La Li dress for 200, which still offers quality and unique design.
Look out for model Masha Tyelna, and designers Angelo Katsapis, Scott Ramsay Kyle, Sebastian Lundin, Bi La Li and Gio Goi.
Alison Loehnis, Net-a-Porter
Dresses will continue to be huge for 2008 bright and infinitely wearable, in a variety of guises: bold electric brights, feminine florals, minis, and Grecian draping. Stella McCartney has produced some of the best florals, while 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alberta Ferretti and Burberry Prorsum have some glorious, billowing shapes. Diane von Furstenberg, Luella, Herv Lger, Chlo and Alexander McQueen all offer fabulous electric brights.
Roksanda llincic's spring/summer show was critically acclaimed, and we loved her collection so much we asked her to produce a cruise collection exclusive to Net-a-Porter.
One new trend is that social networks are opening up exciting e-commerce opportunities, and e-tailers have begun to integrate themselves with these communities.
Paula Karaiskos, Storm model agency
This is going to be the year of diversity in modelling. At Storm, we are looking for all types of girls curvier, sexier girls, as well as more unusual faces. Ones to look out for are: Jourdan an elegant urban black girl found in a south London Primark a year ago; Georgia Steed a classic "English rose" beauty who has shot campaigns for Topshop and Aquascutum; and Frances a beauty in the old-school supermodel mould. *
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