Spring 2013 Trend Report: All About the Applique

Honestly, fashion would be boring if designers didn't mix it up with different silhouettes, color palettes, fabrics and, most importantly, applique. Appli-what? Since what seems like the beginning of time, designers have been attaching trinkets and excess pieces of fabric to their perfectly crafted threads. This season, it seems as if the applique craze is bigger than ever. From delicate jewels to punky fripperies, there is no better way to spice up an outfit.

Marchesa

Prada

Dires Van Noten

Chanel

Dolce & Gabbana

Oscar de la Renta

One of the many reasons I love this phenomenon is because anything goes. From clothes to accessories, an appliqued piece gives depth and dimension to any look. Plus, you have the freedom to style your applique however you see fit. Whether you mix and match these picks for an "out-of-this-world" look or counteract the trend's extravagance with sleek extras, your ensemble is sure to be a homerun. But, like any other trend, it's absolutely crucial that you put your brave face on. You're supposed to wear this trend, not the other way around.

Lanvin lace cocktail dress, $1,740 / Maiyet keyhole dress / 3.1 Phillip Lim flower print dress / Mango rose print dress / Valentino leather top / Dolce & Gabbana lace top / Temperley London silk shirt / Cotton pants, $255 / Charlotte Olympia high heel platform shoes / Alexander McQueen lace handbag

xx