by Bukola Balogun

Spring is the most relevant season for us in these parts because we can identify with the clothes and can wear them…

I know I’m not the only one who feels this way, like the global fashion calendar is an ever spinning roller coaster ride. You never quite get off to catch your breath. Before the spring collections hit the stores, the pre-fall collections are out. Just two weeks ago, it was Spring 2012 haute couture week, before we get a chance to stare at and appreciate the craftsmanship of the stunning collections, we are being ushered hurriedly into Fall 2012 fashion week, kicking off in New York on Thursday.

In spite of this apparent madness – and I don’t want to imagine what the designers and their team of stylists, makeup artistes, art directors, publicists etc must feel – it still is a great rush when another fashion week is coming up. You can’t help but be curious about what the trends for the next season will be, where the designers will be drawing inspiration from, what to expect from your favourite designers and if some trends you love will be making a comeback.

As a diehard fifties aficionado, I’m always on the lookout for a fifties comeback, that means I get to find those nipped in the waist, full skirted dresses in the shops.

So, I’m waiting with eager anticipation for the shows to start. In the meantime, I get to keep looking at and talking about some of my favourite trends from the season we’re in now.

Spring is the most relevant season for us in these parts because we can identify with the clothes and can wear them, unlike Fall where most of the clothes are made in fabrics and come in styles we can’t wear in the tropics. Some stunning trends came out of Spring 2012 and make for great fashion.

Over the next few posts, I will do a spotlight on some of these trends, starting right now with The Peplum.

I fell in love with the Peplum since my childhood days in the 80s, it was just so girly and I liked it. I never really did get a Peplum dress but how I longed for one. This right here is my chance to fulfil my childhood fantasies.

Now, you’ve never seen the peplum get as edgy, psychedelic and avant-garde as it got in the Spring collections, and it showed up everywhere, from Celine to Jason Wu to Marchesa, all the way to Vera Wang. Some designers based their collection on this trend – Vera Wang and Givenchy had Peplums on at least half the clothes they showed – it was stunning what Givenchy did with the style.

This trend is bang on for girls who want to emphasize the waist, give a chic twist to work wear or play up their feminine side with a girly, frothy peplum in lace or tulle.

However you like it, get inspired by a plethora of peplums in every conceivable style.