Peplum, “military chic,” trench coats popular among designers’ collections

Meg Kraft and Meg Kraft

As Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2015 comes to a close, refreshing spring collections offer a glimpse of hope for warmer weather.

Marc Jacobs, Jason Wu and Ralph Lauren utilitarian collections take the public back to basics.

Marc Jacobs’ 2015 Ready-to-Wear collection featured neutral colors, constructed suits and embellished rompers.

Style.com referred to the spring trend as “military chic.”

Peplum ensembles, featuring cinched waists and cap-tunic sleeves, were the dominant shape for the top designer collections.

Army green, white and gunmetal colors adorned Jason Wu’s Ready-to-Wear collection, accessorizing models with envelope clutches.

Wu’s suede suits, graffiti print pencil skirts and fitted peplum overcoats were featured in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.

Ralph Lauren practiced color blocking in the 2015 Ready-to-Wear line, featuring vibrant layers on an interesting staple piece – the cargo pant.

Safari jackets, trench coats, and metallic ruched skirts decorated the runway, an obvious trend among the fashion elite.

Current fashion week footwear trends include the best and most basic staple shoe – the simple white sneaker.

DKNY and Alexander Wang transformed peplum skirts and blazers with fresh white sneakers to convey a sporty spring look.

Wang’s 2015 ensembles included an eye-catching combination of a high heel and sneaker flat.

StyleCaster.com featured photos of the all white sandal-sneaker hybrid.

A skeleton-like construction, conjoined sole and heel, and minimalistic look finished off the sleek collection.

It’s safe to say New York Fashion Week’s spring collections are all about bringing style back to basics.

White is also trending in Bowling Green – it’s all over campus.

Students are hopeful the snow doesn’t carry over into the spring season.

Even with freezing temperatures and icy sidewalks, senior Apparel Merchandise and Product Development major, Hanna Kowalczyk, still manages to stay stylish.

“Unfortunately, this brutal winter has made it hard to be fashionable,” she said. “I am bundling up more than usual. I have been wearing lots of bulky sweaters with button downs and incorporating statement jewelry.”

Kowalczyk wears a charcoal peplum Mossimo pea coat, color blocking her outerwear with a red cable-knit scarf.

She said the utilitarian looks from fashion week have been a continuous fashion movement, “Each designer has put their own spin on it.”

Kowalczyk said affordable fashion week inspired trends and college budget friendly options are out there.

“It’s not hard or expensive to be fashionable,” she said, “Everyone can be stylish and look great, it just takes a little researching and [observing] what designers are doing.”

Kowalczyk, a fan of Alexander Wang’s minimalistic sneaker movement, suggests stylish students opt for cost-efficient, quality brands like Keds, Target and Converse.