by Jackie Bourke

Created on: April 23, 2009

Fashion today is the opportunity to express individuality especially now in these times of crisis.

Looking at the trends for spring/summer 2009, there is a creative exhibitionism and a desire to be softly sexy, yet independent.

Ladies fashion today in a time of crisis sees lots of party dresses, some dramatic and bold, some with exotic or tribal prints, others soft and sexy, but not too revealing!

Summer 2009 promises the possibility of bold femininity, yet with flattering lines that often combine sleek and sexy with comfort. There is an underlying need for joy in many of the designers' collections this SS09.

It has to be said that although there is a great deal of re-inventing the wheel this season, or at the very creatively enhancing previous looks and styles, there is also a sense of feminine freedom in the designs.

Sheer see through fabrics are also in with the permission to show off your figure, but in a soft, feminine way.

The trends are towards bold, sexy femininity but not vulgarity.

The white party dress has been back in since springtime, and it is a refreshing alternative but of course not a replacement to the little black dress.

White can show style, elegance, sexiness and purity all at the same time in the right dress design. A definite must have for your wardrobe, if you are someone who feels comfortable in white.

Simple lines in dresses follow the female silhouette flatteringly, while there are a lot of fun ethnic and tribal prints to choose from, as well as animal print fabrics.

Asymmetric lines are in with single-shouldered dresses being especially big this season.

Really bright colours and colour blocking are central to summer 2009.

Ruffles and crumpled fabric can be seen across designers such as Prada, Burberry, Lanvin, Bottega Veneta, which travel perfectly onto the high street and the online high street!

The Eighties are also back, and designer Marc Jacobs collection which showed in Paris, March 2009, looks to fashion icon Molly Ringwald, with a kind of "Pretty in Pink" theme.

Louis Vuitton was also inspired also by the Eighties, especially Paris in the Eighties, and the collection includes ruffles, lace, big shoulders, bejewelled leggings, peplum jackets, an overall meeting between the Lacroix feel and Material girl.

During and after all the fashion weeks this year, there has been talk and analysis of the current trends with the backdrop of the global economy.

How the fashion world is embracing the crisis, or if it is in fact embracing the crisis?

Despite the state of our bank account, choosing what to wear is still an expression of our personality and state of mind. Our fashion choices are a second skin that we choose to reveal to the world at that time.

What was noticeable by springtime was that the designers were indeed doing their best to help us dress out of the recession, and not dress down deeper into it.

This is wonderful as fashion is for many of us our daily artistic and personal expression of ourselves.

As such what filters onto the high street and the fashion websites is now giving us the opportunity to inspire ourselves and those around us into brighter, fun moods.
Enjoy choosing femininity, boldness, lovely colours, animal prints, sheer fabrics....whatever aspects you like most.

These fashion party dresses and other items are inspirational in seeing the joy of the simpler things in life, as well as making you look your best at the same time!

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