Get nude!

Yes, get nude this season! Cause a stir! Are you ready to be daring? Time to divert your mood from the current economic climate with the season’s hot trend.

Underwear features as outerwear on the latest international runways. The boudoir-inspired collections — from corsets, camisoles, slips, suspender belts and bra tops — present a playful and optimistic option to any woman’s wardrobe. This style is not for the self-conscious or the faint-hearted. It’s for the scene-stealers and risk takers. It’s for the bold and the daring.

Confidence is key to the success of this look. There is a fine line between looking trashy and of-the-moment, though. Focus on sexy yet sophisticated combinations. Expose inner wear, pairing it with wardrobe basics to make the style look up-to-date. For day, choose subtle silhouettes and layer with staples like a cardigan, a softly tailored jacket, cropped trousers or an above-the-knee skirt. The masculine and feminine blend is so mod for evening. The standard men’s tux gets a feminine vibe when paired with lingerie. Choose from a silk and lace camisole top or a finely structured corset. Delicate shapes, corsetry-style tops, vintage-inspired pin-up girls’ styles and details — from ribbon trimmings, lace and stencils from piped and taped seams — highlight the collections of Bottega Veneta, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Christian Dior, Antonio Berardi, Marc Jacobs and Jean Paul Gaultier, to name a few. Traditional cover-ups turn out to be the main players of the season.

Also inspired by lingerie is the current pale neutral palette appearing in a number of collections like Marni, Miu Miu, Valentino, Gucci, Blumarine, Etro, Emilio Pucci, Hermès, Burberry Prorsum, Lanvin, Alberta Ferretti, Chanel, Celine, Stella McCartney, Chloé, Alexander Wang, Preen and Hervé Léger. A neutral palette from ivory, sand, beige to flesh tones and gray pastels to white features in the summer’s runways. The colors usually reserved for underwear steal the season’s limelight. A neutral palette highlights the wearer more than the clothes. Imagine a painter starting with a blank canvas. The latest pale neutrals provide a solid backdrop to make the look individual and personal. With just a simple modification in accessories, the look becomes your own. The latest neutrals respond to the current economic situation. Women now want pieces that will go beyond trends and seasons. The savvy shopper is always on the lookout for accessible pieces that will endure the test of time. And the hottest color palette heeds this call.

Fashion houses pay attention to consumer consciousness now more than ever. The hues provide a clean foundation for silhouettes that will become wardrobe classics. With the ever-changing times, women want worthwhile investments — real value and quality purchases.

Even makeup gets the minimal vibe. Nude lips paired with lined eyes look fresh and modern. It is more difficult to master a natural look. Remember that this does not mean not putting on any makeup at all. Start off with a good base — proper foundation. Take your time to sample different brands and types. This is so personal. No matter how many recommendations you get, test them personally. Ask the artist at the makeup brand counters to apply their suggested foundation on you and wear it all day. Test its staying power. Check it out in natural light and artificial light. Have a photo taken and see how it turns out. Don’t be pressured into buying immediately. The right foundation should look natural — almost like you have nothing applied at all. Dressed-down makeup complements the season’s boudoir-inspired look.

This inspiration was last seen in the Eighties. Madonna’s rising popularity also proved to be a strong influence on fashion. The youth would copy her style, wearing lingerie as outerwear. Revealing a bra strap or a slip or wearing a brassiere as a top was considered so hip. The look was the youth’s declaration of sexual freedom. References to the Forties pin-up girls’ fashion was seen in the season’s innerwear as outerwear trend. Glamour models and actresses considered as sex symbols were known as pin-up girls. Posters of them were mass-produced. It was a success specifically with the GIs during World War II, who displayed them in their lockers. Lauren Bacall, Ava Gardner, Ingrid Bergman, Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner, Jane Russell and Judy Garland were among the actresses seen in soldiers’ lockers. But the biggest hit was Betty Grable’s bathing suit photo, which made her the most popular pin-up girl in WW II. She was known for having perfect legs, so much so that the film studio she worked for insured them for US$ 1 million.

The latest trend is about classic understated sophistication. It is about sleek and strong femininity. Exude a playful and positive mood with the look du jour.

• Choose the right neutral shade for your skin tone. Remember, it is meant to flatter and complement.

• Combine the new pale palette with black or other dark neutrals like brown, navy and gray.

• Add a splash of color to make it fun and current.

• Contrast the soft girly look with tough, edgy accessories.

• Expose corsets, camisoles, slips and body suits.

• Wear a corset over a crisp white shirt.

• Layering is the way to make the look up-to-date.

• Check your closet before making a purchase and indulge in pieces that will go together with what you already own.

• Wear them with attitude!

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Send queries to jo@joyceorena.com.