Fashion always comes back around, and it has never been more accurate. The 2012 fashion offerings seem to be heralding decades gone by. Fashion designers are pulling from a plethora of past styles to create fun, flirty and colourful fashion offerings for the spring 2012 fashion season. This is nothing new, however, since the 2011 style offerings also pulled inspiration from decades gone by.

While 2011 saw a revival of 1970’s fashion the trends for 2012 seem to be heading a decade or so south. As the runways lit up in 2011 we saw key vintage designs inspired by the free-spirited 70’s, but there were elements that suggest a nod to the British-1960s. According to key designers the look of the 1960’s inspires playful use of colour, bold pattern choices and fun shoe-choices.

The 1960’s brought about the use of block colouring, with bright bold choices. Bright blues, deep reds and eye-catching yellows, along with emerald greens became the palate for the decade and it looks like it is coming back around in 2012. Expect to see brightly coloured coats, and well-structured, color-blocked dresses make an appearance in 2012. Monochromatic dresses and penny loafers are also being eyed for a fashion return. It is all going to depend on what kind of 1960s you choose to dabble in.

Also poised for a comeback is elements of the 1920’s, flapper-style fashion. The 1920’s were a fun time for many people, and the clothing of that era depicts it. While the 1920s won’t be likely to see a full-revival key designers are certainly pulling elements from the femininity-laced fashion decade. Flowing dresses and feminine hairstyles and shoes are likely to find their way onto the catwalk for 2012.

A retreat to the 1920s would seem to make sense, since much of the 1970’s styling that is currently in full-revival mode was inspired, then, by the fashions of the 1920s. All in all it appears as though the world is heading back to the fashion staples of the past, hunkering down and enjoying the rich culture that the fun styles that the two wild decades created.

The year 2010 saw fashion that had grown stiff and military, all hard lines and tight creases that was still attractive in a severe kind of way. As that year’s come and gone, 2011 decided to take a friendlier, more liberal view of fashion and how it should look. Throughout 2011 and into the winter season’s final lap we’re still seeing a lot of the same trends that have been prevalent throughout the year. Everything is softer edged, made up of rounded edges and blended lines, for a more organic, friendlier appearance with very little of the rigidness that we saw in 2010.

Colours and patterns over the year 2011, and even up through Fall, featured a lot of nature patterns and themes. Flowers and Earth-tones that went well with lighter, more flowing styles. In addition to these unique colour schemes that ranged from dark greens to hearty bronze, there was also a secondary trend that covered a shimmering appearance. While once only used in club wear or evening gowns, shimmer that caught the sun was definitely on display this past year. All told these trends combined to give us, women especially, something that bordered on a Greek myth look, which wasn’t exactly a bad thing given that goddesses have always been very chique.

As winter approaches and temperatures plummet we’re beginning to see some old favourites come back around again, some of them modified by the sensibilities of this year’s organic fashion. Great coats are coming back out, and they’re boasting simple designs and warm materials from simple, lighter colours. Footwear too has upped the ante, and though knee high boots have been the fashion for most of the year, they’re now getting a little bit warmer as the mercury plummets and people start preparing for the real cold to come and come hard.

As the year 2011 draws to a close, and 2012 is upon us, it makes one wonder what will come next. Fashion is an ever changing, ever evolving thing that’s made up of equal parts culture and creativity. So while you can’t exactly step forward past the curve unless you’re skilled at reading the minds of major designers, that doesn’t stop many people from trying to be as fashion forward as they possibly can.