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.