The Rite of Spring

Spring collections from the fashion capitals of the world have arrived. Joy is in the air for fashionistas everywhere.

After many years of going back and forth between Milan and Paris, and several times crossing the pond to New York, I have realized that the coming of spring and summer is heralded by the choice of clothes that are much more cheerful, screaming positive messages with their bright colors and cuts that are practical and light.

It's as though designers have shed the burden of the chilly, dark and overcast fall and winter seasons. Although I like to travel during the fall, sometimes I get the uncomfortable feeling I am in the midst of a wake. It's hard not to when you walk along streets with people wrapped up in fur coats, keeping their heads down to brace against the cold or simply to shoulder the burden of all that bulky layered clothing.

So the long-awaited coming of spring is like a dose of sunshine. It's a time to celebrate, even if the beginning of spring can still be as dark and foreboding as the fall in some countries (snow even blankets the streets here and there).

Perhaps that is why Louis Vuitton's Mark Jacobs and Dior's John Galliano have not followed the general euphoria of spring, countering all the glee with a women's collection that is pale toned and very brittle.

Spring collections for '07 are marked by A-line skirts; miniskirts and stilettos also dominate. Menswear is focused on straight, slimfit "pipe" pants, showing off the beauty of the leg and calf.

Stepping out in new clothes is a form of compensation for all the suffering endured during the dark of fall and winter. So put away your furs, unwind that scarf tied around your neck and store those boots as you embrace all that spring has to offer.

+ Samuel Mulia

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