Fashion: When the Going Gets Ruff

Ruffles here, ruffles there, our favourite embellishment is everywhere! This spring, designers are evoking wavy beaches and flowing romanticism with ruffles. Luckily, this versatile trend can be adopted by anyone, whether your style is boho, Victorian, western or just plain old glam.
 All the major fashion houses showed ruffles on their spring catwalks, from Gucci’s bubblegum-toned dresses, to the romantic nearly-nude layers at Valentino, and the party-girl mini dresses from Philosophy. Fendi hit the accessories too, with shoes and bags featuring ruffles, while Prada stuck to puffing up and ruffling up the sleeves on their formal tops, for a touch of drama.
 Designers also played with texture and tone, as Jill Stuart embraced an edgy iteration of this trend, with ruffled black leather skirts paired with darkly floral ruffled blouses. Marissa Webb, meanwhile, went for cocktail party attire, blending bold colours with midi lengths for sophisticated statement dresses. Elsewhere, Valentino and Sonia Rykiel looked to history for their inspiration, incorporating high-necked Victorian ruffles to add some modest glamour to their dresses and blouses.
 To embrace the Victorian vibe, look for high-necked blouses and dresses with delicate detailing; lace and crochet fabrics are perfect. White, cream or blush pink hues will look summery and sophisticated, while black or glittery fabrics will evoke a sexy, gothic romanticism.
 For a modern, edgy take on the trend, look for dark colours with modern silhouettes. Crop tops with ruffles and mini-skirts with a drop-hem look incredible when paired with a leather jacket or fierce gladiator heels, ensuring that the flowing innocence of the ruffles is grounded by some rock chick edge.
 If you’d prefer to embrace the great outdoors, you can draw inspiration from wild flowers or the wild, wild west. If you like a bit of bohemian beauty, ruffled peasant dresses look fantastic paired with a little denim jacket and some boots. Halter-necks and shoulder cut-outs can balance out the layers of ruffles with some seductive flashes of flesh, and ruffled maxi skirts will help you embrace the summer early.
 Finally, if you prefer to keep this pretty trend professional, balance out ruffles with otherwise sleek silhouettes. Pencil skirts with a single ruffle will emphasise your curves, while bodycon dressed with a ruffled top will add some flair without overwhelming your frame.
Or if you prefer to keep your stylish sartorial adventures on the subtle side, bags and shoes with ruffles are a great way to work this trend into your existing wardrobe.