As we embrace our favourite things about fall, the fashion world is looking to the future as designers begin to showcase their Spring/Summer 2014 collections. Runway season kicked off earlier this month at New York Fashion Week (NYFW), where there was no shortage of refreshing looks and trends to dominate our wardrobes come April.

Here are some of the top things showcased on the runways of NYFW:

Sheer Statements
Garments with tease-worthy sheer fabric provided a visual feast for the eyes. From fully transparent jackets to gauzy paneling, many designers executed the trend in a completely unique way. Sporty or sophisticated, there are so many possible variations on this look and it will be interesting to see how pieces like these are styled by the fashion community. The easy weight of sheer fabrics works as a great solution to the fluctuating weather between spring and summer.

Print Paradise
Tropical breezy patterns brought life to the runway, and no one did it better than J. Crew designer Jenna Lyons. Hypersaturated floral and geometric prints were staples in the brand’s SS14 presentation, with dual ability to be dressed up or worn casually. With a price tag relatively lower than other brands at NYFW and an in-store student discount, the accessibility of the J. Crew line is an added perk that will have you experimenting with these bold and playful prints.

Fluorescent Pout
Vibrant orange lips proved to be the top beauty trend on the runway for spring and summer. Legendary make-up guru Gucci Westman perfected the hue at the rag & bone show, proving that orange really is the new black. This dramatic statement colour marks a big transition from the moody berry lip shades favoured this fall – but, bright pink lips are also popular right now if you don’t want to wait until spring to go fluorescent.

Whiteout
Monochrome, all-white looks contrasted with the print trend. Chic, summer-worthy and incredibly easy to replicate with clothes you already own, this trend is sure to filter down into the lookbooks of student budget-friendly retail stores like Zara. Francisco Costa’s collection for Calvin Klein was a stand-out, where asymmetrical cuts prevented monochrome looks from being too vanilla.

Throwback
Crop tops, bib-necklines, platform sandals, slip-dresses and spaghetti straps induced flashbacks of Cher from Clueless, where the 90s reigned supreme. This trend was prominent on the show runways of the Rag & Bone, Helmut Lang and DKNY, leaving plenty of looks to inspire your own 90s-spirited outfit for Throwback at The Underground.

Proenza Schouler
Inspired by materials from furniture design, this seasoned designer duo Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough turned to a variety of textiles from suede to knit. The collection took on a memorable dimension as a result, with standouts including a series of dresses and skirts that incorporated eye-catching, foil-like fabric draped ankle-deep. Warmth was evoked by the tranquil colour palette – a series of buttery beiges, creams and metallics – which shifted the focus to the highlight of the collection: textured details.

Alexander Wang
With Alexander Wang’s collection, it was all about bare skin. Short hemlines and stomach-baring shirts escaped vulgarity by being paired with garments featuring masculine collars and slouchy silhouettes. A stint at Balenciaga hasn’t caused Wang to lose his cool – he’s still the king of youth culture, as evidenced by the collection’s highly memorable “Parental Advisory: Explicit Content” graphic shirt that is sure to be replicated in Urban Outfitters stores around the globe. Pleated skirts and camisoles completed the collection, in a range of pastel and grayscale tones.

Wang hit the mark when it came to shoes too, creating playful bubble-gum pink platform Mary Janes and booties that stood out among the often bland, strappy sandals showcased by other designers this season.

Track Record
NYFW wasn’t all about fashion- music trends were definitely something to look for. Here are some of the best tracks played on the runways this season:

You & Me (Flume Remix) by Disclosure feat. Eliza Doolittle heard at Zac Posen
https://soundcloud.com/flume-1/disclosure-you-me-flume-remix
East Coast Girl by Cayucus heard at Lela Rose
https://soundcloud.com/secretlycanadian/cayucas-east-coast-girl-2
Second Summer (RAC Remix) by YACHT heard at Mara Hoffman
https://soundcloud.com/rac/yacht-second-summer-rac-mix

Images from Style.com, Vogue, Mac Cosmetics and Glamour