Trend Report: Skater Dresses

. Though the Olympics are technically over, the athletic spirit is still very much alive in the fashion world. The spring shows were full of sporty styles—from Hermes' timeless tennis classics to Bottega Veneta's take on the karate jacket to Alexander Wang's all-American football theme—which are sure to inspire competitors and non-jocks alike. In addition to the aforementioned games, we recently noticed yet another new sport has stepped into the trendsetter arena: figure skating. As one of the most beloved events at the Winter Games, it's no surprise that this flamboyant contender would be next in line to influence fashion's heavy hitters. Beautiful silhouettes with flirtatious hemlines and whimsical fabrics made a huge impression on the ice as well as on runways, which makes it the perfect feature for today's Trend Report. Before we jump into how our favorite celebs pulled off this look, lets first turn to the runways to score the top designer examples. For Louis Vuitton's S/S 10 show, designer Marc Jacobs created extreme head-to-toe looks, including embroidered skater dresses worn over Bermuda shorts and styled with Afro wigs and peg-heeled clog shoes for a retro urban feel. On a more ladylike note, John Galliano showed delicate lace and floral frocks paired with sheer socks and sandals at Christian Dior, while Stella McCartney designed floral-print dresses, complete with bouncing swirls of ruffles and pretty pleats, for spring. All in all, there are a wide range of styles and interpretations of skater style, which means you're sure to find some iteration that's perfect for you! If you're still not sure that this look is your cup of tea, please consider today's quartet of fashionable femmes, who illustrate not only the diversity of the skater dress, but also why it should be a necessary component of your spring and summer wardrobe. On one end, you have the traditional skater ensemble, which is reflected in feminine, flowy dresses with pastel colors and posy prints. We noted that Zoë Saldana went for this interpretation when she wore Louis Vuitton's Embroidered Corset Lingerie Dress ($4788, 866.VUITTON) under an Embroidered Wool Coat ($4929, 866.VUITTON) to a Glamour-hosted dinner at the LV store in Beverly Hills. We love the way the dress flares out at the waistline for a young and flirty feel. Of course, you could always take a page from Stella McCartney's playbook and opt for a more slinky style; the designer did just that when she wore her own Pleated Silk Dress ($3229) to attend the Love Ball at the Roundhouse in London. The ruffle details on the dress give it a light and playful touch—perfect for any spring event—while the black opaque tights ground McCartney's look and help her transition the frock through spring's colder moments. The skater dress can also take on an edgy interpretation with fitted silhouettes and dark, saturated color schemes as Chloe Sevigny demonstrated in a Proenza Schouler ensemble at a book signing for Derek Blasberg's book Classy. Although her outfit is from the label's F/W 10 collection (technically it's the Print Sweater ($1625, 312.587.1000) and Print Mini Skirt ($1375, 312.587.1000), both of which will be available at Ikram later this summer), Proenza Schouler is offering similar shapes and styles in surfer-inspired tie-dye for spring; do be sure to check them out! You can try this look with either black sheer tights or emulate Sevigny's choice of bare legs with black socks and peep-toe heels. Are you in need of another non-girly way to wear the trend? You're in luck: simply look to Julia Restoin Roitfeld at the Love Ball, wearing another Louis Vuitton version of the skater dress. The uber-feminine tastemaker turned up in a navy leather pleated dress from the French fashion house's Resort 10 collection, which we adore for several reasons. Namely: the blue leather makes a bold statement, but the shoulder bow and perforated detailing on the hem softens the overall look. Intrigued by our fantastic finds? Happily, we've found a number of sporty-chic alternatives that should help you create the perfect look. If you like McCartney's light and flirty approach, try Twenty8Twelve's Miller Dress ($360) or LaRok's Spring Fling Dress ($278). We adore the mixture of pastel colors and the way they cinch at the waist to show off your feminine figure. If you want to make a statement in beautiful spring prints, we like 3.1 Phillip Lim's Grecian Broomstick Pleated Silk Dress ($595) or Zucca's S/S Ruched Floral Dress ($791) for all your afternoon soirees. To get Saldana's billowy skirt shape, we like Funktional's Denim Lantern Dress ($112) and Tracy Reese's Bubble Hem Stretch Poplin Dress ($325) for great alternatives. If you prefer some Sevigny-style edginess, don't miss Proenza Schouler's Gathered Dress ($895): it's the ideal combo of the traditional and modern skater dresses, making it perfect for both spring and fall!—Jessica Baker Photos of Zoë Saldana, Stella McCartney, and Julia Restoin Roitfeld, from Getty Images: Photo of Chloe Sevigny from, PMC. Runway image, courtesy of Dior. Jump to read the next story . TAGS: Trend Report, Chloe Sevigny, Zoe Saldana, Louis Vuitton, Proenza Schouler, Stella McCartney, Stella McCartney . DISCUSS . Get More WWW: If you do not wish to receive future daily stories from whowhatwear.com, simply click here. 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