Should women express their individuality through their own style or should they follow trends? Fashion journalist Caroline Paris says it is possible to do both as she takes a look at the evolution of Maltese women’s fashion sense.

A model presenting a creation by Lebanese designer Elie Saab as part of his Haute Couture Spring Summer 2015 fashion show in Paris. Flat shoes will be all the rage this season. Photos: Reuters

We all have different ways of expressing ourselves and putting forward our individualism. Sometimes it’s in the way we speak, sometimes it’s in the way we behave and a lot of times it’s in the way we present ourselves to the world. Our characters creep into the way we put our appearance together, even unconsciously. From the way in which we style our hair to the colour we choose to paint our toenails, self-expression is everywhere.

But is expressive fashion really present in Malta? This is a question many people ask, somewhat doubtfully. The truth is there’s no right or wrong way to answer this. It’s a matter of opinion after all, but I think in Malta people are a lot less outrageous when it comes to fashion. They are a lot more scared to take risks than they are in larger cities, for example. People like to play it safe here and, as a result, there are very few trendsetters around.

Historically, Maltese women were a pious lot. Hemlines stayed long even when they rose everywhere else, cleavages stayed hidden and tattoos were heavily frowned upon. The fact that we were mostly an insular island, with very little exposure to other cultures, didn’t exactly help to dispel this mentality.

I think the nation’s fashion mentality began to change mostly when the internet started to gain traction and even more so when social media and the concept of fashion and street style blogs took storm. It also helped that a lot of expats decided to settle, at least for a length of time, on the island, bringing with them a different way of looking at the world, especially at fashion.

Being informed of current trends, whether or not you choose to adopt them is something I will always advocate

Nowadays the situation has somewhat improved. Especially in certain parts of the island, I am often quite pleased to see younger women wearing something that is maybe a bit different – a certain original hat or quirky bag, or simply a way of putting two pieces together that isn’t what the catalogue would show.

I think, as a woman, it is great that we get the chance to enjoy fashion, to wear the trends as we see fit to adopt them, to cater for our different body shapes and personalities.

Are trends important? As someone who works within the fashion industry, my answer will have to be yes. Being informed of current trends, whether or not you choose to adopt them is something I will always advocate. I think this knowledge can help you make better fashion decisions.

We are now entering the spring season, which brings with it a brighter and lighter fashion scene. Make-up and hairstyles become a little less polished and a little more relaxed, our clothes become a little less restrictive and less bulky.

When it comes to the actual fashion trends, certain key styles like monochrome pieces and denim options transcend the seasons and are generally worn all year round.

The spring 2015 season sees a heavy 1970s influence infused with a lot of artistic vibes. Flares are making a huge comeback – you might want to dig out your old pairs or invest in something fresh and new, maybe a pair of jeans with some embroidery.

If you like wearing shirts you’re in luck: there are going to be plenty around to stock up on and the same goes for skirts – skirts of varying length from mini to midi are a definite top trend. Please, at least, do try on a pair of culottes. I’ve seen these at foreign fashion weeks and they look great on women of so many different shapes and sizes that I think they can honestly look good on anyone.

And last but not least, especially for those endowed with natural height, flats are now more popular than heels. Yes, you read that right. It’s all about flats and us petite Maltesers will just have to live with that.

I like to say that fashion is above all meant to be something fun. It’s a huge industry and a very ‘serious’ one but let’s face it – no wars will be fought or cures discovered through wearing a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ outfit. So just relax, experiment and have fun!