A COLOUR DETOX? NOT YET
Colour has been so pervasive on the global runways for so many seasons now, that in fashion terms, it would make sense for a backlash to occur, an opposing trend to at least be gathering speed.
Carl Kapp’s sorbet rainbow at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia.
Indeed, there have already been half-hearted attempts at generating one among members of the fashion press – murmurs of a new minimalism, whispers of a palette-cleansing return to monochrome. New York designers Phillip Lim and Alexander Wang even showed black and white almost exclusively in their winter 2012 collections.
But in the real world, I think colour has a way to go yet and the reason is a pretty simple equation that goes something like this: the world is tough right now. Colour makes people feel happy and happy people are more likely to spend money. Smart designers who want to make money will give people more colour. Ta-daa!
Personally, I’m not even close to detoxing on colour yet. I wish I could tell you that today’s combination of crayon-bright shades and geometric shapes was inspired by Mondrian’s “Broadway Boogie Woogie” but really, it was just a way for me to brighten up a mid-winter’s day.
Are you still crazy for colour, or are you ready to move on?
Doing: Test-driving the latest foundation from Revlon; visiting the State Library of NSW for the launch of a new Tresemmé haircare range (hey, knowledge is power, you know!); finishing not one but two beauty features for Women’s Health.
Wearing: 3.1 Phillip Lim open-back knit; Vanessa Bruno Athé leather pants; Pierre Hardy heels; Tatty Devine “Bunting” necklace.
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*Michelle Bateman is a freelance writer and editor who blogs about fashion, beauty and the arts on The Modernity Project, as well as contributing to Australian Vogue, Women’s Health, Harper’s Bazaar and Emporium, among other titles. When not testing new lipsticks (and the occasional gloss), she can be found rearranging her wardrobe in a perpetual quest for more space. This season, she is enjoying mixing patterns and clashing colours; she has always been a sucker for a good leopard print.
4 Responses to this article
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Aeron Winters July 11, 2012
I love colour. I have a rainbow in my wardrobe. It’s hard to mix and match, but paired with basic black. it works. It’s cheerful and I feel better living in colour.
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Birgit July 11, 2012
I like color too, but wonder why some people particularly those on tv have started to wear those horrid fluro colours again? Has some ‘great fashion guru’ dictated that this is the new fad? If they have I say get over it, it looks horrible.
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The Huntress July 11, 2012
Definitely not ready to give up on colour! I do carry a lot of black in my wardrobe, ’cause I still like to dress in all black, but I do also love dressing in bold bright colours. Nothing can keep me away from a beautiful bright red dress. I’m really excited for some of the trends coming up this Spring/Summer – I’m loving all the sunset orange and pink silks and I ADORE the little cropped top trend with a beautiful high-waisted skirt.
And as a little secret I’m going to share I’m having surgery to correct my pregnancy -pommelled body next week and will actually be able to wear the cropped top/skirt trend this Summer, which I’m really excited about! I came home almost tripping over myself yesterday to tell my husband (as I’d seen a cropped top somewhere). I’m really looking forward to wearing some beautiful clothes, that I’ve missed out on wearing for nearly 8 years, while I’m still young enough to get away with it.
