Black, which has always appeared in a chic closet had recently spread to a level of uncharted proportions. It seeped into every age bracket by way of nail polish and the two-button blazer. Fashion types have loved black for decades but the Spring 2010 shows marked a departure from drama and dark. (Perhaps we have all seen enough chipped black manicures?)
It makes sense to track this trend starting with an examination of the current happenings at Chanel. Chanel was a far sunnier place than usual-- not a single black item in the collection, which was displayed among a haze rainbow lights that matched the sugary peaches and minty greens of the all-pastel and silver collection. Karl Lagerfeld reportedly did away with the label's hallmark color as "a challenge." (Lagerfeld even wore gray the day he showed the collection!) The collection felt "sweet" with fancy bows sitting atop the massive winged bouffants of each model.
Sweet and dainty aren't usually what fashion aims for. Dark, futuristic, yes and yes but the sheer frequency of pushing the envelope has left the fashion world in a place where the only way to send shock waves is to embody t
he image they often pushed against. Of course, dainty and sweet done by new talent in the fashion world is going to be subverted and tweaked-- and therefore cool.For example, Lady Gaga wore a wacky dress to The Brit Awards. The dress was constructed with three distinct tiers causing her to look less like a lady and more like a wedding cake. But I would expect nothing less from her, perfectly capturing attention and on trend while walking the red carpet (in London, England on February 16th).
Other than Lady Gaga and Chanel, though you could argue that when they align a trend is born, there has been a resurgence of pastel colored hair. For the past couple of years women have been throwing money at stylists to dye their hairs various shades of "something enhancing, but natural" and now whimsical rainbow shades are being requested. Mainly it is the hipsters and the wild that are jumping head first into this interpretation. Some are dying mermaid long tresses robin egg blue and never looking back.
Famed half-pint blogger Tavi dyed her hair and was pictured at all the shows sporting looks that she explained will "give her something to tell the
grandchildren". She seems a bit young to start dreaming of telling grandkids remember, "when I lived in a house like Grey Gardens and my hair was the same color." But she is a dreamer by nature, I suppose.So this is not the type of tren
d that is only for 12-year-old eccentric blogger and celebrities and then the people who can afford a Chanel tweed suit in a buttery yellow. This is a trend for all. That is why it is better explained as a shift.Anyway, check out Emanuel Ungaro's Spring 2010 collection shown at Paris Fashion Week and you will see vibrant pinks, from pink collared shirts right down to Pepto Bismol loafers with some cotton-candy colored fingerless gloves thrown in for good measure.
As a reward for all my readers I decided to end this post the most delicious way I know how-- I made a fushia sandwich! Yep, men embrace the philosophy "think pink" but do yourselves a favor and separate these shall we say statement pieces to avoid looking like our friend to the left.
ADVICE: It is always a sign when a model can't pull it off. But do be brave and embrace the cotton candy wonderland of it all! (If Mr. Lagerfeld did it no one has any excuses!) Add a dash of color because a shift this sugary is sure to crystalize.
