As the Spring 12 shows soon come to a close, it will be time for industry experts, stylists, editors, buyers (and of course socialites) to dig through countless show recaps, blogs, snap shots and pages of notes to organize and decipher all of the emerging trends. While we wait for the taste-makers to sift through and publish the extensive trend list, I will simplify and highlight a few of the outstanding trends over the next week.
While we typically talk about color in terms of a color story or an inspiration for a collection, color itself has become the story and a stand-alone trend. Exploding on to runways and into stores last Spring, the trend continues to be one of the biggest stories for Spring 2012.
Inspiration: Rose Bowl
Tones: Red lead the color charge and showed up in a variety of shades from bright red to dusty rose to coral tones
Collections: L’Wren Scott, Ralph Lauren, Carolina Herrera, Prada, DVF, Marc by Marc, Anna Sui, J.Crew, Oscar de la Renta, Ports 1961, Philosophy, Thakoon
Best in Show: Carolina Herrera
Inspiration: White Out
Tones: Bright whites, off whites and cream hues made an appearance in too many shows to list. Whether head-to-toe, as part of a print, as an accent, dressed up or dressed down, Spring 12 will be a big white season
Collections: Ralph Lauren, The Row, Oscar de la Renta, Helmut Lang, DVF, Victoria Beckham, Fendi, Marc Jacobs, Carolina Herrera, Altuzzara, Alexander Wang, Alberta Ferretti, Acne, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Versace
Best in Show: The Row
Inspiration: Perfectly Nude
Tones: Soft Nudes & Naturals (creamy, shiny & matte)
Collections: Calvin Klein, Max Mara, Marc Jacobs, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Hervé Léger by Max Azria, Oscar de la Renta, Philosophy, Zac Posen, Dolce & Gabbana, Giorgio Armani
Best in Show: Calvin Klein
Inspiration: Metal Ceremony
Tones: Metallics make a statement in all hues, as accents and as all-over shimmer. Gold, Bronze (shiny & matte), Silver, metallic greys (deep & muted)
Collections: Alexander Wang, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, L’Wren Scott, Hervé Léger by Max Azria, Oscar de la Renta, Ports 1961, Proenza Schouler, Zac Posen, Carolina Herrera, Diesel Black Gold, Versace
Best in Show: Gucci
Inspiration: Shot Gun
Tones: Black (muted & shiny)
Collections: Alexander Wang, Marc Jacobs, Dolce & Gabbana, L’Wren Scott, Anna Sui, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Hervé Léger by Max Azria, Ports 1961, Proenza Schouler, Vera Wang, Altuzzara, Gucci, Fendi, Victoria Beckham, Helmut Lang, Versace
Best in Show: Dolce & Gabbana
Inspiration: Ray of Sunshine
Tones: Yellows…from Mustard, Citron and Lemon Drop to a soft Canary hue, yellow warmed the runways
Collections: Ralph Lauren, Proenza Schouler, Oscar de la Renta, Jill Stuart, Marc Jacobs, Rodarte, Reed Krakoff, Burberry Prorsum, Prada, Carolina Herrera, Missoni
Best in Show: Oscar de la Renta
Inspiration: Everything But Land
Tones: Sea foam and jade greens, dusty muted blue, colbalts, iris and navy
Collections: Alexander Wang, Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, DVF, Carolina Herrera, Gucci, Alberta Ferretti, Prada, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Oscar de la Renta, Ports 1961, Proenza Schouler, Rodarte, Rag & Bone, Thakoon, Vivienne Westwood Red Label, Zac Posen, Georgio Armani
Best in Show: Giorgio Armani
Inspiration: Blocked
Tones: Continued from fall, color blocking takes all of the above and combines them to make a story within a color story
Collections: Prabal Gurung, Helmut Lang, Victoria Beckham, Max Mara, Vena Cava, Marc by Marc, Carolina Herrera, BCBG Max Azria, Derek Lam, Proenza Schouler, Acne
Best in Show: Vena Cava
Thank you to contributing editor, Jennifer Teubner, for helping to highlight and organize these color trends
