Hey you over there! You in the black – yes, you, the one hiding behind all the happy-go-lucky-looking folk in kaleidoscopic colour. Your time is up. You see, until now, your ever-so-cool exterior let you off the hook – the way you put varying shades of black together was less of a cop-out and more of a statement. You were fierce, icy and ever so demure. Bright colours were brash, naff – the style equivalent of multiple exclamation marks at the end of a sentence!!! Unfortunately, this season, a bit like the overly friendly colleague you can’t quite be bothered with, there is no escaping such matters.
Alas, my dear readers, the future is bright, and to be honest I am more than a little frightened. Some looks were never meant to cross the chasm from the photos in fashion magazines to, well, actually having to wear them – take cowgirl mashup, le smoking or inverse buttoning (yes, these are real trends, my friends). Not really meant to be worn, are they? Well, head-to-toe acid brights fit the same bill for most of us. And if the dresses seen at the recent Golden Globes are anything to go by, they are not going anywhere too soon. Tangerine orange, scarlet, fuchsia, sunny yellow, hibiscus and lily pond green; while light and fun, they make most of us feel a little silly, a bit like an overgrown fruit gum. A bit, dare I say it, Katy Perry.
The whole thing seems to have sprung from nowhere, perhaps in the dead of night or when we were too busy doing the things that matter. Regardless, black became boring. Of course, when it comes to exploring colour there is a huge difference between feminine and girly; what we are aiming for here are bold, high-octane shades (loud without shouting), a little Tennessee tea party if you like. Look for strong colours: pinks, corals, taupes and cornflower blues. Girly colours tend to scare us a little. There is a sickly sweetness that turns those who take themselves somewhat more seriously away. That need not be so; we simply need to learn how to speak the language – toughen up a little – after all, it’s only a bit of pink.
In terms of fabric, there are two ways to go, and not much in-between. A light, fine chiffon will work wonders for the romantic joie de vivre that the season demands, or if all of that is a little too bubblegum for you, there’s always a fiercer way to go. Normally I would advise baby steps. “Start small,” I’d whisper, a flash here or a flash there, giving you a gentle little nudge in the right direction. Not this time, I’m afraid. This needs some serious direction.
Start by mixing colours that accommodate each other, and don’t be afraid to take a risk. Think bright on brights, print on prints, or solid on solids. Go all out and create an assault on the senses. A three-quarter-length overcoat, or a body-con figure-sucking dress will certainly do the trick. If you wish to dip your toe in first, try mixing pastels with colours that pop, and layering the two. For example, a light pink and vibrant red work wonders together.
The problem is, when you’ve spent years in the shadows, the whole colour wheel requires a certain degree of commitment. But remember, just as black can appear cold and bossy, vivid colours will lift the mood. You never know, it might even make you smile – even the girls on the spring/summer catwalk seemed a little more joyful than normal.
[ ktrotter@thenational.ae ]
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