Climate change has been a hot topic in our nation since the whole Al Gore scandal of 2004. However, is seeing the effects of climate change influencing our fashion decisions?
Some of the hottest trends of this Fall include colorful rave prints, business cozy a la sportswear, and traditionally summery trends melted into the crisper winter months (see all white well after Labor Day, y’all).
Street stylers and influencers from LA to NY are rocking these springier trends this Fall, and with the arrival of 60’s and 70’s-inspired silhouettes in the Spring/Summer 2015 collections coupled with dark and warm color palettes, we have to wonder…are our fashion seasons shifting, too?
Thanks to celebs like Cara Delevingne and Miley Cyrus, along with the music festival fashion obsession and the resurrection of 90’s bold color prints, the rave scene look is in full swing. Companies like Lazy Oaf’s and Urban Outfitters have used this influx of 90’s counter culture to their advantage, profiting on the demand for these prints and grunge-inspired looks.
While grunge is very Fall, loud bold prints are more closely associated with the Spring equinox or Summer solstice. As the consumer drives the fashion cycle forward (or should I say backwards?), these trends are picking up on the runways.
In last spring’s Fall/Winter 2014 shows, we saw bright colors and bold prints gallivanting down the runway in the shows like Diane Von Furstenberg, Rag & Bone, and even the likes of Chanel. We also saw Pantone’s bright color of the year, Radiant Orchid, peppered throughout these Fall shows.
However, the Spring/Summer 2015 shows have just wrapped in the Empire State, and we can see the same type of backward coding throughout the runway. While neutrals have always been the name of the game for some of these designers, the dark neutrals are unexpected for the warmer seasons.
Rag & Bone’s looks consisted of dark denim and other navy blue components. Diesel Black and Gold prepared us to expect the unexpected when they showed black, white, and — you’ll never guess — gold looks for the season of new beginnings. The dreary doesn’t stop here. These dark neutrals are featured in other designers’ Spring collections as well. Check out Pantone’s coveted colors for Spring/Summer ’15 and discover burgundy, forest greens, and (my favorite) the classy Toasted Almond.
Don’t get me wrong -I like this juxtaposition between the feels outside and the feels inside. Sometimes, a summer day just calls for all black (a.k.a. when you’re mourning the end of the series you just binge watched on the Netflix, or when it’s not quite sunny enough to justify a pool day), and when summer days are drifting away, you just need to get your last drag on the season by busting out your favorite sundress and combat boots.
The climate is changing, but so are our traditional color preferences for the four seasons. Bizarre, exciting, and evolutionary are a few words that come to mind when I think about these shifting color schemes. Will they continue to shift? Or is this an anomaly? Only time will tell.
Two things ring true consistently throughout Lara’s life: the first is that she can find the perfect song lyrics for any/every situation. The second is that she never leaves home without a Sharpie or Chapstick. Music is the heartbeat of her life, and laughter is the soundtrack. She lives for fashion and language (a weird combo, she’s aware). French was her first love, but Italian is a close second. She is a walking contradiction. Edgy yet sweet. Outgoing yet introverted. Classic rock yet hip hop. She’s a Southern Belle with big city dreams. The list goes on and on.