The fall season for 2014 is upon us, and designers have
already had their fashion shows. So what trends did we see on the runways for
Fall 2014? Style.com has complied pictures from various designers’ shows. Their
complete list of trends can be found here:
I will pick a few from their list that I found particularly
interesting or fun and discuss them on today’s post. Instead of droning on
about the broad trend, I will include some pictures of some of the runway looks
that fit this trend and discuss those particular looks. Please keep in mind
that these are runway looks. They are more editorial and more like works of art
than actual everyday wear. So I will not be focusing on the practicality of the
piece, but rather the artistic quality and the visual aesthetic of the piece.
Bright Colors
Photo courtesy of Style.com
This look is by Roksanda Ilincic. The combination of royal
blue and orange is a strange one. In fact, that awful combination served as the
colors of a high school where I taught for a brief time. The football jerseys
were bright enough to give you a migraine. However, I seem to have found an
example where those colors go well together. Perhaps it’s because the orange is
used very conservatively. The use of clean lines and blocks of blue, black, and
orange give a nod to Roy Lichtenstein. And finally, the juxtaposition of the
fitted and flowing on the two separate sides is artistically interesting. The
right side is draped and flows down the model as she walks; however, the left
side is more fitted to the body with a gold piece to cinch the waist. I love
this look, and I would say this is how to do the bright color trend correctly.
Photo courtesy of Style.com
This Versace look is not one of my favorites. As far as the
bright color trend goes, I think it’s fine. I like the color combination, and
the colors are definitely bright. However, I can’t focus on the colors due to
the other distractions. The asymmetrical bottom of the dress makes it look like
the model is hiding a tail underneath the fabric. But the most distracting part
of this dress is the ill-placed “medallions” (for lack of a better word). This
model is clearly a young woman with a perky bosom. However, the medallions give
her the illusion of having breasts you might see in National Geographic. I
think they look like a pair of nipples… There I said it. It’s just not
aesthetically pleasing to look at.
Rave Prints
Photo courtesy of Style.com
In my opinion, Diane von Furstenberg, or as I like to call
her DVF, can do no wrong. She created the concept of the maxi dress! The woman
is a genius! She also is a master of prints and mixing and matching them—as
seen by exhibit A above. If you showed me these three prints separately and
told me you were going to make an outfit combining them, I would tell you that
crack kills. Leave it to DVF to prove me wrong. Style.com has chosen to include
this look in the rave print trend. These prints are quite busy, but I don’t
know if I would label them as “rave prints”. To me the idea of a rave involves
vivid color. These prints are very muted in their colors. I love this look, and
I could even see someone wearing this right off the runway onto the streets of
New York City or Paris.
Photo courtesy of Style.com
Now this is a rave print. Yohji Yamamoto (With a name like
that, he must be an Irish Catholic, right?) has combined these two loud and
graphic prints to create what looks like street art. It literally looks like
the model is wearing scraped off graffiti from the walls of a downtown
warehouse. I personally don’t like the prints. It’s not aesthetically pleasing
to me, but I appreciate the artistic vision behind them. I’m sure some rich
club kid will soon be wearing this exact piece to a rave in the near future.
Sheer Evening
Photo Courtesy of Style.com
There is a fine line between sexy sophisticated socialite
and sexy two-dollar streetwalker. This trend of sheer evening gowns seems to
straddle that line. This Emilio Pucci look falls on the socialite side. This
look takes us back to the speak-easies of the 1920s. I appreciate the intricate
detail in this gown. It all works together. You can easily tell that you are
seeing bare skin underneath the sheer fabric, but the overlay is so elegant and
tastefully placed that nothing inappropriate is showing. This gown whispers
class and sophistication into your ear in the most sensual way.
Photo courtesy of Style.com
Donna Karan has brought us to the other side of that fine
line I referred to earlier. Now we’re in a dark alleyway looking for a fun, yet
cheap, time. The model may as well be walking around in only her underwear. The
sheer evening gown is doing nothing. It serves no purpose, in my opinion. I can
appreciate the artistic quality of the look, but I tend not to prefer art of a
cheap and tawdry nature.
These are just three of the trends listed by Style.com from
the Fall 2014 runway collections. Go check out the rest. Which trend is your
favorite? Why? Do you agree with my assessment? Let me know. I’m always happy
to get feedback.
I graduated high school in 1979 (don't tell me, I know--you weren't even born yet), so the fashions of the 80s are like going home to me. And yes! I see sweater dressing!! and normcore!. I never heard the term before, but yes, those two make me smile. Except for the Comme des Garcons one. That one hurts.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of the term "normcore" either. We both learned something new, and I like that word for some odd reason. :)
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