Spotlight on black and white
MANILA, Philippines - As much as we love a bright splash of color, there’s no competing with this classic combination. Sophisticated and simple, yet always impactful, it’s hard to go wrong with black and white.
Designers are always on the hunt for new ways to reinvent classic looks and the black and white trend is no exception. Whether it’s spring/summer or fall/winter, the black and white twosome is sure to make an appearance. Season after season, we’re introduced to the freshest takes on monochrome as designers experiment with unconventional prints, luxurious textures and never-before-seen silhouettes. Last spring, it was all about mixing classic and graphic, as all types of prints from geometric stripes and checks to abstract patterns hit the runway in crisp and clean black and white. This fall/winter season, the black and white trend unsurprisingly continued its reign — this time with a bolder and edgier approach.
While prints didn’t play as big a role this fall as they did in the spring, this season’s black and white pieces found other ways to be graphic, namely through texture and silhouette. Back in spring, many of the black and white pieces that graced the runways were heavily inspired by Mod, as seen in the use of classic ’60s silhouettes. Light and delicate fabrics were in abundance, as well as big ruffles, intricate lace details and color blocking. As the fashion world transitioned into the fall/winter season, the dainty look of spring transformed into something darker. More structure and a whole lot of leather took to the stage and replaced the softer and more vibrant side of spring’s fashion. Grunge and punk became an apparent inspiration for a number of pieces this fall in collections such as Chanel, Saint Laurent Paris and Alexander McQueen. Silhouettes became looser and boxier, as seen in pieces by The Row and Gareth Pugh.
Despite some drastic changes, it seems that the spring season somehow paved the way for what was to come in the fall. In spring, we already got a few glimpses of the oversized trend, which this fall reached a whole new level. Larger-than-life shoulders, collars and pockets were spotted all over the runway. As seen in looks by Céline, Paul & Joe, Michael Kors and Alexander Wang, women’s coats and sweaters took inspiration from men’s outerwear—cut, fabric and all. The oversized trend also extended to accessories such as bags as seen in the Miu Miu collection. Oversized buttons and belts, as seen in pieces by Altuzzara, were also popular elements among a number of collections.
Though mostly loose in silhouette, the fall/winter season wasn’t at all short of structure. The runways saw exaggerated takes on the peplum and cinched waist trends as seen in Vera Wang’s sculptural collection. Structured suits with strong shoulders were also a favorite among many collections including Proenza Schouler and Balmain. Some pieces gave off an almost couture-like vibe because of the boxy and unusual shapes they formed. In the texture department, leather and fur were the main attraction. Fur coats were extravagant and over-the-top, pelted and decorated with striking prints as seen in pieces by Jason Wu and Tom Ford. Carrying over from the spring, the runways also couldn’t get enough of leather, which was used in everything from blouses, dresses and biker jackets to clutches and thigh-high boots. Quilting was a noticeable trend used in leather pieces as seen in the collection by Rag and Bone.
As we round up the hottest trends this fall, one thing is clear: the spotlight is still on the powerful duo. While black and white for fall/winter is far from a groundbreaking feat, what keeps us drawn to this classic combination is how exciting and unpredictable it can be. With a black and white canvas, you can explore and do just about anything and regardless of the outcome, it’ll be pretty hard to hate it. But more than that, when used in the right way, with the perfect combination of elements, black and white has the ability to turn heads, drop jaws and shine brighter than even the most neon of hues in the spectrum.
