Fashion Colors for Spring 2015
This is a photo of colors printed on newsprint in Women’s Wear Daily, so the fashion colors aren’t well represented, but what I think is interesting is the cross-overs: classic blue at #4, Toasted Almond at #5, and Marsala at #9. Scrinch up your eyes and look at the women’s colors and try to picture them displayed in garments in a store. Same for men’s.
Pantone describes the Spring 2015 fashion colors here as cooler and softer. Think of the hot corals and tangerines we’ve seen the past couple of years–and notice how much more soothing this one is. Marsala calls my name as a red-head living in a climate that is almost always transitional; I could use this almost year round and it will fit right in with the fashion colors I already have in my closet.
Fashion Colors for Fall 2015
This is where I’m focused right now. My FIDM students are finishing their Product Development portfolios (by the time you read this I will have entered their grades) focused on Fall 2015. It is hard for us here in San Francisco to get really wintery–we think you can always wear sleeveless tops under something–so Fall/Winter can be a challenge. Usually summer is cold and foggy which is a big help, but we’ve had a lot of summery days. I’m not sure students follow the fashion calendar yet, which is about 6 months ahead of the shopping calendar, but we work 12 months ahead of the date of their last class of the quarter. I’m loving some of the things I’ve seen at Fashion Week and will soon be dissatisfied with everything in my closet. These designers have been working on this collection for at least 3 months, most likely 5 to 8 months.
Future of Fashion
I worry all the time about what is going to become of this wonderful industry. Electronics have taken over our imaginations and our dollars, so we must find a different way to engage customers. Many companies in the US have been reconsidering some of the practices they adopted years ago that now have most of our production happening overseas, but this is going to be a time-consuming journey back for those who can afford to make it. The average consumer no longer knows what it is like to have clothes available to them that really fit, and my judgment is that people choose what is “on trend” over what looks good on them.
I have so much hope when I see students move through our program who are sharp, open to new ideas, and willing to consider the possibility that clothes can transform our daily experience in a way that our electronics can’t. This is what keeps me teaching and I have been really fortunate with the students I’ve had this quarter.
Remember, that a great outfit can change your day. It isn’t superficial to be aware of how you look–it is smart both for how others perceive you and how you perceive yourself. As knitters we can seize the opportunity to make things that do fit, so you have an advantage of the typical consumer.
Here’s a great read on someone who not only cares about fashion, but impacts at least three brands.
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