You might think it’s winter (or summer, depending on where you live), but in the fashion world it’s Pre-Fall. Gone are the days when the majority of designers created only two collections per year, and this week the Pre-Fall shows are here to present the new products that will come to stores in May, June, and July. There were many trends to be seen across the runways, but perhaps the most striking was the explosion of purple. From lilac to fuchsia to plum to wine, this vivid color was everywhere.
I love purple. However, I don’t have that many purple clothing items. It’s not because I avoid the color, but because it is generally underrepresented in the fashion world. If you set out to find purple, you’ll find it. But if you just wander into a store or browse a website, it’s likely you won’t end up buying anything purple because the landscape is dominated by other colors. I had always sensed this, but I also confirmed it systematically. After looking through the first 300 clothing items listed on the brand-diverse polyvore.com, I found that only 3 percent of the items were purple. 79 percent of the new clothes listed were either black, blue, white, or grey.
There is a theory that people tend to form opinions about color based on the objects of that color that they see. Because we see so many different things every day, this process feels subconscious. Purple is a beautiful color, but we don’t really see much of it while out and about. Because of this, the color has developed connotations of fantasy, playfulness, and dream states. Unfortunately, it can also be associated with artificiality.
But come on, a purple coat isn’t like a purple Christmas tree! Fashion appeals more to the emotions than practicality, and the task of a great designer is to create a wearable fantasy. After all, a fantasy is a fantasy before it happens, and as it happens.
Neutral brown accents make this lilac coat even more vibrant.
Navy, persimmon, and wine flow smoothly when united by lace.
A short coat and sweeping skirt stand out in violet.
As the backdrop of myriad tiny flowers, the magenta of this skirt is quite delicate.
Lavender panels look sophisticated on this sleek column dress.
The brightness of fuchsia brings attention to every pleat of this sweeping gown.
Temperley London
This dramatic fuchsia dress looks lit from within.
Plum goes folk with dainty ruffles and bird motifs.
An eggplant floral is subdued and romantic.
Three gorgeous purple hues give a conservative look new life.
Credits:
Fendi photo — Giovanna Pavesi; Painting — fineartamerica.com; All other photos courtesy of respective brands.
Blissful Style 