Why You Want to Wear Fall's New Colors

Philip Lim mixes fall’s new colors with neutrals.

As an Art History student, I am infatuated with color. When it came time to decide which fall trend to focus on first, the fall’s new colors seemed like an obvious choice. Not only is it interesting to understand how different designers tackle fall’s new colors, it is necessary to understand the different possibilities that color offers us. These colors are, after all, the colors that are going to follow us through the cooling fall and into the mundane depths of winter.

At Joseph’s suggestion, I looked at the Pantone Women’s Fashion Color Report. Each season, Pantone meticulously records the top 10 colors for fashion. The report claims that fall’s new colors speak to imagination and ingenuity, and are not bound by the normal neutrals and dark colors of fall. Using the report as a jumping off point, I began to look through runway shows, to see how designers are using fall’s new colors. The report declares that fall’s new colors are Mauve MistAurora RedBright CobaltMisted Yellow, Radiant OrchidRoyal Blue and Sangria. Finally, we Californians will not have to suffer through another sunny fall and winter wearing the dull neutrals of snowier regions. Although I was excited by the prospect of a colorful fall, I could not help but wonder how exactly designers would use fall’s new colors in their collections without making a season of fashionable women look like a flock of lost tropical birds.

Why You Want to Wear Fall's New Colors

Dries Van Noten uses fall’s new colors in his bold prints.

Upon flipping through various runway shows, I came to learn that each designer had his/her own answer to the lost tropical bird question. Philip Lim tended towards pops of color against neutrals, with more of an emphasis on lighter colors such as Mauve Mist, with the occasional Sangria or Royal Blue making appearances. By this route, he achieved a clean and polished collection that still managed to be fresh and interesting.

Dries Van Noten had a completely different approach. He chose to utilize fall’s new colors by showing a collection made up of large hypnotic prints, in Sangria and Misted Yellow, printed on top of rich colors such as Royal Blue and Bright Cobalt. Although this mix of colors and prints may seem intimidating, Dries Van Noten’s clean tailoring and no-nonsense designs allow the prints to be both daring while at the same time refined; a perfect combination for Fall/Winter.

Altuzarra married both the subtle and daring uses of fall’s new colors by creating a collection of luxurious pieces accented by bold colors. Sangria and Bright Cobalt were the two most common, which were found as the lining of coats and piping on dresses, as well as dramatic slashes through otherwise all black ensembles. His collection manages to stay Fall/Winter appropriate with its extensive use of dark neutrals, while still making a dramatic statement through his color accents.

Altuzarra contrasts slashes of colors against dark neutrals.

After looking through various runway shows, I cannot help but admit that I am extremely excited for fall. The aforementioned colors add a richness to clothing that is sometimes missing from Fall/Winter seasons. These colors allow the wearer to express her creative side, whether it is with a Radiant Orchid coat, or a simple gray suit with Sangria accents. A few weeks after embarking on my journey through fall’s new colors, I could not help but feel a little disheartened by not seeing any of these colors in person. I had spent the previous week on a remote island, where the local T-shirt shop regrettably does not seem to pay attention to Pantone’s color report. I was eager to return to San Francisco in order to view fall’s new colors in their natural habitats. So you can imagine my excitement when I entered an Emporio Armani store, and came face to face with a fur jacket in what else, but Mauve Mist.

About Emma Grillo:  From a young age, I’d pour over the pages of my mother’s Vogue, and relish any opportunity to dress up for a special occasion. This infatuation with fashion has followed me to Lewis and Clark College, where I am pursuing a BA in English and Art History. I am extremely excited to intern with Joseph, learning the ins and outs of personal branding and style.  I am also writing 10 blogs, including this one. I am thankful for this unprecedented opportunity, and for the hands on education that I will undoubtedly receive.