"There's nothing like Los Angeles for trendspotting," said Fran Sude. "Everybody watches LA style". According to Fran, one of the unique qualities about Los Angeles is that Angelenos aren't afraid to be colorful. This is shown by the influence that some notable, colorful celebrities have on LA style such as:
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| Katy Perry |
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| Lady Gaga |
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| Paris Hilton |
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| Nicki Minaj |
Another influence in trends and color is the nature of fashion itself. Fashion is cyclical; everything that was old at one point becomes new. Though the word "vintage" seems like a over-used word, but the truth is that trends from the 50s, 60s and 70s are constantly reviving.
One of the ways to make retro a trend is by adding color. "There's not a new color and probably never will be," said Fran. "It's all about repositioning color palettes and prints to create something new." Various designers, known for their prints and colors, have been successful in breathing new life into their brand through utilizing the power of innovate color positioning and prints.
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| Emilio Pucci |
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| Diane von Furstenberg, Fall 2008 |
Colors positioning and prints are not only seen in clothes, but they are also apparent in technology and in the home. Colorful and fun design covers for laptop skins, iPods and iPhones are widely used today and has become a profitable market. Over in the home sector, Fran says, there is an apparent cross over in colors and trends between apparel and the home. Here are some inter-industry fused trends for Summer 2012:
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| Tropical Retreat - designs that convey an exotic get-a-way |
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| Fantasia - designs that are feminine and use lots of pastel |
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| Organic Symmetry - textures that convey nature's geometry (i.e. patterns of a tree bark), minerals, tie-dye inspired |
With colors and prints infused in a wide spectrum of industries, it demonstrates that color is really where fashion begins. "Customers see color first, not the silhouette," says Fran. "Color is what sells." This also means that the wrong color won't sell. So here are the Spring/Summer 2012 colors that Fran advises retailers and designers to watch out for.
1. Neutrals
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| Key colors: grey (use with brown or blues) Fabrics: textured silks, crochet, cotton/rayon crepe |
2. Mid-tones
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| Key colors: pink, lavendar, coral, purple Fabrics: embroidered sheer, iridescent voile, hand-dye silk |
3. Pop-hues
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| Key colors: yellow, lime green, neons Fabrics: stretch spandex, patent leather, sequin |
4. Summer-to-Fall Transitionals
4. Summer-to-Fall Transitionals
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| Key colors: summer darks like indigo, blue, purple Fabrics: embellishments, distressed denim, organically-dye |
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Los Angeles, CA 90079
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