The Fashion Forecast of 2014: 10 Trendy Colors and Fabrics

Trendhunting is an addictive hobby. One that starts from staring out the window at a fashionable stranger, moves on to flicking the twitter feed at luscious fashion images, or coyingly staring at the cover of a modelicious magazine, and ending with gaping at scintillating models racing on the runway.

I once read that the modern trend is that there is no trend, because individuality and expressionism is placed at a forefront, allowing people to clothe themselves in anything (if at all, as it goes with pop culture’s iconic Gagas and Cyruses… or what history may suggest). Perhaps, but akin to my recent coverage of food trends and drink and dessert trends, there will still be the people who enjoy relating to the “it” phenomenon And for the others, trends are simply something they will see in their daily musings soon enough.

The first chapter looks at colors and fabrics for womenswear, soon to be followed by styles of the year as well as menswear collections.

Officially Orchid

Pantone’s official color of the year is a marriage of lilac and purple, emerging in the enchanting orchid. Orchid as prints are trending as well as the hue itself.

Pastels

Getting pastelized is en vogue, almost like an artist’s painted palette on the bodice. Dusty roses, seaside greens, officially orchid, ice blues are poised to be all over streets and stores to soften the looks that meet the eye.

Grayscale

Pulling grays out of their cloudy, cutesy Eeyore overtones (who I love, by the way), or away from boring business attires, designers have chosen the midway of black and white palette to paint clothes. Covered in a previous New York Fashion Week Runway Collection review titled Shades of Gray, think of it as the re-emergence of silver.

Metallic

Metallic hues are definitely in vogue, offering a world thirsting for the metallic embellishments and studs an option of going all out in metal. The silver is like a flashier version of grayscale, while the gold is simply a substitute for the sun, also brought back from former years. Expect these to dominate shoes, have subtle influences on pants, and rock through bomber jackets and denim. Scarves, ethnic outfits and Eastern style will see a heavy dose of mercuric silver or gold sheen on them too.

Year of the Horse Hues

If Manhattan’s Bergdorf Goodman windows are anything to go by, its definitely the year of the mighty horse. Horse colors like brown, beige, white, gray all add a rustic, ethereal touch to fashion. Seems like neon has given everyone sunglasses-inducing migraines, so these hues will help bring an old world charm back and tone down the punchy hue quotient, bringing more focus to fabrics and workmanship.

Two Tone and Contrasting Colors

An interesting concept this, for while on one hand the two tone from the 90s is back, where dresses and tops can shimmer as they change their colors in different lights, contrasting colors are back too. These are the styles that make a dress seem like a two piece or a saree feel like a scarf on a skirt (called a half-and-half saree). The colors are bold and the effect is refreshing.

Orange

Akin to yesteryears where orange was a rage, the clementine punch continues to reign as the new black. Moving even beyond clothes, it will mark its foray into shoes, bags, accessories throughout the year.

A Hint of Pink

Pink will start creeping in sneakily onto hemlines, borders, pinstripes, or as a petite top amidst layers of clothing, or as smaller motifs on a larger canvas. The hint of pink relays classy, luscious style without proclaiming your love for Reese Witherspoon’s Legally Blonde.

Fringes and Sways

Akin to a tassel or ruffles of yesteryears, playing with fabric is back as a trend. Fringes and sways not only look ravishing as they bounce off bodices on runways, but offer a conversation piece, complement a high heeled walk, and add character to any outfit. Cinches are not far behind, which when done oddly are rather unflattering and labelled designer’s touch, but when done right, add a simple touch of sophistication.

PVC and Plastic

While not entirely replacing luxury embellishments, plastics and wearable PVCs hold benefits of being less heavy, somewhat less expensive, and available in a plethora of shapes and hues. Expect to see PVC penetrating your wardrobe on pants, coats and headpieces, giving a nod to the future which is now here. And one can foresee all-over-plastic to be en vogue too, akin to raincoats, but done luxuriously.

And so begins another year of trendwatching, trendaccepting, trendspending and trendliving. And for those who stop after the trenndwatching phase in this spontaneously enlivened cycle, I’ve always said that people-watching is also my favorite sport!