Back in Black (and white): Return of the monochrome look
The retro monochrome look returns for spring but some designers are giving it a decidedly modern spin, writes Jing Zhang
Spring style usually conjures up ideas of dreamy florals and bright, colourful prints. But this year, graphic black and white emerged as a force to be reckoned with.
Fashion's love affair with the '60s mod scene and tuxedo dressing is experiencing a second wind, with a look that is chic, bold and precise. A glance at the recent fashion week shows reveals the trend is still strong for autumn-winter 2013.
Hollywood stars such as Jessica Alba and Kristen Stewart, who are usually decked out in feminine dresses on the red carpet, have embraced this look. But for those of us not armed with a phalanx of stylists and beauticians, shape and cut is of upmost importance when doing monochrome. It's easy to slide into cartoony looks if pieces are too slouchy, bulky or sloppy.
"Globally, our analysts saw a 44 per cent increase in black and white shown on the catwalk for spring-summer 2013 versus the previous season," says Catriona Macnab, chief creative officer at WSGN, the industry's premier trend forecaster.
"This manifested itself in graphic print, with bold stripes, chequerboard effects and playful spots. Stripes actually saw a 62 per cent increase for spring-summer 2013, which illustrates the influence of this trend. Moving forward, we are seeing animal print and florals gravitate towards a more monotone palette."
Many spring collections take inspiration from '60s icons like Jean Shrimpton and fashion's first loveable waif, Twiggy. The '60s have been influencing design for some time, Macnab says, but this spring "we are seeing the most literal interpretation."