After the close of the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week, there were a couple strong statements designers were making for this coming fall. The most important trend to hit strongly was the use of the color black. Given what was seen on the runway a couple weeks ago, not only was black the most popular color, but it was used in monotone looks to create powerful styles, statements and silhouettes. The use of black in a repetitive manner lends itself to creating silhouette statements in any given look. Whether it be androgynous, feminine or minimalist, the use of black gives contours the ability to shine through, thus exposing a dominant statement.
While looking through a couple of runway lines, I latched onto Porsche Design’s fall 2015 ready-to-wear collection. The creation of the feminine silhouette using a singular color caught my eye, and the multiple avenues used to achieve these shapes were striking in their simplicity. Since the weather in Wisconsin has been cold, allowing the outerwear of Porsche Design to influence one of my looks was not a complete challenge; however, adopting a completely dark, monotone look was a new, yet highly sophisticated style to take on. The outerwear of Porsche Design’s collection involved a nipped-in waist and broad shoulder to emphasize feminine features. At the same time, the pieces were minimalist, and the silhouettes were especially clear by way of different garment construction techniques. For example, there were many corset belted coats or oversized waist belts placed to attain contours.
To hone in on Porsche Design’s aesthetic, I allowed myself to be influenced by the corset belted coat in addition to a monotone palette. Beginning with my coat, I chose a cinched jacket with a flare to emphasize feminine lines. Underneath my coat, I did not stay completely black, but I did reference the black tones by choosing a black crop top layered over a dark floral dress. In Porsche Design’s runway looks, beige boots and somber accessories were used to offset the strong black tones. My accessories mirrored this idea with accent pieces ranging from gold and red to break up the darkness.
I look forward to the rise of the color black, especially with the use of a limited palette. A completely black look creates a blank canvas effect with any given look. The ability to add accessories as an accent is achieved when a style is completely monotone. The other upside to this popular fall trend is how black creates a modern statement with its simplicity. The use of black has a variety of options since its silhouette, texture and tone can differ, therefore creating an abundance of possibilities in modernity.
Get My Look: 1. A corset belted coat. 2. A sophisticated black top. 3. A simple, gold necklace.
