Every once in a while, I venture into my mother’s closet—an active time capsule of sorts. The deeper I go inside the incandescently lit storeroom, the farther I travel back in time; every few racks make up a different decade. There are her most recent purchases and a section of pieces that she deemed as outdated or no longer age-appropriate. Every so often I find a forsaken gem that has been demoted from wooden hanger to life on the floor in one of the four corners of the space. I’m referring to the short sleeve, longline blouse reminiscent of the technicolor wonders of the ’80s. I found and claimed this shirt a few years ago, but did not have the courage to sport it in public. But things change.
From Jeremy Scott to Prabal Gurung, color took centre stage during the spring/summer 2015 fashion weeks. My look this week is chiefly inspired by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac’s spring 2015 ready-to-wear collection, which stayed in line with the color trend. The collection explores the possibilities that arise from a strict use of primary colors and in the process, offers unique looks for various occasions. While it did use the same palette throughout, the line did not falter by applying it in the same way for every look. It affirms that technique is not only significant in the overall structure of a look, but also in the print on each garment that completes it.
Its patterned use of blue, red and yellow and overall arrangement are redolent of the Piet Mondrian tableau compositions and much like the iconic artworks, this shirt and many other color-block garments explore the parameters of Neo-Plasticism. Their mixed use of rectangular forms, as well as soft and heavier black lines, leads interesting and artful designs.
The color-block button down is my statement piece and so I styled accordingly, as to not take focus away from it. I paired it with cuffed black jeans and a black felt hat. I approached the borrowed piece with casual intentions. Though, with its gold metallic button detail and straight cuts, this shirt could easily play part in a more refined look.
Get My Look: 1. A color-block shirt. 2. A pair of black jeans. 3. A black felt hat.
