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Themes from Paris Couture, FW12 – Part Two: of Sunsets and Solids

July 10th, 2012

Part two of my three-part trend report from the couture collections in Paris focuses on colour. Along with the classic black & white which we see every year, there were a few colours that showed up time and time again, and a palette that in particular stood out.

Sunset Appeal

Sunset on the Seine, Paris, Ile-de-France

Perhaps it was the trip to Paris I took last month, but it seemed that Giorgio Armani’s collection conspired to transport me right back to the banks of the Seine in late evening. Not every designer had such emphasis on the celestial ombres but sunset colours popped up continuously – periwinkle blue, peach, lavender and dusky rose. Armani even paired these colours in silk with a dark, dense velvet, grounding the outfits perfectly like land falling gracefully into shadow.

Clockwise from top left: Armani Privé, Armani Privé, Armani Privé, Chanel, Bouchra Jarrar, Yiqing Yin / photos via Style.com and Vogue.fr

Solids

Navy was anything but basic on dresses in every material.

Clockwise from top left: Valentino, Georges Chakra, Christophe Josse, Atelier Gustavolins, Armani Privé, Alexis Mabille / photos via Vogue.fr

Reds went darker, replacing the bright reds of previous seasons with wine and raspberry tones.

Clockwise from top left: Valentino, Givenchy, Georges Chakra, Giambattista Valli, Zuhair Murad, Iris Van Herpen / photos via Vogue.fr

Acid yellow showed up in less prominent quantities but was a fresh addition, adding brightness to collections that otherwise focused on darker, more somber colours.