On the fringe

Colour trending from Apparel magazine

The seventies have been known to be the ugly duckling decade in the fashion world. The era of “anti-fashion” and “bad taste” has not held back world-class designers and fashion houses from re-inventing timeless trends. The revival of one of the decade’s most notable trends “the fringe” has hit the runways again this season and is demonstrating dominance once again.

Phillip Lim’s modern interpretation of fringe is a classic example of re-inventing seventies-inspired garments to make them wearable today and without fear of falling victim to fast fashion. Contrary to the usual theme of connecting references in pieces that have nothing in common, Lim stripped down and showcased a cohesive Spring Ready-to-Wear collection that was bare in colour palette but rich in texture and shape, bringing forth a clean modernity in their silhouettes. Lim created an A-Line white coat with a vibrant orange fringe in a hue like Resene Daredevil. Lim took a classic coat, reinvented an old trend, modernised it by adding colour and created a timeless wardrobe must-have.

From left: Philip Lim: Resene Ruby Tuesday, Thom Browne: Resene Happy, Jacquemus: Resene Sea Fog, Angela Missoni: Resene Reflection.

Angela Missoni showcased their Spring/Resort Ready-to-Wear collection which included another in-season trend of crochet, which continued the 70s on the fringe theme. Hoping to broaden their offering for women, the range of knitted dresses with exaggerated fringe gave off a nomadic attitude. In a hue similar to Resene Reflection, Missoni used earthy tones with a touch of vibrancy, that captured her signature high-end craftsmanship in a contemporary and charming nature.

La Riviera by Simon Porte Jacquemus was a trip down memory lane for the designer who drew inspiration for this collection from the summers he spent as a child in the South of France. “It’s a bit cliché, I know, but she was going to the casino on the seashore, she was dancing and drinking cocktails.” Flimsy silk fabrics and hemlines that barely cover the model’s rare end were a focal point for this collection that was designed for women that are comfortable in their own skin. Similar to Resene Sea Fog, Jacquemus created a halter dress in sequins that were a strong contrast from the starkness of the solid black dress. The fringe detail dangling from well above the knee was a modern addition to a very classic silhouette.

More is more for Vivienne Hu, the designer created a collection quite unlike any of her others. Hu explored vintage nineteen-seventies feminine inspired silhouettes. Contrasting colours and clashing patterns were the running theme for this Ready-to-Wear collection. Hu curated the ultimate fringe midi dress with a plunging neckline and the inclusion of a frilled wrap around sash in a hue like Resene Elixir. This combination of textures and colours gives us a taste of the Vivienne Hu we know and the edgier side that we really want to see.

From left: Oscar De La Renta: Resene Nero, Vivienne Hu: Resene Elixir, Tmall China Day: Resene Double Resolution Blue, Phillip Lim: Resene Daredevil

Bold colours, even bolder texture and patterns, Thom Browne had only one thing in mind when curating his latest Spring Ready-to-Wear collection – madness. “It’s a lot of colour. It’s summer. It’s a lot of fruit,” said Browne before the first model walked. Masks, head-gear and a lot of mix and match dropped jaws and made for an enthralling catwalk. Browne drew inspiration from a lot of classic trends like plaid, double-breasted suits and fringe. Combining two of the most recognisable trends – plaid and fringe, Browne created a skirt suit for the modern maximalist woman who loves colour. In a hue similar to Resene Happy we see the classic nineteen-fifties preppy America.

Layers of fringe encircling the neckline of the model inspired by Berber textiles Phillip Lim, once again, is on the fringe with this crop droopy layered crop top. Although very maximal, the collection remains wearable. Similar to Resene Ruby Tuesday, Lim uses a bold colour palette to break the sharpness of the black midriff, although long and loose, each piece is cut with precision and exudes clean modernity.

Angel Chen by Tmall China Day debuted her co-ed Spring 2019 Ready to Wear show drenched in colour print and texture. With pirate references in mixed brocade prints and textured fabrics Chen’s collection was nothing short of eye-catching. Being no stranger to the runway after working with Alexander Wang, Chen knew her debut collection had to be over-the-top and included accessories like a neon pink backpack. In a hue similar to Resene Double Resolution Blue we see the model in a silhouette that most of us are familiar with – streetwear. What makes this stand out is the flurry of multicoloured fringe hanging off the edges of the garments.

Oscar De La Renta’s nomadic theme for his Spring 2019 collection offered relaxed shapes but a lot of embellishment. The shapes were effortless and included resort-wear garments such as sarongs and caftans. The creative team at Oscar De La Renta included tailoring too, delivered with a feminine attitude — a silk longline blazer with a plunging neckline, finished off with drooping fringe in a colour similar to Resene Nero was a classic yet unique edition to the collection of a holiday-maker’s dream.

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View fashion colour palettes from Apparel magazine combining the latest fashion from the catwalk with paint colours from Resene.

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