Embracing the Grey Area

photo by Style Tao

If recent pre-fall reports and photos serve as an indication of anything, it's that trends are seemingly reverting to more tamed versions of themselves. That is to mean a departure from the decadent and frivolous nature of the last chunk of collections to a more functional and wearable place of cool. Phillip Lim's silent salute to Lichtenstein, Lanvin's apprehension to layer and Rag & Bone's sleek silhouettes suggest a more concrete salute to style and less to fast fashion. I'm not sure what that will mean for Man Repeller, but I don't hate it. Which, I suppose inadvertently means everything. Functional doesn't necessarily mean the forfeiting of one's license to self-fulfillment and may in fact mean just the opposite. As in, forfeiting your license to, you know, bone, etc. Most recently, Alexander Wang showed mainline and T. The finished product of both collections rendered an interesting play black and white, white and black. Grey and grey.

T by Alexander Wang, Pre Fall 2012

While muted tones of red, yellow and some orange still strung through both collections, the departure from an emphasis on color to enter a place of simplicity without sacrificing the details and dimensions that make a collection luxurious is evident.

Alexander Wang, Pre Fall 2012

Leather and wool, puffer and tailored. It's noncommittal style at best. And here's the thing about trends becoming more muted versions of themselves: in the grand scheme of fashion and style and assessing one's style, it probably makes more fiscal sense to indulge in fashion that will carry you far through seasons without inducing that discomfort of feeling capital-T-Trendy.

It's also just nice to see the fusion of tailored menswear, feminine women's wear and the signature kiss of Alexander Wang cool so seamlessly sewn in to virtually every garment. I can most certainly get behind a salutation to the original meaning of monochrome, that shit matches my insides anyway. 

And on an unrelated note: are some of you still having trouble with the comment box?