Color Stories: How Fantasy Captures Spring's Reality

This week, TSALT was asked to share insights on the color trends for spring. I’ve been trying to come up with a way to describe the obvious dichotomy of color stories I’ve noticed for spring. For those of you who are familiar with my writing, I’ve been known to lean on my influences from childhood, especially in literature, for my prompts. To be completely transparent, drawing these types of comparisons helps me paint a visual picture of ideas to both the reader and my clients.While catching up on my issues of Vogue, I ran across Gucci’s "Utopian Fantasy" campaign. Alessandro Michele, the creative director for Gucci, had Spanish artist Ignasi Monreal create these digital paintings in the vein of the old masters, covering from the Pre-Raphaelite era forward. While they debuted in January, I thought the use of color was relevant to a discussion surrounding spring color trends. I was absolutely entranced for the obvious reasons.If you haven’t seen some of these ads, they are filled with a combined effort of digitized art implementing surrealist influences while poking fun at fantasy and reality. One example below has our modern day Snow White wearing a pair of Gucci frames and an iconic sequined sweater under the spell of that bitten apple. So creative!!The use of color in these Gucci ads really encompasses both the powerful vibrant hues along with the soft pastels we are seeing this spring. Some of the most prominent colors for spring are utilized throughout the ads…military green, yellow, tomato red, lavender, purple, rapture rose, chocolate brown, sky blue and light green.

{click each image to shop the look}

 

"The images are meant to conjure a “Utopian Fantasy” with a focus on three elements: the earth, the sea, and the sky in a series of imaginative landscapes."

--Paige Reddinger in Fashion Week Daily.

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{click to shop the look: Flying Fish Maxi Shirt}

 

{click to shop the look, from left to right: Marie Saint Pierre Loza Dress, Lacausa Siena Jumpsuit, Figue Caroline Kimono Dress}

 This rad collection of fashionistas is pretty on target for spring color and style. There’s definitely a sense of owning your moment with color. Feeling a bit fierce lately? Violets are in no way shrinking, they are dynamic and unapologetic:

{click to shop the look, from left to right: Tryb 212 Emerson Dress, Elizabeth & James Hazel Silk Tank Dress}

 I would like to leave you with a lesson in urban slang. I have been schooled by my teenage son that Gucci is now slang for “chill," “good," or "awesome.” Think of it in the context of, “It’s all Gucci.” Thus, the colors for spring are all Gucci too. ;-)