Hyper Colour

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Hyper colour is officially a trend this spring. As the cold, cold winter slips into spring, everyone is looking forward to warmer months and a change in the mood of the wardrobe. Colour is what the western world is waking up to now, something we were familiar with in India forever. We as Indians know that colour makes us happy. A happy colour reflects the mind-set of the person wearing it. A dull colour reflects a dull mind.

This spring the catwalks were awash with colour. Electric blue with bold magenta in a long dress by Alexandre Herchcovitch, while Aquilano Rimondi heard a thunderous applause when they sent down the catwalk a model in an orange skirt, tangerine top and neon yellow jacket. How’s that for bling? Yes, the universal voice is that combine your colours in such bold coordinates that the onlooker is forced to wear sunglasses. Christian Dior is famous for making demure understated dresses. This season has printed fuchsia skirts paired with orange tops and turquoise jewellery. Imagine someone wearing that down the road. Would surely make heads turn. Michelle Obama wore the bright red gown designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen at the China state dinner, a bold statement for the first lady, which the world loved. There was an Internet poll on what people thought the world over about the choice of colour and 98 per cent of the people gave a thumbs up. Does that speak of how women at large are keen to experiment with colour? Way out, over-the-top colour? Hyper colour? Would we ever have thought that international designers would draw inspiration from the Indian gaon-wali who toils away in the farms wearing her brights, orange dupatta, yellow ghargra and pink choli, adding colour to the surroundings and her life.
Colour in lace, accessories, shoes, scarves, watches, socks. You name it. Neon green strap watches, purple and orange striped socks, aubergine leggings, solid red heels on a contrasting blue shoe, and crocodile leather handbag in wine. How awesome is that? Elegant women normally wear an understated dress and brighten it up with one or two colourful accessories. Or they wear a colourful dress and wear nude accessories. But this spring, the trend is to wear all the colours that you can possibly find in your wardrobe. All together, in one go. There are no rules.