The dark, moody look was once the embodiment of cool but is now out of favor with a generation that has had enough of restrictions and bad news.
Black has been the ultimate fashion choice, from the timeless little black dress to the ever-cool biker jacket, and it’s always been fashionable’s last word in chic. “I love black because of its affirmations, designs and styles,” Yves Saint Laurent said. “A black woman is a pencil stroke” But in the post-restrictions world, this stamp of approval is no longer valid. Because colour is the new black in 2021.
Harper’s Bazaar published a story titled “How Gen Z killed Basic Black” in which Isabel Slone, a writer, argued that “utilitarianism” has been replaced by a spirit of experimentation in fashion. Black is the fall guy because it’s such an essential and versatile wardrobe staple. Slone wrote that an all-black wardrobe does not denote a mysterious, brooding person. It telegraphs that someone is old-fashioned.
It is common to use colour. You will see influencers wearing bright colours such as neon pink, primrose yellow, aqua, and grass green on any trendy Instagram feed. The trend can also be seen in street style and on celebrities -like Rihanna in bright green on a dinner date in New York, and Kim Kardashian in head-to-toe highlighter pink when hosting Saturday Night Live recently. Within 48 hours of Kardashian’s appearance on Lyst, pink searches rose 82%.
The catwalk is also full of colour. Tagwalk, which is a fashion search engine that documents catwalk trends reports that the number of colourblocking shows at the spring/summer 2022 shows increased by 273% over the previous year. Gucci’s Love Parade show in LA was a veritable rainbow of pinks, yellows and reds, while Kelly green – a shade similar to Rihanna’s coat and also found in collections of brands ranging from Rejina Pyo to Bottega Veneta – has been declared “the colour of now” by Elle magazine.
The majority of countries have relaxed their restrictions, which partly explains the shift from black to white. After 18 months of wearing grey marl sweatpants at home, colour is a way to express joy and allow the wearer to dress up.
Dr Dawnn Karen, fashion psychologist, said that people dress for their best lives and it takes a lot of abandon. We’re going layer that clash. She said, “I’m going on to put this on, don’t care if that matches.” They are getting that internal validation. “We are no longer looking at others; we’re now looking at ourselves.”
Fashion’s rise in colour reflects the popularity of individual style, especially online. Rosanna Falconer is a brand consultant who co-founded FashMash. She is well-known for her brightly colored outfits.
According to her, fashion’s embrace for colour “began with the digital revolution.” Although screen pixilation has made this possible, the impact of colour on e-commerce is still evident. She said that a colourful design communicates so much in a TikTok video of 10 seconds and might stop scrolling and result is a like.
However, wearing colour is not just about getting attention. Wearing colour can help you feel happier, even when there is still uncertainty. Karen said that people are trying to make themselves happy because of the uncertainty, anxiety and melancholy.
Falconer believes that colour can make people feel happier. She claims she wears it because of the impact it has on others as well as its effect on her. On dull autumn days, it can be tempting to hide in neutral colors. However, I can promise you that even a 10 minute stay in bright colours will make your mind look better.
Nicole Ocran, an influencer, describes herself as a “pink person”. Her Instagram account includes yellow, orange, green, and lilac. Black, she says, is a reminder of an older fashion style that was based on rules. “In the fashion era that I grew into, black was associated with like, “this is the only way to be chic” and, minimalist wardrobes.” She now steers clear of black because it feels too safe. “This is the stage in my life that I want to be more playful.”
