California Apparel News

Elegant, classical shapes will evolve into more modern shapes and the aggressively sexy ’80s look will become more chic, according to Darra Baker, West Coast and Hawaii director of New York-based trend forecaster Promostyl, who presented the company’s Fall/Winter 2002/2003 forecast on June 20 at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Childish looks will become more basic and authentic styles will take on a mythological and poetic influence, Baker added.

Fall/Winter 2002/2003 will be “a season of contradiction, fulfilling today’s need for self-expression” and putting contrasting things together, according to Baker. For example, simple and classical colors will be paired with bizarre sophisticated colors, minimalism will have a touch of decoration, and Baroque style will be mixed with Industrial style (as in a motorcycle uniform with a frilly lace helmet or a soccer uniform with Baroque detailing).

A new direction for vintage will be “pure/vintage,” which is redesigned for a cleaner and more graphic look. Another will be the idea of “clean/raw”—for example, a clean-shaped jacket made with raw fabric. There will be examples of “utilitarianism”—getting back to the essential and authentic uses of things. Decadent glamour, luxury and ornamentation will shape the season, Baker said.

She added that the season will be one of details, which will be used to update basics. Dressing ourselves in fashion is all about personalizing, Baker noted.

According to Baker, colors will be based on contradiction.

“The color scheme of the season is comprised of basic and essential colors which are opposed with other more sophisticated and strange tones,” she said.

Best sellers will be the coppery ambers/neutral tones. New flag colors for Fall/Winter will be reds and blues, including two-tone blue combinations and reds paired with oranges. Grey-green and wine-touched patina colors or “strange tones” will constitute the third group of colors for the season.

Baker detailed four themes of the season:

bull; Light—creating designs by illuminating, sculpting and modeling shapes from within. Colors include combinations of natural “stained-glass” tones in deep classical shades including red, blue, green and purple paired with artificial “celluloid” hues including bubble gum, band aid, flesh-tone peach and aqua. Fabrics are sculpted and springy with “pleated effects,” or structured yet lightweight versions.

bull; Anarchy—an offbeat sense of luxury is created when the rough, industrial street and “ostentatious” Baroque styles meet. The idea of decadent glamour. Colors includeblue, turquoise, red and orange paired with deep, iridescent Baroque darks including plums, teals and magentas. Fabrics are aged and precious, luxe and destroyed. Examples include rubbed-out lace, burn-out or “dirty” velvet and shredded organza. Shapes are all about combining contrasts such as saddles and corsetry, which transform the equestrian look from “uptight” to “sexy.” Other styles include saddle-inspired accessories and belts; corsetry-inspired, sexy, tight-fitting jackets; and lace-up jodhpurs. The military idea is remixed with the active look when an updated gray or black denim sheath skirt is combined with campus sweatshirt.

bull; Sincerity—inspired by Scandinavian design of the 1950s, poetic, fragile, yet strong. Colors include gray, black, light blue and rust combined with the retro-patinas in vert de gris or gray-green, and the wine-touched, plums and amber. Everyday fabrics are made durable and look handmade, with examples being patchworks in retro tones, honeycomb prints, washed woolens, matte satin and felts. Styles include uniform and military looks for men. Juniors and young men’s have a modern Beatnik look.

bull; Myths—timeless legends and ancient gods are transposed to the present day. The return of mythology, the idea of “past future” and “primitive, age-old references with the world of dreams for spontaneous creativity.” Colors include ocher, golden honey tones, charcoal grays and ecru combined with unreal tones in gray, taupe and light lavender. Fabrics include lumpy textures, pebbly finishes and imperfect and loose weaves. Boiled wool is a key fabric. Prints are ornamental and vibrant, mysterious and futuristic. Shapes are protective and cocoon-like.