Monochrome Monomania

30 October 2014.

If you’ve been shopping recently (for clothes, that is) then you’re bound to have noticed the latest fad in the fashion world: monochrome. Blacks, whites, and greys are making a strong comeback this autumn, attempting to pull some of the attention from the eye-popping hues of summer. I have sorted through endless clothing racks, sifting through shirts like there’s no tomorrow, only to find that the majority 90% of what falls into my hands is monochrome (the minority 10% being last season’s trends--now on clearance).

As my mother so brusquely puts it… “WHY?” Some (inadvertently hinting to my mother) are appalled by the seemingly dreary garments found in every store and its respective storefront. Plastic mannequins are covered in seemingly simple pieces: for instance, crisply-tailored black pants, a timeless striped shirt with black blazer to cover, and a dazzlingly glossy pointy-toed Oxford shoe are combined for a chic work look (add a bold, chunky sparkly diamond necklace and you’re good to go from work to play!). Inside the store, there is a shocking variety from which to chose: from stripes to checkerboard prints to basic single-toned sweaters, it’s an all-you-can-buy buffet of grayscale!

What can I say besides “It’s fashion”? Because it is. Look through any fashion-related magazine printed in the last three months and you will be bombarded by the lack of color on the pages. It’s as though we’ve abandoned the contemporary world of beautiful color and miniscule detail to travel back into the past, into a seemingly simpler place where black and white images reigned supreme, simply because there was no other option! Advertisements range from Coach to Andrew Marc to Simon to Chanel, each portraying their effortless class and typical spot-on style and sensibility.  

Once again, the question ultimately boils down to the W-word: “Why?” To put it frankly, it’s business. In our wonderful capitalistic world, businesses are free to do their own...to an extent. Designers are constantly spewing out new ideas, pushing out the old, in order to make a living (by doing what they love, of course!). If the same trend spanned over more than one season, then the market would decline--everyone and their mother would own what’s in style, and what’s the point of having more than one of the same item? There would be no need to buy anything because the same old, same old is actually still seen as new.

Some like to say their fashion sense is their own (inadvertent hint to myself), and that they simply have a sixth sense for these things. Others, however, will willingly (or grudgingly) admit that they are influenced by things they see on the internet, on various social media sites--which is perfectly acceptable! And it’s inevitable: the latest and greatest trends of many young celebrities include wearing black, white, or some lackadaisical combination of the two. I’ve seen plenty of girls post pictures of their daily monotonous outfits. Once I noted a young British girl who decided to pair a soft grey plaid pant with a razor-sharp striped sweater--thick, black noir base with thin and delicate ceramic white horizontal stripes--only to pull it off marvelously. I’ve seen girls and boys alike coat themselves in black, from their hats and necklaces all the way down to their socks and shoes--and I certainly see how it makes such an impression on others; they pull it off to a T! (It also helps that black is, indeed, a very slimming color.)

Then there are the fashion magazines, as I’ve mentioned earlier: if Vogue says black is in, and Louis Vuitton and Chanel are backing up the claim, then the masses are presented with an extremely limited pool of options. Ultimately, most wind up jumping on the bandwagon and following the trend, the more fortunate going so far as to spend $690 on a black Kim Haller wool-blend pullover.

But honestly, is it too much? Monochrome is definitely taking over for the fall/winter season, but are we over-indulging ourselves with the bleakness? In my personal stylistic opinion, a bold pop of color is critical to make this fad work. And frankly, that little pop of color can include just about anything: burgundy nails, a stunning red lip, a fun, brightly-colored hat, an attention-grabbing piece of jewelry, or even patterned socks to show a quirky and playful side (and if the sock is done right, you sure look like you have your life together, even in a professional environment)!

In the end, the issue is a toss-up; the designers have expressed their stance, and the rest of the world has shown their approval. As the age-old adage goes, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” And so we shall.