Left to right: Tibi, DKNY, Prabal Gurung, Public School
It seems almost fitting that with the release of the supposedly terrible, violent movie, 50 Shades of Grey, (I won’t watch the movie or read the books) that designers would unleash a collection that mimics the title – literally. Not surprisingly, as the ensembles at New York Fashion Week can attest, shades of gray are better suited in an outfit than a context to an erotica film. And with global warming sending frightening arctic wind chills through NYC and New England, gray aptly reflects the current mood of the climate and shivering people.
It makes sense then that gray used to be my go-to color in college when I lived in NYC where the skies are always overcast. People usually associate black with sartorial NYC but I think gray should be up there too. Unlike black and white, gray is more nuanced, and you can mix and match different shades in one outfit without looking sloppy or matchy matchy.
More importantly, gray can wear many hats. At Public School, Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne channeled shades of dark gray and plaid for a grungy urban look reminiscent of the Olsen twins’ Greenwich Village style circa 2006. Donna Karan also paid homage to NYC at DKNY with a charcoal turtleneck and and miniskirt that felt futuristic and youthful. At Tibi, the mood was more glamorous with luxurious fur in a rich slate, while Prabal Gurung used an ashy palette for a cozier ensemble.
While I haven’t worn gray much this season, and I can’t wait for winter to end – I’m already looking forward to adding more shades of gray to my wardrobe when winter returns in 10 months.
What do you think of the trend?
[Images via WWD]
