Color Trends: Spring 2010

Bringin' Home the Bacon

It looks like painters weren't the only people inspired by the Francis Bacon exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art last season. It looks like the fashion world also took notice of his garish oranges backrounds and flat neutrals. All of the designers who used this palette used it to wonderful effect.

Color Trends from Spring 2009 were right out of a Francis Bacon Painting. Clockwise from top left: Study For Human Body by Francis Bacon, a look from Lanvin, Oscar De La Renta, Carolina Herrerra, all Spring 2010 thanks to Style.com for photos.

Nude As The News

Almost as important as what colors were chosen in each runway show was the lack of color designers presented. This may be an interesting affect of the recession, where in order to get the most wear of your clothes, they need to almost disapear on the skin as to escape to much notice. The best version was Phoebe Philo's for Celine, but of the many other catwalks where this was spotted, from Lanvin to Carlos Miele.

Clockwise from top left: Carlos Miele, Calvin Klein, Celine, Lanvin, all Spring 2010. Thanks to Style.com for photos.

Cold As Ice

Oh my...is it getting cold in here, or is that just me? Because Spring 2010 collection was feeling a little chilly. With lots of stark black and white, and colors iced to the barest hint of color, leaving you feeling cold. Most popular was the softest lavendar, shown by designers like Michael Kors and Versace. Francisco Costa at Calvin Klein and Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy also joined into the fray, introducing their own variations on the trend.

Clockwise from top left: Calvin Klein, Versace, Michael Kors, Givenchy , all Spring 2010. Thanks to Style.com for photos.

True Blues

One of the colors that seemed to show up again and again in every shade and tonality was blue. The first place I noticed it was at Ralph Lauren, whose dust-bowl inspired show had me literally singing the blues. Celine, who otherwise had an almost completely nude palette, took exception to this by inserting a azure dress into her mix. Oscar De La Renta also couldn't resist this ubiquitous hue. He chose a radical shade of teal to complete his collection. And Lanvin also couldn't resist the same hue. With colors trending warm as of late, maybe we're due for a cooling off period?

Designers were definitely feeling blue this season. Clockwise top left: Oscar De La Renta, Celine, Lanvin, Ralph Lauren, all Spring 2010. Thanks to Style.com for photos.

It's Electric

Although ice the ice age prevailed designers couldn't resist injecting random shots of heat into their collections. These shots provided quite a blast too, with shots of bright yellow and pinks which were simply blinding.

Clockwise top left: Badgley Mischka, Lanvin, Oscar De La Renta, Paul Smith, all Spring 2010. Thanks to Style.com for photos.

Power To The Panty

Clockwise, starting top left: Lady Gaga,Marc Jacobs Spring 2009, Alexander Wang Spring 2009, Dolce and Gabbana Spring 2009. Thank-you to Style.com for photos.

Lets talk about the most important trend I saw on the Spring 2010 runways this season. It was women's undergarments. From Marc Jacobs, to Alexander Wang, to Dolce and Gabbana, many designers put women's briefest assets on full view. What to make of these under-takings? Well, I can't help but find an interesting connection between the underwear looks and pop stars like Lady Gaga and Madonna as of late. These stars insist on always keeping their panties on full view, and the runway is now starting to catch up. With stars baring everything these days, from seeing Britney's vag in the tabloids, to keeping on top of celebrity Twitter posts, maybe there's one more thing we don't need to keep undercover anymore: our crotch. Alexander Wang's and Dolce and Gabbana's underwear seemed to take on more of a spanx-bodyshaper sort of look. I think the undershapers are so common place now that designers are thinking that they are not just to be worn under your garments, but out in full view for the world to see, accept and appreciate. Do you think these undergarments don't have a connection with real-world fashion? Well, summer is here sooner than we think, and so like these ladies' bare legs, it remains to be seen. I think we will be surprised the way the real world re-interprets this trend.