We’re excited to release our Fall 2014 color analysis – a definitive palette for the next season. EDITD’s unique color recognition software pulls color data from every single garment from every show across the international fashion month and is the only source that offers the apparel industry a metric for understanding runway color trends. So, what do we have in store for Winter ’14?
Fall 2014 has given us a welcome, but uncharacteristically bright palette for the a winter season. That’s great news for retail, as shows the SS14 investment in colors with strong personality – the brights and pastels – are building blocks for a longer lasting affair with statement shades.
Blues move on from the hazy pastels shades of SS14 and head into ice territory, with an alaskan palette suiting the sporty outdoor pursuits trend in outerwear and technical fibres. Carven, Richard Nicoll and Tibi are good examples of this, while Roksanda Ilincic and Christian Dior opted for an azure shade which felt like a fresh addition.
Reds ranged from festive brights to boozy tones. Tom Ford and Prada gave us traffic stopping classic red, while Marissa Webb went for tomato shades and Jonathan Saunders paprikas. A sultry update came through in the claret and merlots of Nini Rici, Gucci and Daks – these have huge commercial potential.
Perhaps a surprise for a winter palette was the prevalence of some of the sunshine shades – bright orange at Burberry, Zac Posen and Christopher Raeburn. With widespread designer backing, retailers shouldn’t be shy of this color, which will be a useful standout for online visual merchandising. Yellows also made it into the centre of the wheel – which represents the most-used areas of color. They were backed in bright shades at Balenciaga and Chanel or in buttery tones by Gucci.
Continued pastel pursuit was presented by globally influential designers – signalling it as not just overspill from the previous season. Gucci, Christopher Kane and Ralph Lauren showed the softest of pinks, while Chloé and Jil Sander’s backing of heather shades will sway consumers.
Despite the majority of the palette being visually loud, there is safe space for the more muted dressers. Fendi, Givenchy, Richard Nicoll and Alberta Ferretti gave shades of coffee and chocolate a much needed high fashion makeover. Oatmeals, wheats and soft greys offered a moment of retreat from the big ego colors elsewhere. Really, Fall 2014 is an exciting story because the most popular shade trends send us in every direction of the color spectrum. Prepare to be dazzled.
EDITD customers can click here for full runway color analysis. Our customers use color technology to add tangible metrics to color decision making in design, buying and merchandising. You can find out more about that, here.
Katie Smith
