With the arrival of spring this week fashion retailers are displaying an array of the fashion industries newest trend setting styles. Walking through my local Nordstrom at King of Prussia Mall this week I stumbled across this wonderful Kate Spade display. The collection of bold B&W patterns are based on prints from Florence Broadhurst’s 1950’s collection of Japanese floral print inspired wall papers. These patterns coupled with vibrant lavenders and corals combine to Wow! trendsetting fashionista’s.
The sixties are back in fashion in everything from the Mad Men series, to runway fashion to architectural interiors featuring minimalist geometries and modernist furniture. The design industry understands that design does inspire, and that the plethora of bold patterns and bright colors coming out of the recession is no coincidence. With every recession comes reaction from the design industry to lift people’s spirits. Remember Fiestaware it was created during the depression and inspired a generation with its polychromatic whimsy. Today we are seeing the continuation of this trend with sophisticated apparel and accessory lines like Kate Spade’s spring 2012 collection. And for those still mired in the grips of the recession, the fashion industry is bringing back simple mood enhancing lipsticks in bold colors with names like “Impassioned Pink” from MAC and “Fearless Fuchsia” from L’Oreal.
Bottom Line: Nordstrom has hit the mark with this bold and colorful staging that really highlights the collection. Kudos to Kate Spade for using Broadhurst’s quintessential patterns, making them bold and infusing the line with polychromatic charm and wit!
Design & the Bottom Line 