FASHION DESIGNERS OUT TO BEAT PANDEMIC WITH RIOT OF COLORS

Next year's dresses, it seems, will be one of two things: Either a simple monochrome or a riot of colors. Designers, already touting their wares for next summer, were trying their hardest to follow the new rainbow rule at a recent Milan show, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported.

Of course, it's not just dresses. Fashion blogs, trend spotters and industry experts have been forecasting an explosion of emotional, bright colors across all attire as the pandemic rages on.

The color industry specialists at Pantone are predicting "a union of calm and healing color with a rainbow of hope and joy" for 2022. Even smartphones manufacturers are ditching the classic black and grey, with the newest iPhone 12 models available in white, red, blue, green and several other colors. 

Milan's spring and summer fashion shows in late September were just a taste of how the pandemic is leaving its mark on the fashion industry's sense of color, at a time when brands are hoping for a fresh start after suffering heavy losses during the lockdown. Italian brand Max Mara gave us a look at combinations in white, with very wide, straight pants for women, while models wearing matching face masks also showed off the bright summer trends to an audience. Fendi's show had men clad in bright red, wearing in shorts with knee socks. Dolce & Gabbana, however, has teased probably the wildest mix of colors, with a bright patchwork collection that recalled the mood of Sicily and the 1990s. 

However rainbow everything is far from essential, and fashion bloggers have also been busy pointing out this year's shift towards more brown in shoes and beige and other natural shades in trousers and tops. Another change, felt more by industry insiders, is that there are more digital shows than live events this season, just like with new car launches and smartphone unveilings. Star designer Giorgio Armani, for example, has brought out a film, rather than a catwalk show for his cheaper brand Emporio Armani. It stars boxy architecture and clear cut, often monochrome creations.