Rarely is anything in life all black and white, but this spring, one of the hottest fashion trends sure is.
Black-and-white graphic flower prints, stripes and polka dots adorn dresses, shirts and handbags. Separates in either color are worn together and occasionally are offset with a burst of color.
“I’m surprised,” Atlanta stylist Robanne Schulman said. “It’s spring … you’d think there would be a little more color.”
Instead, the classic interplay of dark and light has taken center stage.
Lines ranging from Emporio Armani to Doo.Ri made strong black-and-white statements in their spring 2007 collections.
For fall, designer Tracy Reese even sent models down the runway with black-and-white “moon manicures”–black nails with a strip of white near the cuticle–indicating the trend may stick around long after temperatures drop.
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Accessories also have taken on the yin and yang hues, such as the black Alexander McQueen silk scarf with white skulls and polka dots ($230 at Neiman Marcus) that Schulman has been buying for her clients. Black-and-white statement rings, bold necklaces and enameled cuffs have been popular as well.
The patent-leather shoes, handbags and even dresses that popped up on designer runways also have hit the mainstream, in sky-high platforms at Payless stores or a white belt trimmed in black patent from Newport News.
Also this season, a variation on the trend comes in mixing black with off-white or nude.
“If you want a crisp look, you wear black and white,” Schulman said. “If you want something a little more subdued, then you choose black and nude.”
Black and cream or nude often is mixed with lace for a dressier look, she added.
So what exactly makes black and white such a classic? “It’s easy,” Schulman said. “Even for the fashion-challenged.”
In fact, there is just one “don’t” when wearing the colors.
“Definitely don’t mix a black-and-white print top with black-and-white print bottoms,” Schulman said.
And that’s as plain as black and white.