Why are the A/W collections the hardest to create?

When it comes to the A/W collections, especially this year, there is one thing which is similar in all and that stands out in a very ominous manner. The truth is, although there are patches of red and blue popping up, most of the collections are, unfortunately, black. With the materials varying from brand to brand, the colour palette is very similar- and worrying. What is the reason for choosing (forgive me for sounding ominous) the colour of death?

While certain seasons are usually associated with specific colours (pink and green pastels for spring, red, gold, and white for summer, offset earthly hues for autumn and dark and shades of grey for winter), the focus on black for winter might just be called unhealthy in its excess. What is associated with winter that black is the ultimate colour? Is it the mood? The colours of the night or the streets? or maybe the answer lies elsewhere- with the still valid unstable economy, are even designers deciding to play things a bit safer and instead take a cue from the streets- where black has been the obvious colour choice because of its almost self-heating properties.

The streets are milling with people in head-to-toe black clothes, making them a dull black hole that everything seems swept into.  The truth is, while most people aim for black outerwear in the winter, is it truly as ‘practical’ a choice as it should be? White or dove grey is not hard to pull off, and allows you to seamlessly blend your S/S and A/W pieces, without the discordancy of some of the other seasons. Colourful might not fit your bill, but prints definitely will, as well as gentle colour blocking, as seen in the works of the Preen fashion line.

Prints this season have become more oriental, taking cues from China and Japan for the collections and mostly just resting on the shoulders and bodices. While the leading colour had been black, red and teal are also making an appearance, as well as other usually autumnal shades (seen at Burberry Prorsum) such as olive green, sandy and pink. With all of this in town… There must be that no.1 to suit you!