The Non-Color Trend for Spring 2010
From Nude Tones to Ice Cream Shades to Head-to-toe White

The big story of the season is color, of rather, the lack of it. Whereas spring and summer has traditionally been the time for eye-popping shades and neon brights, this season offers mainly nude-tones, and ice cream colors which are good enough to eat.

This is reflected in soft feminine cuts, floaty layers of sheer delicate fabrics and lashings of draping and frills The prevailing color mood for Spring 2010 is one of light femininity and timeless chic.

Ice Cream Colors for Spring 2010

Whether it's candy floss pink, spearmint, pale lemon or a hint of lilac, this season bids farewell to black and last year’s shocking pinks and Schiaparelli reds.

Instead, spring summer runways were awash with sweet-shop colors from Michael Kors ladies in lilac to Victor & Rolf’s spearmint shades to Luella’s candy floss pink.

The big difference however, is how to wear them. Sugary-sweet they may be but these modern feminine shapes need toughening up with peep-toe ankle boots, chunky heels or a boyish belt. This trend is all about contrasts, to avoid looking to girlie. From hard to soft, and strong structured cuts with contrasting delicate fabrics.

Nude Tones for Spring 2010

Delicate nude shades come in everything from trenchcoats and leather biker jackets to sheer fairytale frocks to soft slouchy pants and shorter-than-short shorts.

Warm fleshy tones of honey, creamy or pinky beige, soft nutmeg and pale caramel replace last year’s obsession with the neon brights of the 80s to provide pieces with a timeless, more grown up edge. Pink champagne, a wispy combination of ivory and beige is one of the Spring 2010’s top ten colors.

This non-color trend should be contrasted with tough strappy sandals in stone or black or heavy ankle boots, worn with attitude.

Head-to-toe White Trend

Nothing is as cool and crisp as head-to-toe white, and this season there is plenty of it. No longer just a blank canvas, white is worn in all manner of shapes and guises from romantic and feminine to futuristic architectural cuts. According to UK Vogue's (February 2010) Emily Zak, acting executive fashion editior “white focuses the eye on form and line, and now runs the gamut from pure innocence to power dressing.” Layer white on white for a more subtle way to wear this trend.

The classic white shirt has always been a wardrobe staple, never more so than this spring season. In billowing cuts with flamboyant frills, ruffles and draping, or masculine edge shapes in stiff bleached cotton, the whire shirt has graduated to a whole new wave of shirt dressing. Accessorize a plain shirt dress with one of the season’s supersized neckpieces in a neutral tone or the-shoe-of-the moment, the clog.

Timeless Styles in Softer Shades

This season’s non-colors provide a sound color base which can transcend seasons. The fashion world has woken up to the demand for more grown up, endurance pieces with less bling and one-season colors to more timeless styles in softer shades. Gill Hart