I really learn a valuable lesson in colour and fashion trends project, I learn to analysis the colour, brand image, history, background, designer life style, shop locations and feature. Now I know how designer use their own colour formula in fashion show and whole outfit.Starting from the beginning, I choose Custo Barcelona, however, it is quite hard to find its interior and information in Hong Kong, and so I turn to famous mainland brand Li Ning. Unfortunately, “Li Ning” would just contain spring & fall 2008’s products. His previous fashion clothes are hard to find and Li Ning clothes don’t have much colour combination.
Finally, I choose Paul Smith and research on menswear products, menswear is his symbols from his 12 collection lines. Paul loves fashion so much, although he already has stores over 200 countries, but he still insists not to enter the economics market. It is because once he enters the economics market, he couldn’t design what he like in garment. I am appreciating about his personality and clothes always feel playful, Rock and roll, England style and school look. Floral, butterflies, bird, check, pot pattern always found in Paul collection in each season. Paul mostly uses mono-chromatic color and Analogous color combination. It always appears many colors in one collection, but it still has regular combination between each outfit. (For example, Paul uses khaki shirt match with green pants and sometimes green shirt match with khaki pants.)
There are many stripes and colour in Paul Smith logo, it could influence from Richard Serra, who is keen in sculpture. Beautiful curves and stripe pattern are always appearing in Paul pattern.
David Hockney, Paul Newman, Clint Eastwood, Syd Barretts, Jimmy Page are all the inspiration people in his menswear collection. They are all stylish and having a unique personality.
As a London person, checked must be a signature of England, Paul always used checked pattern for blazer and pants, which give people a classic feeling, however when he add a bright pink belt in it. It becomes aberrant, looks different from other classic suit. In fact, England checked still popular in fashion, since 1920.
I am curious that why Paul Smith like to use floral pattern so much. He must like flower & nature environment so much and I find out that he open and start his own first fashion brand in this place "Floral Street in London's Covent Garden". Floral street original name is Hart Street, as market trade became popular in 1895, it changes the name into "FLORAL STREET" It is a nature and beautiful garden, and contain a number of store, surely Paul Smith open his first store in Covent Garden. Therefore, I am sure his like this kind of place and it really reflects Paul Smith Brand images. Very art feeling building and bridge, a peace and london culture place. This place is really suitable for designer to start their brand, especially "Paul Smith". In each season, Paul would introduce some new floral pattern to his fans. For instance, Carnation-printed shirt jackets appeared in spring 2005.
As Paul open his own brand in 1976, his clothes reflect 70s fashion culture deeply. Some print influence from Andy Warhol, the picture and color is alike in Paul Shirt,because the style is "classic and quirky". People describe Paul Smtih as "Savile Row meets Mr Bean". He can play his dual roles well, both designer and retailer. It is because when he is young, he was a manager of the menswear department of the Birdcage boutique on Bridlesmith Gate, Nottingham. Another reason is his father is an a tailor and he has a foundation case in clothes, so Paul Smith allows men to buy relatively traditional and hence commercially designs that offer a "twist" of individuality. Parker Posey, violinist Vanessa Mae, Jude Law, Matthew McConaughey, David Bowie and Mika who is very fashionable and playful people, they like to wear Paul Smith.
After I analysis the colour combination of Paul Smith, I choose six humorous color in my collection for Paul Smith Menswear Fall 2009. Themed “Town boy” style, I use mono-chromatic color in the shirt which making some spot pattern in it and combine the top/bottom together. I use pattern and color humorous the totally outfit. Funky floral, feathers and bird are some natural pattern in this collection. As town boy need to show some town boy feeling to people, bridge and commercial building print can be found in clothes and bags. I love the colour combination, since it is natural and match with Fall 2009 Style.
Lastly, I enjoy and love this project, although contains many times and work. However, I learn and see lots of things in FASHION. I would continuously search interesting things in 24 hours.
Thank for giving me such wonderful lesson!
