AGAINST A BACKDROP of terrorism, war and natural disasters, fashion will move back to the future next summer with a soothing palette of colours and an evocation of gentler times, said regional fashion communications specialist Gay Amistoso.
'The styles, especially for women, are very 1960s - waisted, slim silhouettes. It's like wanting to go back to the old days, when things were nicer, less dangerous. It's a reaction to these ugly and negative things happening. It's very calming and simple,' she said.
'It's all basic, neutral colours. Black, white or a combination of the two. And neutrals such as browns. White is easy to get dirty, but the idea is you are rich enough to just not use it any more. The trend is going towards more luxury. It's going strongly back to leather.'
Exuberant colours would be used mainly as accents, Ms Amistoso said, naming deep red, cinnamon, burnt orange, red-brown, metallic gold, deep citrus yellow (a 'subdued neon'), olive, leaf green, blue, fuchsia, teal, indigo, aqua, lilac and turquoise as leading shades.
The 'new neutrals' would be grey, pearl and paler versions of different colours, she said.
Old-fashioned luggage, such as leather steamer trunks, would be popular, as would large duffel bags and weekend satchels, she added. Handbags would be bigger than in the past.