Fashion and Interior Design

I was recently standing in the grocery checkout line when I could not help but notice all the magazines touting the latest fall fashions.  Wasn't it only August???  I was not ready to get rid of my shorts and tank tops, but there it was…tweed, leather and suede staring me in the face.  I guess it was time to embrace the coming of falling leaves and cooler weather.

I bought a handful of magazines and as I started browsing through them I realized how incredibly similar fashion design is to interior design.  Both industries are motivated by trends, but there are deeper connections.  I found it fascinating.  Perhaps if I explored these connections, I could tap into my own inner fashionista!

Here's what I found intriguing...

"Layering"  As Clairee said in Steel Magnolias, "The only thing that separates us from the animals is the ability to accessorize".

This is so true!  A well-designed room, like a great outfit, requires layering and accessories.  The accessories are my favorite part of a room or an outfit.  They are what I like to call the "icing".

When designing a space, I start with good, classic pieces and then add layers.  For example--in a dining room, I start with a beautiful table, chairs and a functional server or breakfront.  This is my base.  Then we add in fabrics, a fabulous chandelier, a rug to ground the furnishings and window treatments to soften the shell.  After that comes the fun part--the accessories.  Accessories are the final layer that gives the room personality and flair.

It is easy to see how this process can be applied to pulling together a fabulous outfit.  Start with a base of a few good pieces of clothing; add a layer or two that coordinate with your base outfit, and then finish it off with a final layer of accessories.  Scarves, jewelry, shoes, or a great handbag are all terrific options for "icing".  Oh, don't forget the hat.  Hats are a big deal this season!

"Influence"  Inspiration is key to design.  What influences a certain style or trend?  Where did the designer get their inspiration?  With interior design and fashion the answers seem to stem from the same place.  Both industries are influenced by history and the world around us.  Many design trends mimic a specific era or historical event.  Also, world events play a very important role in design and fashion, as does pop culture.

"The Finishing Touch"  The "finishing touch" separates the unique from the ordinary.  Anything well designed has attention to detail and quality.  For example, a well-designed window treatment is art--and the finishing touch is found in the details.  The quality and hand of the fabric matters, the turn and stitching of the hem can be a thing of beauty.  But the "earrings to the outfit" is the trim.  Braided, tasseled or jeweled, the trim is the finishing touch.

Just like a pearl button on a sweater, the intricate stitching on a hand crafted shoe, or the leather tooling on a beautiful handbag--the art is in the details.

"Inspired Designers"  Some of the most famous fashion designers have made a mark for themselves in the world of interior design.  They have taken their own unique style and signature elements to create fabulous furniture, fabrics and accessories.  Consider Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta, Diane von Furstenberg, Lily Pulitzer, and of course…Versace.

Fashion and design are both about art and the expression of your personal style--whether in your home or your wardrobe.


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Trends: Fashion and Interior Design

This fall there are many fabulous fashion trends and several of them align with the trends we are seeing in the interior design community.  Here are a few that are worth considering for a fashionable fall:

"Metallic"  Nothing shimmers like gold…except maybe silver, brass or copper!  Metallic sheen is a big fashion trend this fall, but not just in formal gowns and jewelry.  You will see it in everything from handbags to nail polish.

Of course we all are familiar with metal furniture frames and hardware, but now there is an exciting new use of thin, tightly woven metal in "fabric".  These can be draped on their own or lined to allow another fabric to act as a backdrop.  Also, brass is back!  You will see it in furniture, hardware and accessories.

"Brocade"  Nothing speaks "high end" like brocade fabric.  Dating back to the Middle Ages, a brocade fabric is "…a rich fabric woven with a raised design, often using gold or silver" (again, there is the nod to the metallic trend).  Brocade fabrics lean to the formal, but you will see them paired with denim and t-shirts this fall for a more relaxed fashion statement.

Brocade fabrics have been a staple in the design industry forever, but they are super popular this season.  Delicate silk brocades are fabulous for drapery treatments, while heavier woven brocades work well on everything from upholstery to bed linens.  Either way, the end result is an intricate rich pattern that shimmers!

"Beauty Queen"  OK…think Audrey Hepburn, pink champagne, Paris, crystal, tulle, pearls and pastels.  The Beauty Queen trend is soft and sophisticated.  It is a delicate balance of old and new.  It is sweet and enduring.

It is the lovely pink in a Chanel suit or the soft floral in swag drapery.  It is the soft silk ball gown with beads and the luxurious tufted ottoman with tassel trim.  The Beauty Queen is pretty.

Hmm...you know…maybe now is the time for that pink chintz sofa I have always wanted.

"The Artful Bohemian"  Throw away the rules!  This fall trend challenges you to create your own unique style by mixing patterns, prints and textures.  The common thread, if you will, is color.  Select a general palette and use that to keep it all together.  Consider a few key statement pieces that will get noticed and have fun with the rest.

This fashion concept is easily translated to interior design.  Be fearless and create your own unique style.  Choose a few key pieces that will have classic staying power and then build around them.  Add dimension and interest with the floor coverings, pillows, artwork and accessories in non-matching patterns.  A new exciting trend in textiles is fabric that is spray painted in multiple color and patterns.  It is durable, soft and…oh so, dramatic.  Now that is art!

"Wild Child"  This trend taps into your primal instincts.  Time to break out the black leather and strut your stuff!  Think clean tailored lines paired with faux fur or an animal print.  This trend is sophisticated, but edgy.  You will see it in clothing, shoes, handbags and belts.  Use one piece or layer it up!

Animal hides and furs have played a commanding role in interior design for a long time.  However, with recent concerns for the environment and endangered species, designers are now turning to fabulous synthetic faux furs, leathers and skins instead.  These fabrics are so realistic that it is almost impossible to tell they are "faux".

"Black and White"  What is more classic than black and white?  This simple color combination has withstood the test of time and continues to trend this fall.  You will see it however, with a few new twists.  Look for black and white layered in various patterns, florals and prints--think Artful Bohemian without the color.  Also, geometric patterns and stripes running opposite of each other will be used to create an interesting silhouette.  As always, texture will also play an important role in layering black and white.

Black and white will continue to inspire the home furnishings industry.  It is a timeless classic that can accommodate most styles and tastes.  I like to kick up a black and white design by using a pop of color with the artwork or accessories.  Red, yellow and green are my "go to" colors for this design maneuver.

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