A Gray Area
Creative Director: Molly Pritchett
Written by: Molly Pritchett
Photographed by: Molly Pritchett
Styled by: Molly Pritchett
Modeled and Makeup by: Ellie McCleary
It's the color of broken glass cast in a cold shadow, wet rocks on the gloomy shores of north western beaches, and the desaturated sky of a midwestern winter. The color gray and other neutral desaturated hues like it are fashion’s new ‘it’ colors this season.
Gray as a color is often a representative of strength and stability in association with stone or concrete. Stability is something many of us are after in the dire economic climate of today. Gray can act as a sort of grounding color. It is plain like undyed wool of peasants clothing in medieval times or like the stark tall brutalist architecture all over campuses and work sites.
Gray isn't new in fashion but has yet to fully make its way into the mainstream industry and off of runways. It has been seen from brands such as miu miu, Alexander Wang or even Banana Republic in the last decade or so. Vogue called it the color of fashion week all the way back in 2015. However, in day to day life, or even on the more fashionable streets of NYC, the color has yet to have its big moment. Now is the time to get ahead of the trend and upgrade your gray sweats to something more elevated that this color deserves.
Monochromatic looks are always an easy tool to utilize when putting together a more high fashion look. This leaves you with loads of creative freedom to play with things other than colors. Think interesting textures like mesh, lace or crochet. Or think of interesting silhouettes and how that can make a statement with your outfit. Even experimenting with combining different shades of the one color can add a ton of visual interest into your everyday look. These tips can help turn gray from meh to magnifying.
So, are you looking to stay trendy and experiment with your fashion this winter? Don't be afraid to give “boring” a chance and turn plain into chic with a gray color palette this season.
