The High Fashion of Home Fashion
by Marla J. Ottenstein

   Historically, clothing and home fashions have always been closely entwined. The runways of Paris and Milan predicate the mood and direction for interior fashions, bedding and accessories. Paisleys, stripes, bold flowers, geometrics and animal prints – anything goes! The message being sent is to have fun experimenting with color, prints and textures.
   Seen on the runways and causing equal excitement at market in Highpoint, N.C. were the eternally chic animal prints. No longer a stand-alone print, these edgier, hipper animal prints are now integrated into other designs. Brunschwig & Fils’ timeless signature fabric depicting a large, spirited rose against a leopard-inspired background is a perfect example of the glamour and inspiration that was prevalent at market. Be on the lookout for accent pillows and throws in synthetic faux fur to liven up even the most conservative of rooms.
   Fantasy prints and flowers, in both woven and embroidered fabrics, are all the rage. Nina Campbell showcased large, oversized flowers, with all their imperfections, as though they were just picked. With broken stems and missing petals, flowers are being shown in large, whimsical proportions. The resulting look: natural and contemporary all mixed together.
   Small flower prints are on their way out making room for the colorful, capricious flowers, geometric and shell prints inspired by the resurgence and popularity of such greats as Lilly Pulitzer and Marimekko. Shells, as seen in Anali’s “By the Sea” bedding series, are an important part of the print story.
   Paisleys are back in a big way. Oversized and colorful, mixed with stripes and color blocks, they make a luxurious statement in libraries and dens, but this time they are more amusing than the staid paisleys of past seasons. Look for Schumacher’s paisley prints in traditional fabrics like velvet and tweed, as well as the top of the line silk-velvet that is gorgeous beyond imagination.
   Stripes, always in fashion, are taking an interesting turn. Woven tone-on-tone, multi-colored mini stripes or wide, bold stripes are being popularized as textile designs become more daring. Multi-colored stripes take on new meaning when they turn up as broken lines, boxed shapes and large checks in draperies and accent pillows. Geometric-influenced and tone-on-tone fabrics, like Donghia’s, lend themselves to a more contemporary style.
   Ann Gish added a little more whimsy to the bedding story with her colorful geometrics. It’s modernism with a strong Asian influence that has this designer showing lots of swirls and stripes in the “light brights” that are setting the tone for home design. No longeri nfluenced by the South Beach pastels, these are lighter variations of the intense, bright, fruit and berry colors that are proving to have a strong influence in home décor. Monograms, shown in cool, soothing spa colors, are also the rage.
   According to Sherrill Hanson-Lay, IDS, Allied ASID, of Agostino’s Design Group in Naples, “Color trends are emphasizing the citrus-chic colors of the ’50s and ’60s palette with a little bit of the ’70s We’re seeing tangerine and corals, lemons and limes and rustic-hued golds. White, with all its subtle nuances and shades, is bright and hot and is the newest canvas for a stylish setting. It’s becoming a very important non-color color, and when combined with the citrus colors, it explodes.”
   The neutrals of the past, like light tan and beige, are being replaced with dark chocolate and deep espresso browns.“ Rich, lush browns, when paired with translucent aqua, ice blue, sea glass and dusty turquoise, take on a meaning of their own,” says Hanson-Lay. “The combinations are infinite as brown has become the newest neutral.”
   Tight or loosely woven tweeds are everywhere. Fringed edges, made fashionable by the couture House of Chanel, are an exciting alternative to the tailored edges of past seasons. Traditional menswear fabrics in tweeds, herringbones, stripes and mini checks, are elegant and clean. Because of the movement towards “green building,” raw tweeds are an important part of the movement towards using natural fabrics including linen, raw silk, raffia and muslin.
   With all the experimentation and frenzy in the fabric industry, tweeds are being shown in a multitude of color and textile combinations. No longer strictly a wool product, they are being shown in silk, linen and cotton. What’s even more inspiring is the introduction of the bright fruit colors into the weaves themselves. One showroom displayed classic tweed sofas scattered with silk pillows in a splash of bright colors. The huge center buttons on the pillows were in opposing bright colors to add pizzazz.
   Leathers will never go out of style. Cool and comfortable in the summer and warm and inviting in the cold winter months, leather is one of the most versatile, durable and universal materials. Shown at market were two-tone leather pieces where the body was upholstered in one color and the back and seat cushions covered in another color.
   Ultra-suede is back but now in the guise of “nouveau suede,” a highly durable and easy to clean synthetic fabric. According to Debra Mamula, director of design for Vanderbilts Fine Interiors in Naples, “Not only are micro fibers ideal for upholstery, but they drape beautifully and are a sleek alternative for window draperies.”
   Combining opposing textures and materials is another hot direction. Shown with fabric-covered seat and back cushions, instead of all leather cushions, leather sofas are being updated and making more of a design statement.
   With the increasing use of woven blends and leather, chenille and heavy velvet are quickly being phased out. “Scalamandre is showing some gorgeous velvets to be used for upholstery and draperies in less formal settings. These are not the traditional heavy, opulent velvets, but rather a smoother, more refined fabric,” says Mamula.
   Woven silks with lots of iridescent, metallic threads, offer amazing sheen and are perfect for draperies and pillows. Upholstering a small accent chair in one of these glorious yet delicate fabrics, can bring an entire room to life. Stroheim & Romann, celebrated for their beautiful silks, has introduced several shimmering fabrics.
   As the demand grows for a more tailored look, the frills and embellishments of the past decade are on their way out. The Old World look is turning the corner and going in a softer, cleaner and more sophisticated direction. The fabric choices that follow this trend are also cleaner and more precise. Modernism is fast becoming “in” as it’s not as harsh as the contemporary look popularized in the ’80s.
   Dark earth tones are quickly being phased out as lighter, brighter shades, enhanced by warm wood flooring and furniture, drive the trend for more inviting colors. Dark, muted colors and yellow-hued greens are also losing their appeal. In their place, blue-greens, in the unruffled, cool shades of the sun-kissed sea, are taking over.
   And don’t forget outdoor fabrics! Debbie DeMaria, NCIDQ, ASID, designer and owner of Vogue Interiors in Bonita Springs, says, “In answer to the need to bring the indoors outside, we are seeing amazing inroads in the outdoor fabric industry. No longer just a stripes and solids story, look for a full array of colors, including the new brights, brown, and sea colors, as well as an increase in decorative prints, fringing and cording. Some great textured blends are also coming on the market, including synthetic sheer linens, which are perfect for outdoor draperies.”
   The recipe for mixing the organic and linear elements of pattern, texture, color and materials in home décor is in direct correlation to what the fashion trends are. With a little imagination and daring, the newest fabrics can enliven the senses and take interior design to the next level.