OT - Leitmotifs/ visual thematic trends - YouLookFab Forum

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OT - Leitmotifs/ visual thematic trends

Mac

Veteran

Okay, I don't know what word best describes this, but have you ever noticed that certain visuals seem to pop up everywhere for a while, and then fade away?

A few years ago, both in fashion and interior design, I was seeing Damask everywhere:
http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img.....AO-wZw.jpg

http://greeneyedmuse.files.wor.....paper1.jpg

Then came branches:
http://www.lushlee.com/images/.....decal2.jpg

http://images.marthastewart.co.....e70_xl.jpg

Birds made an appearance:
http://www.greenbeautyandstyle.....ndants.jpg
http://realpanther.com/wp-cont.....edding.jpg

And don't forget about the peacock feather trend:

http://static.entertainmentwis.....KATY300(1).jpg
http://regaltenant.net/content/images/Peacock.jpg

Even flowers seem to go through these trend cycles! Irises were big in the late 80s. I remember for a year or so in the 90s, sunflowers were everywhere. Hydrangeas were hot in the mid 2000s. Orchids had their day in the sun when minimalism was The look.

What are some visual themes you've noticed around you - currently or in the past? Do you try to incorporate them into your style, or does their trendiness drive you in the opposite direction?

General

40 replies

Latest reply was from JAileen

rute

Veteran

This season flowers are everywhere!

I'm not a pattern girl, I prefer solids!

B

Hello
Maybe one trendy item, if I liked. I prefer a classic look. This year I tired of seeing Mexican theme necklaces, bags, everything.

Mac

Veteran

I haven't noticed Mexican things as a big trend here in Toronto. No doubt, different trends have different impact depending on geography.

Maya

Veteran

Owls. Owls everywhere. Modcloth, Anthro, Urban were especially owlholic.

Itari

(website)

I haven't seen owls and Mexican patterns, but as Mac said, this could be a local trend.

Rute - yeah, this year all European stores are full of cute, girly flowers! And a bit of other sickly sweet things, like hearts.

Vani

Veteran

Yup, lots of owls. And gigantic flowers in all shapes, colors and materials. Just bought a pretty, big owl ring at Target. I really like the bird duvet/cover that you linked to Mac. Very pretty.

Joy

Veteran

Owls, a repeat of the 60's. I even had a collection of owl pins then. Everyone had a macrame owl. I can remember swans everywhere in the 50's. Remember chickens and then geese?

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Mak, just wanted to hand out the vocabulary award of the day. What a keen Wagnerian you must be!

I also wanted to say that I love the way you generate great discussions with your posts. Your topics are often thought-provoking, and that approach will always bear fruit with such an intelligent group of women!

Isabel

Veteran

Great topic !!

I used to think about this and color themes all the time. Then I learned that there is an international color council ( YUP ) that picks out the "big" color trend for every season - it is done a couple of years in advance.
That is how designers of all types know what color is "in" before it ever hits the store. It is also why they all go with the same color.

I wonder if there is one for thematics ?

Anonymous

Joy, I was going to mention the owl collections it seemed everyone had in the 60's-70's. My best friend had owls everywhere.

In the 90's I had a collection of rabbits, now stuffed into closets!

I am seeing the old fashioned ditsy floral in clothing now as a trend.

I fall into these trends as much as it's being offered over other patterns when I'm shopping, but not on an intentional purpose.

I do like that branch and those birds though. Maybe when I'm due for sheets I'll look for those.

Mac

Veteran

YES! I do see owls everywhere, too. It's funny that birds, peacock feathers and owls have all been trendy lately (at least, in some of our geographic areas); along with Avian Flu, it does seem that birdies have been on our global, collective mind.

The sheets with the bids on them are by Dwell Studio.

Anonymous

Thanks Mac!

Maya

Veteran

I really like the owl/bird/branch theme though. It's sweet and quirky. I'm a fan of owls. They are cute! This story always makes me smile:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....y-mum.html

Sorry, went off on a tangent there...

Mac

Veteran

MAYA!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE stories like that; thanks for sharing. Just posted it on my Facebook page. *sniff*

Oh, I remember in about 1982, rainbows were IT.

Mac

Veteran

"I wonder if there is one for thematics ? "

Wouldn't that be a great career? "Yes, my job is to pick out each year's global visual themes. In fact, perhaps you're familiar with my work; I was the one who declared that cherry branches would be IT for 2005..." : )

Michelle: Hahaha. I realise my choice of words could be seen as pretentious; I just couldn't figure out quite the right word to describe what I meant. : )

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Bizarrely enough, I was at Target yesterday and noticed a whole collection of different owl ornaments there. That was before even reading this thread.

Seems like it is a worldwide phenonema!!!

Steph

Veteran

I have seen quite a few floral patterns/prints that look like watercolors in the past couple of years. I know last year Stella McCartney did a whole line with a watercolor theme (these shoes were part of that line, and I own them--they are my favorite shoes: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Stella.....1c1251720a). This year I have been seeing more of it, and actually recently bought this, which has a similar feel: http://www.leifsdottir.com/dre.....ilk-dress/

I haven't noticed owls, but now I'm going to be on the lookout. My mom likes owls, so I should get her something if it is popular.

Mac

Veteran

Steph - I hadn't noticed that trend but now you mention it, I see that you are TOTALLY spot-on. My favourite dress at the Met Costume gala this year would probably fit into that trend: Zac Posen as worn by Coco Rocha.

http://www.thefashionpolice.ne.....-gala.html

judy

Veteran

What a great thread. It's so fascinating how particular ideas take off. Have you ever read The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell? Here's a link: http://www.gladwell.com/tippingpoint/index.html

A few years ago in the laundromat I ran across an article in the local newspaper about one of those "color people" who decide the top 10 list of Pantone colors for the fashion industry. (and I think industrial design too?) She lives here in Seattle on Bainbridge Island: http://www.morealivewithcolor.com/AboutLee.html

Debora

Veteran

Mac, great topic!

Judy, my son was assigned The Tipping Point last summer as a summer reading assignment for his 10th grade English class. I wanted to read it when he was finished, but he loaned it to a classmate who never returned it. Thanks for the reminder! I'll have to look for it in the library.

Maya

Veteran

Steph, do a search on Modcloth for "owl" and I bet you'll get a ton of results.

Tanya

Veteran

Yep, I have been noticing a lot of owls too. A couple of years ago it was butterflies, and recently birds. I wouldn't complain if lady bugs became the next trend .

Ele

(website)

Mac, this is a great thread. I am really interested in this stuff since my days in fashion- I considered going into trend forecasting for a while because it's pretty fascinating stuff. The Tipping Point is on my library list!

You know which motif drives me nuts? Mustaches. It was kind of cute and quirky when they started popping up in graphic design like two years ago, but now they're everywhere, on jewelry and home stuff and especially in photography and it just perplexes me. I mean, every single wedding album I see lately features a couple holding up fake mustaches in some kind of American Gothic pose. It's truly bizarre, if you ask me.

judy

Veteran

Debora, that's interesting that your son is assigned The Tipping Point in HS. Probably especially good for teens to notice how things get popular. I realized after I posted about it that the book is ten years old. The advent of blogs and social networking sites have so accelerated the time it takes for ideas to be known. (and sold! With one tweet Conan O'Brien sold out his tour in three hours. Not one tv, radio or paid advertisement). I also enjoyed Malcolm's book BLINK, about how we make decisions. I find his writing style is really conversational. In fact, my husband and I read them out loud to each other! The books kind of give you a new way to look at things.

Isabel

Veteran

Mac, it would be such a great job : " Those purple owls you have on, I decided that would be thing this season."

I LOVE the Tipping Point, fab, fab, and more fab. Outliers by Gladwell is also amazing.
If you enjoy Gladwells work you would probably also like Freakanomics. ( Oh my, I sound like Amazon........)

judy

Veteran

Isabel, thanks for the recommendations. I just downloaded the electronic version of Outliers.

Mac

Veteran

Oh, also in 2008/2009 and even some lingering today, Ombre:

http://cdn.thefrisky.com/image.....hair_t.jpg

http://blog.buffalostate.edu/f...../ombre.jpg

Mac

Veteran

Ele - this recent blog post (on a stationery/ paper/ gift wrap blog) made me think of you and your "moustaches" comment:

http://soolip.blogspot.com/2010/06/font-face.html

I think it's a poster?

Maya

Veteran

How funny that this thread popped up again. One of our accounts at the place I'm working now is Audible and all of the books mentioned here are featured in at least one of our presentations.

I wish ampersands would trend sometime soon. They are my favorite glyph.

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