In a classic Carol Burnett sketch spoofing Gone with the Wind, the comedienne's Scarlett character creates a dress out of drapes, complete with curtain rod, tassels, and tiebacks. While the relationship between fashion design and interior design might not be always be so explicit (or comical), the two fields have always influenced each other. Runway trends find their way into furniture and accessories, and vice versa. This Spring 2010 season, the worlds of fashion and interiors share the following hot looks.
Feathers. Designer Jason Wu has embraced wispy, feminine feathers for his collection, and Bebe is featuring feather capelets and headbands. In home decor, the feather motif is super hot, with lampshades of marabou and placemats made of peacock feathers. The feather graphic is also appearing on area rugs and wall coverings.
Cheerful colors. Both Diane Von Furstenberg and Bottega Veneta put bright, happy colors on the runway, and we can't pass a store window this season without seeing bursts of yellow and turquoise. Likewise, flip through your favorite home furnishings catalog, and you'll find these optimistic colors on every page. What better way to start the morning than breakfast on bright yellow dining chairs!
Neutrals. On the other end of the color spectrum, neutral colors like putty and grey are also popular in fashion design this spring, as exemplified by Rachel Roy's primarily all-grey collection (with a few yellow and turquoise pieces for a dash of brightness). These muted fashions would look perfectly at home in some of the slate grey home furnishings from BoConcept and CB2.
Masculine looks. We're seeing boyfriend blazers everywhere this season from designers like Cynthia Rowley and Elie Tahari. Tory Burch is all about tweed. And pinstripes are no longer just for bankers, thanks to a flirty collection from Vivienne Westwood. Meanwhile, the menswear look is huge in home decor, with pinstripes and tweeds in bedding, pillows, draperies, and upholstery.
Americana. Newsboy caps. Denim. Gingham and calico. Designers as different as Ralph Lauren, Topshop, and Roberto Cavalli celebrate rural America this season, incorporating vintage flavors in fresh ways. This appreciation for rustic and rugged looks is also shared by home furnishings retailers like Anthropologie, where furniture looks like it came directly from the farmhouse.
Ruffles. Ruffles have made a big comeback in fashion design this season, with Chloe and Lanvin leading the way. And now is the perfect time to find plenty of ruffles in interior accents, like bedspreads from Brocade Home and shower curtains from India Rose that look like grandma's bloomers.
So this season, if you love the look for your wardrobe, think about incorporating it in your home as well. Or vice versa.