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FALL ’05/WINTER ‘06 FASHIONS

Seasonal fashions are what drive the whole, multi-billion dollar, fashion industry. Up coming fashion trends are developed many seasons in advance, so as to give the fashion mavens time to develop their latest designs. New and unique fabrics, colors, and accessories are presented to the major design houses to play with and (hopefully) include in their up coming fashions. At the same time there are fashion designers who develop their own colors and patterns and have their own unique fabrics and accessories created for just for their new lines.

The demand for these new fashions usually begin prior to the season, intensifies as the season progresses, and then wanes toward the end of the season. You know it’s the end of the season when the stores have their “Clearance Sales”. At this point, “ladies of fashion” wouldn’t be caught dead wearing last seasons “rags,” and they’re eager to see and be seen in the next seasons’ clothing and jewelry fashions.

Well, this is, also, true for the “higher end” and “high fashion” jewelry designers. Our latest jewelry pieces must blend with, and/or accentuate, all of these new fashions and trends. Because of this, we must stay on top of all the changes in the fashion and jewelry industries, and be aware of their future trends. Although it has taken a long time, this concept is finally being recognized by the professional jewelry design industry. One of the jewelry industry’s major publications, JCK TRENDS, Jewels/Cloths/Styles, has totally transformed its’ magazine format to keep up with the latest upcoming styles and trends that affect our industry. Here are a few things I learned from this publication.

WHAT TO EXPECT.

The trend will be traditional styles but in cooler colors with a tailored look. We can expect very feminine, tailored jackets and “midcalf pencil skirts”, plus fur wraps and opera-length gloves. Although cleaner lines will be important in this up coming season, so will rough textured fabrics.

“Influences range all over the place, from 1950’ debutante to 1970s rebel.” The new fashions will have an international flavor, “with ethnic influences that range from 20th-century Russia to modern Africa.” Trends will flow toward Bohemian styles, which interestingly is reminiscent of those styles seen during our nations’ last unpopular war. Although the fashions this season will be highlighted by stark contrast blending into clean tailoring, they will still “embrace wild prints, flowing silhouettes, and chunky gems.”

This up coming fall/winter color scheme will shout, “cool”. There will be cool blacks, cool grays, and cool silvers, plus cool jewel tones along with cooler neutrals Warm earth tones will be out. Pastels and soft tones will be out. Instead there will be exciting, saturated colors such as “vibrant purples, sapphire blues, candy-apple reds, and shocking splashes of orange.” I have heard that when people are depressed about wars or other frightening international situations, they like to wear bright, vibrant colors to cheer themselves up. This echoes comments I just read in Trends Magazine.

Q & A with KAR

Q: I was visiting my sister in Minnesota and we took a beading class. One of the women was saying that Citrine is not real, but a man-made stone. It’s my birthstone so I hope it is real. You seem to know about this stuff, so what can you tell me about Citrine?

I love reading your newsletter and I share it with my stone-age friends that don’t have computers. Thanks. V.L., VA

A: You can rest assured. Citrine is a real gemstone, and it is found in nature, but it’s relatively rare, and usually pretty light in color. The color of natural Citrine is improved by heating to make it darker and more desirable.

Chemically, Amethyst is a purple Citrine, and it was discovered (a long time ago) that when heated, many Amethysts will change color and become golden Citrine. Because of its’ rarity in nature, most commercial Citrine, today, is converted Amethyst. In the next few weeks, our newsletter will present a series discussing the Quartz family of gems, and Citrine (and its’ cousins) will be covered more in depth.

KAR