The story behind - The Grey Edition
Lately, the surprising color that makes our hearts skip a beat is grey. Far from fading into the background, grey can shine just as much as a more saturated hue when combined with the right accessories and contrasting colors.
Grey, often associated with dull weather and unforgiving cityscapes, is having a renaissance. This versatile neutral is suddenly on the forefront of fashion and interior design. And no wonder. After all, there are as many ways of styling it as there are shades of grey.
Classic Elegance
Quiet luxury is having a ladylike makeover. The it girl of the moment is denitely a Park Avenue Princess. With nods to 50’s and 60’s style she boldly steps out of her classic six apartment, clad in grey cashmere and pink kitten heels.
Her interior style can be summed up by the words polished, classic and elegant. The palette consists of light, soft shades of grey with various undertones, combined with dusty pink lilac and buttery yellow pastels.
Floral and landscape wall murals complete and add a touch of romance to the classic look.
Like a strand of grey pearls, a Wedgwood tea cup or a pink rose, her space possesses all the trappings of feminine elegance. Totally in the spirit of one of the most sophisticated ways to use grey in interior design right now.
Playful Postmodernism
During the 1970s the postmodern movement in architecture was a reaction to the austere coldness of modernism. Emphasis was given to the uniqueness of buildings and objects. Classical architectural elements were used in unexpected and humorous ways. Form follows fun was the bon mot of the day. During the 80s and early to mid 90s, postmodernism had its moment with designers such as Alessi and The Memphis group at the forefront. As fashion is ever looking back for the next thing, we once again are in love with the playful and rebellious streak of postmodernism.
For some time the postmodern trend has been gaining momentum in architecture and interior design. Arches and curves are everywhere. In architecture joyful colours such as shades of coral pink, jade, lilac and sunshine yellow are often juxtaposed with concrete and terrazzo in various shades of grey. This contrast continues in new postmodern interiors where grey walls are used eectively to oset furniture that is everything but subtle. Rounded and chunky forms in eye popping colours are mischievously combined with wallpaper with eye-catching prints in shades of graphite and watered down india ink. The grey helps to keep rooms balanced and eye-catching prints contribute to the exuberance of the style.
Modern Masculinity
Recently we have been seeing an abundance of masculine cuts and fabrics on the runways. Saint Laurent sported grey suits on everyone, men, and women alike. While Dior Men’s collection showed coats in traditional pinstriped grey, but with a feminine twist. This play on traditionally gendered clothing is a new fresh style. Our appetite for this modern take on grey seamlessly transcends fashion and can now be found in interiors as well. We call it Modern Masculinity.
Not unlike a tailored suit rumpled on a chair, modern masculinity is all about relaxed quality and strength with softened edges. Grey, featuring pencil sketch lines, tactile clay art and wood grain textures encapsulate the mood. Interiors are simple, but comfortable. Warmer accents and natural materials warms the space. The charcoal and lead pencil grey pairs perfectly with mustard and tobacco coloured wool, linen and corduroy, tanned leather and wooden details. We predict that this masculine trend is here to stay and will be equally popular with women and men.
