Color on the Runway: MarniVintage, Paint, and more....

Color on the Runway: Marni

Marni always seems to have a fun take on everything. Consuelo Castiglioni's fall 2011 ready-to-wear collection for the brand featured loose, body-skimming silhouettes in a variety of bright patterns, primarily geometric. The collection was inspired by architectural lines and Castiglioni's mantra "severe elegance." These elements are quite evident, yet with a twist: both furs and long, wintry coats were characterized by unusually bright colors.
I especially loved the uniqueness of each pattern and the color schemes chosen for them; the matching open coats, tops, and skirts à la Chanel; and the styling of each look.

These stunning, bold geometrics are both eye-catching and sophisticated.

The first look (on the left) is accessorized to create a luxe, working woman with an excellent fashion sense and a glamourous personality. The pairing of the long, short sleeve coat over a knee-length skirt is unexpected and ends up looking unconventionally chic. The green shade is stunning.

The look on the right is more of fun and exudes a cool girl vibe. I always love orange and blue paired together because the combination looks amazing every time. The sleeves add unexpected texture and give the appearance of a fur stole on the shoulders. The yellow necklace (that could also be a neckline; it's difficult to say!) adds a cute touch that doesn't take away from the grown-up feel, which is emphasized by the to-the-knee length and the lack of exposed skin. The platform shoes and sunglasses add a sporty quality to the overall look.

The look on the left is a very autumnal example of color blocking. The shades all give off that fall feel and the fur coat certainly helps this. By far, this two-tone fur coat is the most unusual piece in this collection. Although I am morally opposed to fur, I admire the design of this coat: fur is almost always found in natural shades and exceptions look cheesy. This coat avoids the cheesiness, going instead for ladylike glamour with good tailoring and a sophisticated color. The emerald green is beautifully vibrant. The coat distracts from the garments underneath, however, which are simple but pretty. I like the salmon pink/honeysuckle shade. The green necklace adds an extra dose of glamour to the look.
The bright pattern used in the look on the right is definitely wild, but if worn separately, these two pieces would become surprisingly wearable with everyday garb. The length of the below-the-knee skirt is prevented from looking old lady-ish because of the fun, modern pattern. The coat has an unusual silhouette with a strange collar and buttons on the far left, but this just makes the garment a lot of fun, when coats are almost always dull and boring.

Below are more looks that stood out to me: