THINK PINK

Pink: it’s a colour that divides as equally as it conquers. A true love-it-or-hate-it shade, this season you will be hard-pressed to miss it.

Show in dozens of shows in every tone from the palest blush to a definite mauve, pink is undoubtedly this season’s shade of choice. But more than that, the way it has been shown on the catwalk reveals it as fashion’s big idea for autumn 2013.

What is immediately noticeable is how simply it has been presented. Worn in tailored separates at Simone Rocha or loosely draped as a single-breasted coat at Mulberry, this approach to pink is refreshingly no-nonsense. No girlie frills; just great, wearable pieces. This is a way to wear the classic, feminine shade without compromising on personality. The skirt suit from Jonathan Saunders, the throw-on-and-go duster coat from Missoni could not be further from the traditional view of pink: this shade is cool, sophisticated with plenty of attitude. A perfect, persuasive move aimed at those who thought they couldn’t do pink.

It’s the tailoring that really sells it: the classic cut of the coats seen at Celine and Mulberry create a quality of timelessness. Never before could pink be termed a neutral, but here it proves just as versatile as camel, brown and black. This is a hardworking colour; no more weighed down by associations of impracticality. It works beautifully with grey and black – lending a soft wave of colour to even the drabbest winter days.

While the new Autumn / Winter season is all about celebrating woman, this colour trend cleverly does so by tapping into our love of the familiar by re-defining a classic. The most feminine colour of all has been reworked to become an indispensable must-have. The lucky few who managed to get their hands on the elusive Marks & Spencer coat will not be wondering if their purchase bears out in terms of cost per wear. This baby will be worn again and again.

The idea of pink being frivolous and juvenile has been turned on its head. Cleverly styled, this new take on pink repaints itself as a full-on power shade. Worn as a statement piece, pink has finally reclaimed its high-fashion kudos – the last time it was this popular on the catwalk was the 1980’s. This time the shades may be muted, but the vision is not. No other colour in recent memory has undergone such a radical rethink as pink; this isn’t just about a new shade for a new season, but a new season for a shade we thought we knew inside out.

Very much a non-traditional colour for winter, this wave of new interpretation challenges us to look at colour again from scratch. Ditching those pre-conceived notions means that pink as a fashion concept has been expanded to become something fresh, bold and dynamic. No longer on the fashion sidelines, pink’s warmth and feminine charm are the touchstone for this season. Celebrating woman with sincerity and verve, winter 2013 has now arrived.

HELEN TOPE

THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE: BAFTAS 2012

While the cold weather may have prevented some from making the trip to Covent Garden’s Opera House, some hardy souls braved the British winter to make a splash on the BAFTA red carpet.

Traditionally the place for Hollywood’s elite to explore their fashion B-side, what actually emerged in its place was the surprising trend of eco-fashion: once seen as a sartorial sideliner, the BAFTAs may have gone a long way in changing the way we look at green fashion.

Viola Davis, Michelle Williams, Michael Fassbender and Colin Firth all went for the eco option. Viola Davis appeared in a salmon pink Valentino – the very first gown from the Italian label to be made from recycled materials – and Michelle Williams’ custom-made gown from H&M was made using eco-friendly fabrics. Both Michael and Colin sported tuxedos from Giorgio Armani made from organic wool, with the recycled jacket accents originally starting life as plastic bottles (PET). Taking part in the Green Carpet Challenge to wear sustainable fashion to red-carpet events, these stars made a compelling case for eco fashion to be taken much more seriously. This was one red-carpet event with plenty of heart.

Persuaded to go green by Colin’s wife, Livia, who has actively championed green fashion, the eco trend is one we could see a whole lot more of in future events, as Livia has reported today on www.vogue.com that following a trip to the recent couture shows, Karl Lagerfeld has shown interest in exploring eco fabrics. With YSL’s Stefano Pilati and Giambattista Valli reportedly wanting to explore eco options, the profile of green fashion is set to soar.

But the biggest surprise of the night was undoubtedly Michelle Williams arriving in a custom-made gown by H&M. Specially designed for the star, nominated for ‘My Week with Marilyn’, Michelle’s gown was high-street chic on a grand scale. This gown, though not officially part of the store’s Conscious Collection, was a bespoke creation following the same principles of responsible sourcing and production. With an exquisitely-fitted ivory bodice and black skirt with a corsage detail at the waist, Michelle pulled off a fabulous fashion coup. After all, where better to flaunt your high-street credentials than the UK?

Other stand-outs of the night included Tilda Swinton in icy-white Celine. With clean, crisp lines and minimal accessorising, this was red-carpet dressing for the 21^st century. Swinton, nominated for ‘We Need to Talk about Kevin’, is always odds-on favourite to wow us with an avant-garde choice. The Celine two-piece did not disappoint.

Jessica Chastain, Christina Ricci and Gillian Anderson came dressed to thrill in gowns brimming with metallic detail. Chastain’s beautiful pleated gown from Oscar de la Renta was the perfect match for her delicate features, and Gillian Anderson went for rich opulence in a gold vintage 1956 gown from Sybil Connolly. Ricci looked like she was pre-empting the Oscars in a deep gold plunging dress from Givenchy.

The turn-out for cinema’s biggest names was somewhat down on last year, but those who did attend found themselves at a memorable night with ‘The Artist’ scooping many of the major awards, and Colin Firth himself performing an act of gallantry by rescuing Meryl Streep’s lost shoe, creating serious headline wattage across the world. In nights like these that are sharply choreographed, the element of surprise, both on-stage and off,  serves to remind us that while BAFTA may be smaller than your average awards ceremony – it’s perfectly formed.

HELEN TOPE