The Ombre trend: Stunning or silly?
If there’s one trend I just can’t get behind this season, it’s ombre. It’s made appearances everywhere from the Fall 2007 runway to the awards season red carpet to the pages of fashion mags, but I can’t recall ever seeing a real, live person wearing such distinctive shading.
Ombre items are making an appearance on StyleFeeder’s wishlists, however, so it’s quite possible that I’m wrong about the wearability of this trend. Let’s take a look at some of the options people have bookmarked recently:
StyleFeeder leanneshain was the first to add this sherbet-hued confection by Michael Kors. I can definitely see the appeal of ombre for a special occasion; graduated gowns are both glam and flattering. And since you’re only likely to wear a gown like this once or twice, you’ll seem entirely of the moment.
But when it comes to high-end accessories, is ombre a good investment? Will you possibly be able to get away with wearing an ombre heel or handbag next season?
These Charles David Beatriz pumps are stunning, but I don’t know if I could bring myself to part with $195 unless I had the perfect outfit in mind for these beauties.
And I definitely wouldn’t part with several C-Notes for either of these options, by Prada and Cynthia Vincent, respectively.
Leave it to our own Shoe Addict, Megan, to find some budget versions that nicely fit the bill if you do want to try on this trend for size.
These pumps by Wanted are a near-perfect facsimile of the Prada version, and at $50, you won’t feel too much regret if you only get a season’s wear out of them. I actually prefer the shading on this pair, as it’s more gradual and not so stark.
These Bandolino flats don’t have quite the same impact as the Cynthia Vincent version, but they feature the same unusual color palette at a fraction of the price.
If you really want to try out ombre on a budget, these flats from Ami Clubwear are just $17.99!
As for me, maybe I just need to admit that ombre isn’t my thing. Though I was able to dig up one ombre item I might, possibly, consider splurging on.
I LOVE cowboy boots, and I’ve always wanted a pair in red, but living in Boston, it’s hard enough to get away with wearing my much-loved, battered and beat-up brown Justins. But this Gucci Western-style boot so stylishly blends red and black, the graduated shade is subtle enough for the East Coast, but would still let me have my pop of red.
Do you actually own an ombre item, or is it a trend you’re admiring from afar?
11 Comments
while some of these examples are subtle enough- most ombre i’ve seen in the past looks trashy. like you’ve hung your clothes up to dry and the dye ran
Ombre is something that looks bad on most walls as a wall treatment…to incorporate it into shoes and clothing is not any better. In theory it is a great idea of blending and shading but in real life it just looks like you can’t make up your mind on what color you want to wear.
As for that Michael Kors dress…that is striped not ombre.
I think ombre can be beautiful on fabrics, but I’m not really feeling it on most of the leather and accessories…though the $17.99 flats are cute, and I might try them with a pair of jeans or something for fun, if I wanted to incorporate this trend.
I’m not feeling it. The “sherbet-hued” dress shown isn’t ombre, from my understanding of the term. All it is is circus-tent striped in pink and orange.
I actually have an ombre sweater in purple, darker at the bottom, lighter at the top, but definitely a gradient, which is what ombre actually is.
It’s a tough concept to pull off in a design, but when the designer gets it right, wow! Then the wearer has to pull it into an outfit correctly, too, and that’s easier said than done.
The Gucci boots: Those are spectacularly ugly! I’m not liking ombre on shoes at all.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who is not behind this trend!
I agree, the Michael Kors dress doesn’t fit the strict definition of ombre…but the designer himself refers to it as a “chiffon ombre dress”. It does seem more two-toned.
Kathlyn, I’ve been having second thoughts about whether I really like the Gucci boots. I usually wear my boots with long bootleg jeans, so only the toes peek out. I think they could potentially work with the right jeans…but I’m not about to shell out the dough to find out.
Absolutely not silly. Why would ombre as a general trend be silly? Margiala 36cm shoulder pads can be debated as silly or not, but a mild bi-coloration of a product that is neither tie-dyed or day-glo? The reactions seem pretty conservative and would be laughed out of most circles I know.
I love the Michael Kors dress, especially on that model, but I don’t agree with the brands definition, it is sherbet.
so, pretty much. this is THE worst fashion decision i have EVER seen in my life. its so grody i can’t stand it. i say, away with it!
I like ombre. I think it would really look flattering on me.
I found this lovely silk chiffon ombre fabric online a while back that was a gradient from dark dove-grey to chartreuse. It sounds a little cuckoo-bananas, but it was really lovely. I’m not a huge fan of sewing with silk chiffon (it’s like trying to sew water–just really hard for me), and it was really pricey at like $30/yard, and I don’t have a need for a floor length silk chiffon gown, really, so I let it pass. But I think it can be absolutely smashing if it’s done right, and done well. And if it’s done on the right person: me and that MK sherbet mess? Not gonna happen.
I second that Allison, both the sewing silk chiffon (I’ve only tried it once) and the wearing ombre right. On that note: almost anything can look good if worn right! The trouble is that ombre is not the easiest thing to pull off, so you rarely find good examples of it being worn.
I might consider sporting ombre shoes or a bag as seasonal accessory (I bet it would grow old on me quickly), but on clothing it feels a little too close to tie dye…
What strikes me most about ombre, good or bad, is that the fluidity of the color scheme seems better suited for enhancing the drape and structure of fabric rather than a more rigid material like leather. It also seems like something that needs some length to it in order to maximize it’s dramatic effect. Trying to “shrink” the effect by fitting it on a bag or shoe just looks like your “shoehorning” it (no pun intended) onto the design for the sake of trendiness. In short, keep it on clothes, strike it from accessories.