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Neon's the new black

By Carla Bevan on Friday 20 February 2009

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Tommy Hilfiger A/W 2009, New York Fashion Week

Forget black and navy next season and look forward to a day-glo winter instead. Yes, neon's back – and everyone's at it.

In New York this week, designers from Marc Jacobs to Narciso Rodriguz have been experimenting with the hues, ensuring a little upbeat energy amidst the economic gloom.

Proof, were it needed, that this is a bona fide trend in the making, yesterday morning Tommy Hilfiger - who never usually strays far from an all-American palette of red, navy and white, with maybe some neutral browns thrown in for good measure - punctuated his mainly taupe collection with punchy pinks on fitted shift dresses, winter coats and even men's knitwear – and lifted the whole show in the process (almost more than the brilliantly upbeat soundtrack – we do love a bit of Carly Simon's You're So Vain.)

The day before at Michael Kors was the same story: fabulous neons splashed with vivacity throughout the collection. So-bright-you-need-shades-to-wear-them pieces including huge oversized lime green fur coats and, for those who don't wear animal skin, eye-popping orange shift dresses.

It wasn't exactly neon at the usually conservative Oscar de la Renta, but things got pretty bright, with some zinging purples and reds on stunning evening gowns, which should be just the thing for the Upper East Side-er who wants some to rev up their look, but isn't quite ready for day-glo green or rave-era yellow.

For those who can't bear the thought of any colour in their wardrobe, the perfectly executed Calvin Klein Collection show, held yesterday afternoon, proved black still has a role to play in the coming season's fashions.

With Eva Mendes in the front row, designer Francisco Costa sent an almost entirely monochrome collection down the runway, punctuated only by a few metallic silver and green pieces. And while it might have been nearly all black, it certainly wasn't boring, with stunning laser-cut silk dresses and the embroidered cashmere jackets amongst our favourite pieces.

SEE THE CALVIN KLEIN COLLECTION HERE

SEE THE TOMMY HILFIGER COLLECTION HERE

SEE THE MICHEAL KORS COLLECTION HERE