I was preparing a talk and needed a song. I gave it over to YouTube to play something randomly for me. It gave me Sara Bareilles covering Yellow by Coldplay. As she sung it, the words sunk into me. It spoke to me of sacrificial love. It was perfect for a discussion of love and vulnerability. When I think of the color yellow usually, the words that come to mind are bright, happy, springtime, and all manner of playfulness. Never is it about the ability to really know a person and let them know they are known. And yet, there I was reconsidering my association with the color.
In the same vein, Martin Margiela’s Fall 2003 show used yellow to symbolize not youthfulness by the the passage of time. As Bliss Foster covers it, the color symbolizes the passage of time from the end of the 20th century. After Y2K the party was over, time still continued on.
Earlier this week I wrote about Dolce & Gabbana’s use of the color black to symbolize simplicity. That in combination with the coverage of the Margiela show is making me rethink how I view the main color chosen for collections. I was easily glossing over it as a stylistic choice, but what if learning more about the background for that decision led me to better understand the artistry. As I watch more shows this season, I will keep that in mind. Color sends a message. What are the designers trying to say?
Bliss Foster’s commentary:
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