FashBlog.com

Today’s topic is going to be focused on color costs, and colorlessness. I think it’s appropriate to a fashion blog, since every season brings with it “hot, new” colors.

Have you noticed the preponderance of fashion photography in black and white? It seems that when a photographer wants to make a dramatic point, he removes the color. You rarely see a happy scene in black and white; it’s usually what could be termed “moody”. (Why moodiness would sell anything, who knows, but I guess that’s why I’m not making big advertising bucks.) Anyway, there is something about black and white photography that beckons me. I equate it to being a baby boomer, and wonder if others also feel nostalgic about it. After all, in our youth, there was a span of time where the only pictures of us were in black and white, and our parents’ lives were, for the most part, captured primarily in this media. Perhaps it’s just association, but when I see black and white photos, I’m taken to a time when life seemed easier and simpler and part of me wishes I could delve right into those photos. Photography has the miraculous ability to capture and hold a moment for all eternity, and it’s even more of an enigma when the photo is black and white. Perhaps it’s because of the suspension of reality in removing color, or maybe it’s that the visual impact is more pronounced and starker. In any event, I think that those of you who grew up before camcorders and digital cameras know about the intrigue I’m talking about. Is it any wonder that school photographers now charge more for black and white?

Wavering down another side road, I want to mention a new practice in my city, per a saleslady at a department store. She confided that certain colors of clothing were marked down with a steeper discount. I suppose if I were a business owner, I’d do what I could to reduce inventory, too, but that move strikes me as detrimental. A business is bound to tick off some percentage of customers by applying doing that, so why even chance it? Of course, we could have to barter over everything, like they do in many parts of the world, and we’d perceive that as unfair, as well. We who aren’t as argumentative would be frustrated when our vocal friends from the debate team saved 50% over the price we paid, so it’s a toss-up as to which is worse. But this charging extra for certain colors (check out the cell phone companies who offer pink phones for free but charge $100 for the red ones) or giving larger discounts on the passé colors does not seem right to me.

In yet another direction, have you ever noticed a phenomenon that I can only term color-less-ness? It’s the sense that a particular item simply lacks verve, or for better description, depth of color. I’m not saying that the object is necessarily dull; what I mean is that it just seems to fall flat.

For example, look at some of this year’s tones-they’re forgettable. The next step would be to wonder if it’s better to be forgettable than to be unforgettable-for all the wrong reasons. Spring purses of mixed pink and orange aren’t forgettable, but I find them jarring. It would be a hard choice between that combination, however, and a bland colored purse. Sometimes an item can have an amount of charm but still be void of the ability to light up, if that makes any sense. The only way to describe such an item is to say, for all of its attributes, true color is missing. It was if you expected it to shine with 150 watt light bulbs, and all you’re getting is 40 watts. Another analogy is like facing a cloud after facing the sun: something is missing. There simply is an element that is “off”.

We all have our favorite colors, and those that best suit us. Have you ever wondered why they don’t jive? That’s another color anomaly…But that topic deserves its own article; color is worthy of our full and undivided attention!