The catwalk can be a baffling place for geeks: all that fabric, only interrupted by the occasional button that does nothing when you press it. It’s hardly our natural habitat…
But we take a very different attitude to haute couture when it’s translated into beautiful, functional objects we can play with — and this season we’re already seeing the biggest fashion trends filtering through to the world of consumer tech in some really clever ways.
One of those key trends for autumn/winter 2013 is pink, as seen at Mulberry (top right) and 10 Crosby Derek Lam:
Click on each image for stockist and pricing info
Don’t worry, we’re not talking sickly-sweet Barbie pink here: instead, designers are exploring the more subtle notes of the colour, with dusky rose pinks and putty/blossom tones leading the way.
For the current winter season it’s all about darker carnation shades contrasted on maple tones; by spring 2014 the mood lightens, with all-over petal influences. These are both easy trends to interpret at home or through your gadgetry, and tech designers are getting the look through wood-panelling and plenty of block colour.
If you’re currently using the iPhone 5c for example, you can have a lot of fun with wood panel looks, as seen at iCarbons, whose dark wood skin really nails that solid, interiors-led effect. Those who relate more to the lighter bubblegum looks of spring 2014 might want to consider a kitchen refresh: there are some positively edible-looking pale pink kitchen gadgets out there at the moment, with a fun 1950s influence. Let Pantone 1767 be your guide!
Pink retro phone handset: £24.44 on Ebay | Pure Evoke DAB radio in rose pink, £129 at Play.com | iCarbons dark wood skin for iPhone 5c, £14.99 at Ebay | Sony VAIO CS31 Intel Core2 Duo T6500 notebook £495 at Amazon | Kitchenaid Artisan series mixer in pink, £409 at Ecocookshop | Kitchenaid Artisan series blender, £185 at Selfridges | ColourMatch 4-piece knife set, £19.99 at Argos | Pantone 1767 (Blossom Pink) espresso cup, £8 at Clippings