Rainbow Connection

Dior does the rainbow trend one shade at a time, while Tory Burch’s RTW for SS 2018 mixes things up. Photos courtesy brands

Perhaps you live on The Garden Isle or maybe The Gathering Place. Either way, we are all lucky we get to live in the Rainbow state. While not an official name, it’s a wonderful nickname for the Islands and one to cherish. Georgia has the "Peach State" currently on their number plates, Florida, the alligator, but here in Hawai‘i, we get the "Aloha State" adorned with a colorful rainbow. Surely, it’s the prettiest license plate ever, and if you drive, you’re already one up in the fashion game as Rainbow bright fashion is heading this way. Lucky we live Hawai‘i.

Fashion—along with the rest of the world— has been in a dark place. “Fighting talk” clothing has ruled the store floor in the form of masculine suiting and political slogan tees. Not this season! This season is a whole new, magical rainbow-inspired world. Take a look at Thom Browne’s world—a multicolored tulle jacket stole the show for Spring 2018, but then there were unicorns, ballet dancers and pure fantastical clothes in a multitude of splashy pigments to light up one’s wardrobe. Dolce & Gabbana is always fun, but the corseted rainbow dress was a showstopper. Dior, too, gave us disco party dresses in an array of rainbow shades. Plain neutrals be gone! Somewhere over the rainbow, a kaleidoscope of color has erupted.

If all this color saturation is a little too much for you, don’t fret—there are many wearable ways to wear a rainbow that won’t make you look like a ’70s or ’80s throwback. Carolina Herrera, Peter Pilotto, Tory Burch, Emporio Armani, Missoni … Take your pick of the designers all putting rainbow hues at the forefront of their collections. If your rainbow aspirations go no further than adorable tees and accessories, there’s sure to be an abundance of those at more accessible stores such as Zara or Topshop. Rainbow is certainly not for the shy at heart but can be still chic and tasteful. Spring and summer are shaping up to be joyous seasons—at least in the world of fashion.

Kim Smith has been a professional wardrobe stylist in Honolulu since 2004. Born a true Londoner, Smith had a successful career in public relations in the fashion industry in London for more than eight years before moving to Hawai‘i in 2002. Smith’s work spans a vast array of magazines, retailers and television as well as working with individual clients on their specific style needs. See her work at kimsmithstyle.com.