NEON NIGHTS
When it comes to controversial trends, neon shades usually top the list. They are too bold to wear every day, and too bright to pass unnoticed. In 2020, neon in all its diversity again became a fashion trend. We may be cooped up indoors, but we’re dreaming of summer days in the sun and while we wait, we’ll be brightening things up from the outside in. A seasonal favourite for the past several years running, neon is a versatile trend that exudes confidence, demands attention and takes any outfit from drab to fab faster than you can say “fluorescent”.
Neon first came into fashion in 1980’s along with the development of technologies in dyeing fabrics, the latest developments in that era allowed to experiment with the most unusual hues, including glowing neon. In the 1980’s, fluorescent colors were especially popular in sportswear, and the typical aerobics instructor felt obliged to put something acid yellow or bright pink. In this era, neon clothes hardly went beyond the sports style, although the true provocateurs, such as Madonna, already used fluorescent shades to attract attention. In the next decade, the neon had a real success, when even Chanel started making their signature strict tweed suits in neon colors. In the 1990’s, casual jackets, skirts, shoes and even jewelry became fluorescent and almost glowing in the dark. Fashion magazines and stylists fell in love with neon, because the bright color on the cover or on the celebrity is the best way to be remembered by the audience. In the 2000’s, the army of neon fans just grows, acid shades from sports and teenage turn into glamorous, since even incredibly expensive Hermès Birkin handbags are in neon fuchsia.
Neon colors aren’t as tricky to style as you might think. They’re intense, undoubtedly, but they’re really fun to wear if you get it right. Pairing the neon colors with white and grey is a good start. Brown and beige are also two neutrals that work unexpectedly well with neon. If you want to go for a truly energetic and colorful outfit, try and pair the neon colors with one another. Working neon with olive green is also an alternative. Classic denim will also make the intense color more wearable. However, if you find it difficult to match the color, you can also go from it top to toe. Sometimes the best outfit solution is just to go full on statement! If you want to start small however, focus on accessories in neon colors! A basic white t-shirt, jeans and neon shoes will get you a long way!
When it first appeared on the scene in the 1980s, the neon trend could be viewed as a sartorial manifestation of a cultural shift a generation embracing excess of all kinds as they rebelled against the rigid social constructs of their parents’ time. Donning eye-popping colours was a statement as much as a look.
Eventually though, these lime greens, electric fuschias and radioactive yellows dissipated, going dormant for nearly 3 decades before erupting back into the spotlight in recent years. Now, high-octane tones are everywhere, from the catwalks of top-tier brands like Prada, Valentino, Balmain and Balenciaga, to the Instas of pop culture icons including Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber and, of course, Kim Kardashian. If you’re just beginning to experiment with these vivid shades, try starting with one colour at a time, on one garment, and let it really stand out on its own. Whether it’s a blouse, a jacket or a pair of shoes, make that one item the protagonist of your outfit; pair it with other garments in neutral tones such as white, beige or black. However, be careful with the latter: neons can look spectacular when worn with black, but the combination can also read very ‘retro-kitsch’.
