L-R: Narciso Rodriguez, Marc Jacobs, Celine, Jil Sander
Dear Monochrome,
I almost feel like this should be two letters; because really, your two components haven't met on me for at least 15 years. Yet here we are again, after all this time.
I first discovered you in my youth. You took many forms, from stripey or polka dot leggings (the un-coordinated years), or the Adidas tracksuit bottoms inherited from my sister (the Tom-Boy years). You were always there. Through the knee scrapes and homework and first kisses (I believe the aforementioned Adidas were present on this particular occasion) you kept me clothed, so what changed?
Maybe me. I went from monochromatic bliss and spice girl shorts to Levi's, logo t-shirts and Etnies (the Skater Girl Years), to today where neutral colours, fur and sequins reign supreme. And I'm just not sure you fit in with that:
I can do all white, or all black, but looking like a checkerboard is not high on my list of priorities. And if Jil Sander can't change my mind, I'm not sure what can.
In the words of Anne-Marie Curtis (Elle UK, Feb 2012):
"I am not the biggest fan of a black-and-white combo; it's very easy for monochrome to very quickly look incurably naff."
Or in the slightly less delicately phrased words of the gay kid from School of Rock:
"You're tacky and I hate you"
So, where does this leave us? To be honest, monochrome, we're still on a break. Despite offering some comfort in my youth, you're a bandwagon I just don't want to jump on right now. I don't easily succumb to peer pressure (read: trends), but maybe I'll warm to you. Like that time I bought a pair of platform clogs from Topshop... a year after they went into the sale.
Maybe there's hope for us yet.
Yours,
Polly
Note: The only fully monochromatic look I'll be caught in is a white tee with black skinnies or a leather skirt/leggings. But even then I reckon there'd be a pop of non black/white somewhere.
What do you guys think of Monochrome?
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