DISTORTED DYES

Not quite traditional tie dye and not quite color blocking, the distorted dye trend is the kind of thing that keeps fashion fun.

It’s a fun paradox, because it’s a new wave of playing with color that feels a bit retro, a bit nostalgic for those of us who were stylin’ in the ‘70s, and yet simultaneously fresh and current. It feels youthful, but sophisticated. It’s vibrant, but softened. And yes, you guessed it, it’s part of dopamine dressing – it just has happy vibes!

WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT

“Traditional tie dye tends to be in more of a spiral pattern,” Cheryl explained. “And while it’s unpredictable, it’s deliberate. If you’ve ever done DIY tie dye, you know it’s a series of twists and rubber bands and carefully applying colors hoping they’ll swirl together and also leave some negative space. With this distorted dye trend, it tends to be more in stripes and squiggles that bleed into each other. You know, it almost looks like the layered colored sand art, if you remember those. Which of course is perfect for a collection called Desert Desperados – color and sand!”

WHY IT WORKS

“This is not a hard and fast rule, but in my experience and experimenting with design, the distorted dye look works best with analogous colors, colors that are neighbors on the color wheel. I think a lot of the appeal of the Jerry Garcia-style retro tie dye was the contrast of yellows and blues and pinks, but like in the Sunset Hoodie, the light pink melts into the darker pink, melts into the orange. And like, with the turquoise Santa Fe Skirt, it’s almost an ombré from a soft sky to deep teal. It’s harmonious but distinct and unique.”