Black and White

It's said that no issue is ever black and white, but when it comes to one of the season's can't-miss trends, we must humbly reply: au contraire. As noted on the Givenchy S/S 10 runway and the most ahead-of-the-curve tastemakers including Kate Moss, Vanessa Traina, and Carine Roitfel, these noir-plus-blanc looks are definitively important right now.


The key to pulling off this must-try trend is in the details, so it's essential to note that these outfits use contrast in two ways. In addition to the obvious tonal disparity, they also serve up a mix of softer elements (think: draping, sheer fabrics, or delicate details) with sharper tailoring. That said, there are about a bazillion ways to interpret this trend, as today's quartet of fashion leaders so admirably illustrate. Kate Moss, for example, recently showcased her dark-and-light sensibilities at a party in Paris celebrating her collaboration with Longchamp. The muse/majorly influential model wore a gorgeous black lace Valentino dress (which originally was knee-length!) from the fashion house's Spring 10 collection with a white vintage Valentino Couture cropped jacket. Super-stylist Caroline Sieber also caught our eye when she wore a similarly feminine frock in this case, a white Chanel dress with a black leather Balenciaga jacket and Chanel ankle boots for the Chanel Haute Couture show in Paris last month.

Of course, if you prefer a more architectural or outrageous look, you have options too. In regards to the former, we must direct your attention to the lovely Vanessa Traina and the Alexander Wang Ponte Dress with Sweatshirt Tie Overlay ($650) she wore to the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards. The pale frock popped against the contrast of her black Azzedine Alaia top and was perfectly punctuated by her simple black booties, also by Alaia. As for an over-the-top way to wear the black and white trend, just take a gander at the always-intriguing Carine Roitfeld. The editrix of Paris Vogue was snapped wearing an animal-print trench at Etam's S/S 10 collection launch at the Ritz in Paris.

Now, with our outfit discussion complete, let's move on to the practical part of this Trend Report products! First up: foundation pieces. We presume that most of you already own a few favorite black dresses, but you might be in need of a couple of crisp white blazer options. If so, definitely check out a handful of our top picks, including Preen Line's Round Cotton-Blend Jacket ($450), Madison Marcus' Motivate Jacket ($312), and Elizabeth and James' Belted Elizabeth Blazer ($445). Assuming you also have a beloved black jacket, we sourced a couple of LWDs for your shopping pleasure. Diane von Furstenberg's Arcella Lace Dress ($425) is a sweetly feminine option, but if you'd like a more Traina-inspired look, try Alice + Olivia's Cutout Mini Dress ($420), which would look fabulous worn over a black body-con long-sleeve shirt. (We also adore Laila Azhar's Origami Mini Dress ($384); it definitely has the same spirit as Traina's outfit.)



And finally, if you're just looking for some new black and white items to spruce up your existing staples, well, we've wrangled those too! For the readers who are dying for the Givenchy striped blazer, we found an amazing alternative in Eva Franco's Aniseed Skirt ($128) the pattern and silhouette are simply perfect. Also, some of you might like Pleasure Doing Business's 5 Band Miniskirt ($88), which is a great piece for a girls' night out. Last, but certainly not least, be sure to browse White House Black Market for endless Trend Report-inspired options, like the Dot Print Ruffle Shell ($88) or the Contrast Leather Peeptoe Pump ($88).