Magnificently mint

With a palette of colours trending every season, the greens have come out on top yet again. Pantone named Emerald the colour of the year in 2013, and so 2014 is deriving more of the brilliant green hue. Mint is a colour that is clean, summery, flattering and oh so trendy. 

Wednesday, March 05, 2014

With a palette of colours trending every season, the greens have come out on top yet again. Pantone named Emerald the colour of the year in 2013, and so 2014 is deriving more of the brilliant green hue. Mint is a colour that is clean, summery, flattering and oh so trendy. 

Mint is making its way into many collections. Alexander Wang, who is the creative director at fashion house Balenciaga, created a stunning mint ensemble for his own line T by Alexnader Wang. The neoprene top and shorts feature geometric mint squares over a mint and white striped background. The shorts have a single pleat on the front and as well as a concealed zipper. 

Fashion stylist and designer Rachel Zoe, mom to son Skylar, created a mint green skater dress for her collection. The textured dress features a round scoop neck. The femininity of the full skirt balances the edgy side cut outs. American designer Kate Spade, from her Saturday collection, created a mint leather moto jacket. The cropped piece features a diagonal black zipper on the bodice and matching long black zippers up the forearms. 

Newcomer brand Ostwald Helgason, founded by London based designers Susanne Ostwald and Ingvar Helgason, created a colour block green skirt. The minimalistic satin piece features an emerald green base with a mint green peplum flair. The two colours on the front of the skirt interlock in a triangle. 

American designer Philip Lim created a jacquard matching mint set. The cropped sleeveless top features a jagged neckline, and the high wasted A-line skirt hits several inches above the knee. As well as featured pieces, designers are also incorporating mint accessories into their collection: Rebecca Minkoff with a mint leather tote, Sophia Webster with patent leather pointed-toe flats, and BCBG Max Azria with a mint green scarf. 

The celebrities with the most coveted wardrobes are the ones wearing mint. Songstress and worldwide celebrity Beyoncé Knowles wore a mint green blazer. She paired with a plunge white blouse and photographic capris. She left her hair tousled and down, and wore a thick bejeweled bracelet on her right hand. Her bright red nails popped from her otherwise soft hue outfit.  

Rihanna, typically known for more edgy fashion, went for her softer side. She wore a mint green leather skater skirt and an art deco plunge blouse. She paired with nude pointed heels and a studded steal blue clutch. 

Selena Gomez shined at a recent fashion event with a dress from the Cushnieet Ochs collection.  The solid mint green number featured mid-section cut outs and sleeve cut outs. She wore with nude heels and minimal jewelry. 

Mint is extremely versatile. If you mix it with patterns, such as Beyoncé and Rihanna, you can get a funky, trendy ensemble. If you wear the mint solid, it has a feminine pull to it. Take a cue from Rihanna and Selena and pair with nude pumps to let the outfit get all the attention. 

That’s the fashion scoop for this week. Got a thought? Trend? Style you hate? Send it my way. 

Rachel Breaux is an American living in Rwanda