Artists and designers turn up the saturation on a playful trend
Photo: Bubi Canal Crayola-bright blues, gumball-machine reds, and Very Hungry Caterpillar greens fill the pages of MoMA’s fall catalogue, which includes this primary-color casserole pot. Popular neo-prep brand Rowing Blazers just came out with a rainbow-stripe rugby shirt in collaboration with Lands’ End, and when Nordstrom opened its New York City flagship in October, it featured a Nike boutique outfitted with bright-red carpets, aqua-blue chairs, and rainbow sneakers that look like a Microsoft WordArt gradient come to life.
A confluence of recent trends are behind this toddler-esque design moment. “It would be easy to say this all thanks to Bauhaus, which celebrated its centennial this year,” says Annie Auchincloss, a home buyer at MoMA Design Store. “But I think it reflects something that came earlier: the early-20th-century Dutch De Stijl movement, which consisted of artists like Mondrian, Rietveld, and Theo van Doesburg and focused entirely on simplicity and primary colors.” Jill Singer, the co-founder of Sight Unseen, attributes it to the collision of three separate trends: Memphis Milano , maximalism , and a renewed interest in primary-color-focused artists, like Calder and Hockney. “All of that,” she says, “combined with the fact that the news is depressing. So why not a rainbow?” Rowing Blazers x Lands’ End Rugby No. 2 Meant to recall the brightly colored Lands’ End catalogues of the late ’80s and early ’90s. “Tom Wolfe used this expression to describe brightly colored trousers: ‘go-to-hell pants.’ Those bright colors are such a key part of American quote-unquote preppy style, and as prep comes back into the mainstream, it’s not surprising to see them become a trend,” says Jack Carlson, Rowing Blazers’ founder.$76 at MoMA Design Store Buy Herschel Supply Co. Classic XL Backpack Designed by Nordstrom’s VP of creative projects, Olivia Kim, who made similar fanny packs and totes. $70 at Nordstrom Buy Angelpoise Type 75 Desk Lamp Paul Smith Edition Three This lamp, made by Paul Smith and Sir Kenneth Grange, was inspired by the De Stijl movement.$78 at Noah Buy Acne Studios Color-Block Striped Scarf in Yellow Multi Made in collaboration with Swedish artist Jacob Dahlgren, who has worn a striped shirt every day since 2001. $220 at Acne Studios Buy Vans Era Color-Block Skate Shoe These sneakers have a dash of Hey Arnold! and a dash of the ball pit at Chuck E. Cheese. $55 at Journeys Buy Matter Matters Billfold Wallet From Matter Matters, which also makes color-block cardigans, purses, and watches. $139 at Matter Matters Gallery Buy TID 005 Builders Club Watch A Mondrian-inspired timepiece, by minimalist Swedish watchmaker TID and London design agency Builders Club. $115 at Amazon Buy $115 at Opumo Buy Poketo Ping Pong Phone Case Poketo’s entire fall collection was inspired by the Bauhaus’s 100th anniversary. $30 at Poketo Buy Entireworld Patchwork Adams Sweater Almost all of Entireworld’s offerings have a sort of Muji–meets–Sesame Street vibe. $195 at Entireworld Buy Holy Mountain Glass Tabletop Object From artist Mansi Shah, who also makes undulating stop-sign-red hand mirrors.$226 at W Concept Buy *This article appears in the November 11, 2019, issue of New York Magazine. Subscribe Now! The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
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