I often spend my quiet time sifting through fashion magazines, seeking inspiration and creative direction. Apparel fashion and drapery fashion have a lot in common. Both feature ornamentation and structure.And both are both influenced by color and fabric trends from the simple to very ornate, like fur accents, ruffles and pleating, suede and leather, zippers and grommets!

I recently enjoyed thumbing through the pages of the September issue of InStyle magazine and noticed again just how much drapery design resembles fashion design.Fashion is always new, fresh, and inventive.As if fashion has a personality all its own; free spirited, uninhibited, and confident.As I focus on the most current looks in drapery design (because it is my job to be current), I am impressed by the wonderful influences and endless similarities between drapery and fashion design.

Here are some drapery trends you may recognize from the pages of your favorite fashion magazine:

• Color! Expect to see color- bright, fun and intense.Saturated pinks mixed with a range of greens, inspired neutrals, earth tones in taupes and yellows, grays, charcoals, graphite, warm ivories and straw.Traditional color trends continue to regain strength such as shades of blue, black and white.
• Texture is exploding with subtle options such as crewel in linens and silks, and now velvets!Textured basket-weave and open-weave cottons and linens; brilliant color with large crewel damask patterns; graphic jacquards with a variety of textures; and sheers embellished with pearls, sequins, and beautiful embroideries.
• Structure is crisp, sculptural detail, tailored, and balanced.Create structure with gorgeous custom finish hardware, textured sheers, and wide-width panels featuring decorative pleat styles such as French pleat, Goblet pleat, European tuck pleat, traditional pinch pleat, pencil pleat, and box pleat, just to name a few.The ideas are endless for creative tailored pleat styles!The right lining for your drapery is critical to the construction of building custom panels. Proper lining adds volume and softness, protects the fabrics from the elements and supports the design’s structure.
• Ornate features are what create the couture quality of custom drapery.Hand-sewn beads, obscure details and hand-stitched work add character to a drapery panel. Beaded fringe, pearls and sequined fabrics; textured silks or sheer overlays with tiny self-welt details; spliced fabrics with trim accents; tiny covered buttons; French pleats; tassels and trims; ornate custom iron or wood-carved hardware…..this speaks custom, unique and very personal.
• Draping creates shadows that play with light and enhance the fabric’s subtle beauty.In today’s fashions you will find deep v-neck blouses and draped skirts.Pleated, gathered and ruffled silks, wools, and brushed flannel flow with such beauty.It is this beauty and natural flow of fabric which has drawn me to love working with fabrics.

I am loaded with exciting ideas influenced by this Fall’s fashions. My mind is teeming with images of color combinations and inspirational style. Trends aside, what I find to be most important when considering custom window design is this; express your style through timeless beauty, high-quality, perfect balance, custom details, a subtle blend of color and texture, and most of all…express yourself!