Does runway fashion translate to home?

If you’ve ever wondered whether the fashion industry and their subsequent runway options for each season affect the home design industry, I think the answer is “Yes.” From all indications of the research I’ve done, it seems that what you see on the fashion boards for fall and winter—really any season—are also reflected in home furnishings, whether simultaneously or somewhere down the production line.

I believe it’s not only that creative minds think alike but trends in design cycle and, no matter the direction, the design aesthetic and consensus can become similar. There is, as Carl Jung used to refer to it: a "synchronicity." This convergence of ideas then reaches a groundswell of acceptance and is translated into all sorts of creative and proposed product considerations.

Just for fun, let’s take some examples and juxtapose them against the other to see how it plays out. This column is all about pictures:

Men’s wear and tweed
The runway sees houndstooth, masculine fabrics and separates in tweed and other patterned-heavy woolens. That, too, is witnessed in home furnishings magazines and catalogs. In fact, Century furniture had a terrific menswear-looking club chair covered in tweed that fits the bill nicely.

The color purple
Hue-saturated grays and purples are all around us in sweaters, coats and couches. Fall and winter usually head for deep, rich jewel colors and this year (and the future?) is no exception.

Croco-embossed texture and fur
Crocodile embossing is a staple in handbags this year and can also be found in the home accessory world in boxes, photo frames, and wrapped leather goods. Fur is a mainstay for winter and resurfaces every year to PETA’s dismay (they hounded, pardon the pun, Gwyneth Paltrow for a Tod’s spread she did earlier this year)—but fake fur will show up in throws, coverlets and other high-end fashions for the bed and chaise.

Metallics and bold jewelry
We’ve seen the influence of metallics in lamé, sequined and embellished tops, handbags, shoes and heaven’s only know what else for a couple seasons now. It’s hard to find a must-have blouse without some sort of bling or shine for the holidays; and it has been common in babydoll tops and empire waist fashions for a couple seasons now. Even Crate&Barrel has a metallic herringbone placemat set.

Florals and ruffles
Floral dresses took a big spin on the runway this past season, last season and will show up again in the spring. Ruffles have trailed down plackets, collars and sleeves for a while now, a huge design feature. Both of these are translated into soft furnishings and design accouterments for the home.

Minimalist
Expressed in the growing number of layouts for Italian-made sectionals, sofas and simplistic lines seen in everything from: design magazines, featured editorial layouts, and even television and film—like the white dress above, clean lines are here to stay.