Spring is the time of renewal. Icy white winter melts away, revealing vibrant colors of a new season. But this year, in a season when fashion usually plays the color game, some designers are throwing the color wheel out the window. These players are putting Spring 09 fashion in check by using a stark palette of black and white.

     Designers like Stella McCartney (left) pay attention to the relationships between positive and negative space with looks that feature asymmetrical cutout patterns.  She challenges the traditional bathing suit cover-up with styles fabricated completely by linking iridescent disks, creating an intricate alternative to the patterned dress. Bathing suits also take on a new shape, with dropped collars and dramatic, razor-sharp cutouts.  Dries Van Noten (below) takes the black and white theme to another level, turning today’s fashionable woman into a walking checkerboard chick. Checks in various sizes and contrasts come together seamlessly to create sophisticated and elegant sportswear styles. From a designer famous for eclectic use of color and mélange of motifs, this simple print is a surprisingly innovative breath of fresh springtime air.