Pantone for Fall 2011

The Pantone Color of the Year - 18-2120 Honeysuckle - is perfect for the vibrancy of spring and summer but how will this fresh shade transition into the cooler months at the end of the year?

Just as Fall shows are happening in New York, Pantone has released the Fashion Color Report for Fall 2011.

Look to see Honeysuckle becoming more of a supportive accents to the deeper warm tones of Nougat, Phylox and Teal.

To read the full color report, see how designers have been inspired by the palette and to take the color survey, visit Pantone Fashion + Home.

Curating Colors

As Fashion Week winds down we can begin analyzing the trends and colors for the next season.  I'll be posting curated images from the shows I attended and thought this would be some interesting background to help in viewing the collections.

Each season Pantone, the color authority, releases the top color for the season as well as their pick for the color of the year. Working with the designers, they have announced the top 10 colors for women's fashion for Spring 2011.

If you go to the site, you can see sketches from collections using the colors, check out the trends for men's fashion and even pick your favorite of the colors.

You can read the full 40 page report filled with designer inspiraitons and must haves by clicking here.

Pantone Color of the Year 2010 - Turquoise 15-5519

Panton has just announced it's 2010 Color of the year:



Per the site:

Pantone is pleased to announce PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise, an inviting, luminous hue, as the Color of the Year for 2010. Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise inspires thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a comforting escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing.

In many cultures, Turquoise is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that to many people, Turquoise represents an escape, taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting – even if it is only a fantasy.

Whether envisioned as a tranquil ocean surrounding a tropical island or a protective stone warding off evil spirits, Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors. With both warm and cool undertones, Turquoise pairs nicely with any other color in the spectrum. Turquoise adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up all other greens, and is especially trend-setting with yellow-greens.




Last year's color was Mimosa, which was a very sunny optimistic color. It is interesting in a time where we are striving and wishing for peace, that we have a new hopeful blue to guide us.

Yellow with Envy

There are a few colors that I just cannot wear. I wish that I could but they just make me look sallow and jaundiced and, well, horrendous.

Orange is one but another is a bright golden yellow, like the Pantone color of 2009 - Mimosa.

I had not thought about this for a while but I was watching Dangerous Liaisons today and I was reminded about how I would kill to be able to wear the classic combination of rich yellow and deep black, as Glenn does in this scene.

I also loved Gwyneth Paltrow's Parisan outfit in View from the Top.

But a movie that really kicked off the love for this color combo was a very bad made for TV movie, Tears on the Rain, featuring a very young Sharon Stone.

I love the dress, the embellished gloves and you have to love the matching hair ribbon.

Of course all three of these ladies are blonds and, since I would also look horrible as a blonde, it isn't going to happen.

But if you can rock this color, I will try and be happy for you and not jealous.

I love this coat which, surprisingly, is from Victoria's Secret and pretty inexpensive at $129

I could probably get away with wearing these Oh Deer! Toffee "taxi" shoes. They are sold out now but I think that you can find them around.

Or I can get a pair of yellow gloves like Ms WendyB and wear them with a black coat. and boots.

If you can wear this color, share how or what you wear.

Hopefully I have better luck with 2010's color!

Pantone Color of the Year 2009: Mimosa

It's always exciting to see what Pantone announces as the new colors for the year. These are the colors you are going to be seeing in fashion and in your home accessory options. Typically fashion leads the way and trends are then translated into decor but you are beginning to see this lag shrink significantly.

As the "global authority on color" we use Pantone products every day in my agency.

When selecting the color for the year, Pantone looks to world trends but they also choose colors to influence the world too. And with this upcoming year's choice, they are certainly doing that. They did not go with a color reflecting a cautious fearful mood, but a strong hopeful one.

The deep, warm, bright yellow, the color of fresh juice...



And the color, perhaps, of hope? The color of change? I think so!



Pantone is not only for art directors or interior designers, although many of their tools are aimed for these uses. They do have a great little Shopping Color guide which is only $20. I bought this deck and it is fun to use to plan out new outfit color combinations and inspirations. They have some books that you should check out too.



If you really want the in-depth coverage and to be ahead of the game, you can download the Fashion Color Report for Spring 2009. This pdf contains the inspiration, prominent colors, signature colors and color philosophy of many of fashion's top designers. It's a great cheat sheet to help guide your choices going into next year.


I'm just going to be reading it because I have a great love of color. I sometimes wish I could narrow down my wardrobe to a more streamlined palette but then I get seduced by a teal or a pink and the black/grey/green parameter goes out the window!

Do you have a favorite color for Spring?

More to learn:
- New York Magazine coverage
- Vogue.com coverage
- Color Matters
- Color Voodoo
- Search Flickr by Color

Dress: Ossie Clark via Vogue.com
Photo credit -Barak and Michelle Obama - EPA via Telegraph UK

Super Sneak Peek - Pantone & SeaVees

I thought I would share a cool offer with you all:

You have been invited by PANTONE to pre-purchase a pair of the limited edition SeaVees + Pantone shoes, available Spring 2009 in only the world's most exclusive boutiques.

By special invitation only, you can secure yourself a pair now through our private online store before they are made available to the general public.

Act quick as your order must be submitted on or before Monday, November 24th.

Online Store: www.seavees.com/pantone
Login: pantone
Password: seavees0963

SeaVees, Purveyors of California Casual, has announced an exclusive collaboration with Pantone, the world-renowned authority on color. True to their inspiration, each SeaVees style is named to honor an influential date in 1960's California-cool history.

With the creation of the 09/63, SeaVees celebrates the founding of Pantone, and the release of the first PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM in September 1963. For the first time in their 45 year history, Pantone has allowed an external design team into their hallowed archives. SeaVees has selected seven vintage colors from the original Pantone color guide. The palette, chosen from the only authentic guide known to exist, epitomizes the cool, casual style of California in 1963.

The series production has been restricted to 1,963 pairs.

The shoes are available in Men's and Women's sizes. A 25% nonrefundable deposit will be charged upon checkout. The balance plus any applicable tax and shipping charges will be charged when your Pantone shoes ship February 10, 2009.

Weekend Warriors

I was never that big into sneakers. I pretty much wore classic Keds Champions all growing up and still do (white or navy only).

But I also totally dig Converse Chuck Tayors low-tops and high tops. They're just as classic but are sportier, less preppy. And while I have white and off-white, I think I like the colors even better. Gap has a great range of the colors this Summer with a great blue - very in line with the Color of the Year, a muted red - a hold over from 2007's COTY, bright yellow and a perfect-for-summer grass green (currently being seen all over the place this year). I like the light black low tops on the bottom left too.



Of course, my red pair from the Fall are awesome too.

I've also seen some done in silver and black sequins which I may just have to get. It will be hard to decide which color. Both are delish.