I hope you are all having a lovely January! I wanted to share with you the PANTONE Fashion Color Report for Spring 2011. I know that this has been released for awhile now, but I wanted to post it closer to Spring, for those of you who have not seen it yet. I thought that this would brighten up your day and give you something to look forward to during the long winter days.
For those of you who do not know, PANTONE is the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries. Each season, PANTONE surveys the designer of New York Fashion Week and more to find out what colors are prominent in their collections, their color inspiration as well as color philosophy. From this PANTONE creates their Fashion Color Report, which is used as a very important reference tool throughout the year for fashion enthusiasts, reporters, buyers and retailers.
For this Spring 2011, the top 10 colors are:
- Honeysuckle
- Coral Rose
- Beeswax
- Regatta
- Lavender
- Blue Curacao
- Peapod
- Silver Peony
- Russet
- Silver Cloud
Some interesting things to note about the Spring Color Report (quotes from PANTONE.com):
“The colors designers have chosen for the spring season present an interesting marriage of unexpected warm and cool tones,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “By cleverly combining complementary colors, those that are opposites on the color wheel, they have created a striking intensity in the palette. These unique color combinations make it possible for consumers to pair existing pieces in colors traditionally associated with fall, with new favorites to punch up springtime wardrobes.” (So you can easily mix pieces you currently own in your closet with some new pieces and accessories in your new favorite colors to create completely new looks for Spring without having to buy a whole new wardrobe.)
Citing exotic destinations like Africa, India, Peru and Turkey as inspiration for spring 2011, designers continue to satisfy consumers’ need to escape everyday challenges with intriguing color combinations that transport them to foreign lands.
Flirtatious Honeysuckle is a feel-good hue that brings a festive sense of playfulness to this season’s palette. This vibrant pinkish-red for both apparel and cosmetics makes consumers feel alive, and is a perfect post-winter pick-me-up.
Spicy, gregarious and persuasive describe Coral Rose, a sophisticated orange that, much like Beeswax, a warm, honeyed yellow, conjures up feelings of faraway lands and locales. Pair either of these piquant hues with a cool, refreshing color-wheel opposite like Regatta for a vibrant color combination that will add zest to any wardrobe. Romantic, fanciful Lavender implies sensuality with its subtle hint of red undertone. Combine it with Beeswax or Coral Rose for a unique counterpoint.
Alluring Blue Curacao evokes thoughts of tropical destinations and pays homage to the 2010 Color of the Year, Turquoise. Practical consumers can continue to incorporate enticing Caribbean blues into spring by pairing Blue Curacao with warm, complementary colors like Honeysuckle or Coral Rose. Peapod, a fresh yellow-green, brings an organic element to the palette and is reminiscent of the green shoots that signify change and new beginnings traditionally found in spring.
Trans-seasonal neutrals ground this season’s palette and provide a stable backdrop for all of the other colors. The so-called “nude hues” are represented in the range of ethereal Silver Peony to dramatically deep Russet. Another dependable background color, Silver Cloud, is the quintessential neutral that consumers can rely on to coordinate with everything in their closet.
Also the PANTONE 2011 Color of the Year is…Honeysuckle!
Honeysuckle is a courageous, confident, and vital new color. It is encouraging and uplifting, emboldening us to face everyday trouble with confidence and vigor.
From PANTONE.com:
“In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.”
Eiseman continues, “The intensity of this festive reddish pink allures and engages. In fact, this color, not the sweet fragrance of the flower blossoms for which it was named, is what attracts hummingbirds to nectar. Honeysuckle may also bring a wave of nostalgia for its associated delicious scent reminiscent of the carefree days of spring and summer.”
It’s a striking, eye-catching hue that works well for day and night in women’s apparel, accessories and cosmetics, and in men’s ties, shirts and sportswear. Add a lively flair to interior spaces with Honeysuckle patterned pillows, bedspreads, small appliances and tabletop accessories. Looking for an inexpensive way to perk up your home? Paint a wall in Honeysuckle for a dynamic burst of energy in the family room, kitchen or hallway.
Fashion
Honeysuckle always works with the standard basics of black, navy, charcoal or light to mid gray. But using complementary bronze greens like Willow PANTONE 16-0632 and/or Tapenade PANTONE 18-0840 adds a new sophistication to the combination that showcases the energy of Honeysuckle. The green tones can be really interesting in accessories for Honeysuckle tights and top. Another great and unique combination is Honeysuckle with a pinkish brown like Apricot Brandy PANTONE 17-1540. Think of a warm cashmere turtleneck in Apricot Brandy with a matching skirt and shoes to blend and flatter the legs. A Honeysuckle cashmere scarf and belt create a luscious combination. And to blend all the colors, try a big and bold patterned bag with every color mentioned above.
So what do you think? Are you liking the new colors for Spring? I’m already starting to see a lot of the colors in stores. I’ve always been more into blues and grays then pink, so I naturally like the Blue Curacao, Regatta, and Silver Cloud. But I also love the Silver Peony and Lavender as well as the Honeysuckle. I think the Honeysuckle and Lavender would be great accent pieces and accessories like scarves, jewelry, makeup and nail polishes. I would definitely like to accent my home for Spring with new pieces with these colors. I don’t think these colors are very innovative for Spring. They are normal pastel pinks, yellows, lavender and light blue I think of when I think of Spring or Easter, but I am interested to see what the Designers and Retailers do to give it a new look and feel. What do you think? Are there any colors you really like? What do you think about Honeysuckle being the Color of the Year? Will you be rocking this color come Spring? Let me know!
Love,
K
Lace + Blush 
