Let’s Talk About Color(s)!

Sometimes a widely announced new color truly does dominate a season, other times  colors seem to come out of nowhere. But have you noticed that in general there seems to be quite a bit of coordination between the clothing world, the gift world, and the industrial/interior design world regarding color? Why? 

Well, there is a little known group of consultants who study various elements in the world and then translate their thoughts into the color palette for a particular season. I call them THE COLOR CZARS.

A number of companies make these color decisions. One of the better known is the Pantone Color Institute. There are many more.

I have mixed feelings about the power that seems to be in the hands of a limited number of people, dictating what color I am going to find in stores. Who do they think they are?

On the other hand they do save us from color chaos. Can you imagine if every shade of green, blue, and red out there was different in tone and hue?

No, I'll take the influence of the Color Czars, and ignore it when it suits me. At least with them around there's some color order in our world.

What's in play for fall?

So what are these color dictators saying about Fall 2007? (Hard to believe it's just around the corner.)

Several patterns you'll see this fall are nature oriented-skins (cheetah/leopard expanding to zebra, giraffe and tiger) and images.

By images, I don't mean photographic, more in abstract or tossed. Think of a polka dot pattern but, instead of dots, it's bunnies or birds, or.....

There's is also a big movement toward optical prints. Diane von Furstenberg has been inspired by this category. In general. There's is less busy, overall embellished looks, and a trend toward cleaned up silhouettes.

For example, shine is still important, but instead of bling you see sateen trims or garments in charmeuse. So in general, the looks are more elegant and less bohemian than they've been for the past several years.

Grey is the new brown!

You're going to see a lot of grey this season as the new backdrop for color. Grey is definitely gaining ground on brown, but both are still in play. Of course black is always and forever an important color.

So what are you going to mix with these backgrounds? The big fall color standout is RED-chili pepper red. It's a symbolic color-one of power. Red adds an element of Latin or Thai spice to those background colors.

Blue is going to be important too, both in navy tones and "bottle top" tones. Green moss is reflective of the environment with subtle earthy qualities. It mixes well with other intense colors from the fall palette.

Purple mixed with wine will be important, and also deep plum. Yellow, called lemon curry by the czars, is an important accent color. I don't suggest a head to toe dose of it, but it looks great with those aforementioned background colors.

Expect to see lots of gold and silver infused materials for Holiday. Also look for plenty of slippery, sexy, shiny black, brown, and other-colored leathers.

So have fun during the Fall and Holiday Seasons. There is plenty of color to play with.

WHAT DOES WEARING

Black
Black is the color of authority and power. It is popular in fashion because it makes people appear thinner. It is also stylish and timeless. Black also implies submission. Some fashion experts say a woman wearing black implies submission to men. Black outfits can also be overpowering, or make the wearer seem aloof or evil.

White
Brides wear white to symbolize innocence and purity. White reflects light and is considered a summer color. White is popular in decorating and in fashion because it is light, neutral, and goes with everything. However, white shows dirt and is therefore more difficult to keep clean than other colors. Doctors and nurses wear white to imply sterility.

Red
The most emotionally intense color, red stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing. It is also the color of love. Red clothing gets noticed and makes the wearer appear heavier. Since it is an extreme color, red clothing might not help people in negotiations or confrontations. The most romantic color, pink, is more tranquilizing. Sports teams sometimes paint the locker rooms used by opposing teams bright pink so their opponents will lose energy.

Blue
The color of the sky and the ocean, blue is one of the most popular colors. It causes the opposite reaction as red. Peaceful, tranquil blue causes the body to produce calming chemicals, so it is often used in bedrooms. Blue can also be cold and depressing. Fashion consultants recommend wearing blue to job interviews because it symbolizes loyalty. People are more productive in blue rooms.

Green
Currently the most popular decorating color, green symbolizes nature. It is the easiest color on the eye and can improve vision. It is a calming, refreshing color. People waiting to appear on TV sit in "green rooms" to relax. Hospitals often use green because it relaxes patients. Brides in the Middle Ages wore green to symbolize fertility. Dark green is masculine, conservative, and implies wealth.

Yellow
Cheerful sunny yellow is an attention getter. While it is considered an optimistic color, people lose their tempers more often in yellow rooms, and babies will cry more. It is the most difficult color for the eye to take in, so it can be overpowering if overused. Yellow enhances concentration, hence its use for legal pads. It also speeds metabolism.

Purple
The color of royalty, purple connotes luxury, wealth, and sophistication. It is also feminine and romantic. However, because it is rare in nature, purple can appear artificial.

Brown
Solid, reliable brown is the color of earth and is abundant in nature. Light brown implies genuineness while dark brown is similar to wood or leather. Brown can also be sad and wistful. Men are more apt to say brown is one of their favorite colors.

Kate Van NessGuest Editor

"Skins"

Grey is The New Brown

Optical Print by
Diane Von Furstenberg