Sensational Color

Color Inspired Footwear: Crocs

Think 'color' and 'footwear' and Crocs instantly pop into mind. 

Relatively unknown to most of us just a year ago these colorful clogs now seem to be everywhere.  Originally designed as a boating or outdoor shoe this footwear phenomenon is now worn for work or for play, for comfort or for fashion, and by young and old alike.

Made of a two rivets and petroleum based foam they weigh next to nothing and Croc fans can't seem to stop raving about how comfortable they are.  Celebrity chef Mario Batali is rarely seen without his orange crocs and the Crocs site includes testimonials of many, many fans including medical professions, doctors, teachers, teens, and the list could go on and on.  One women even wore white crocs under her wedding gown.

Their modest price and mutitude of color choices make it easy to own a pair in any color that strikes you.

If the bright colors alone aren't enough of a fashion statement Croc wearers can buy Jibbitz to add bits and bling to their funky footwear.

Color Inspired Footwear: Gravis Artist Series

Gravis has taken a different approach to incorporating color and art into footwear. 

Gravis has shoes made up from hand cut pieces of art! There's only 36 pairs for sale. The colab has been created by Marok, Matt Sewell, Jono Wood and Tyler Gibney, with the artists personally selecting the accent colours, trims and style of their shoes and putting their signatures on the heel. Naturally they come in a wooh-ha box with a tee shirt and numbers matching dog tags.

There's a small, invitation only event tonight at Size! on Carnaby St in London to launch the Gravis Artist series shoe.

Color Inspired Footwear: Adidas Adicolor

Adidas classics as a canvas for creativity.  Brilliant!

Adicolor launched earlier this year and includes 36 pre-designed styles from well known creatives plus a boxed set of their classic white Adidas model and paints so that you can customize your own pair. 

This idea isn't new to Adidas but this year they reinvented the concept  (originally released in 1983) of packaging footwear with colors for customization and they went one step further by putting these design tools and footwear into the hands of some of the world's most creative people and the results are amazing.  It is worth a visit to Adidas | Adicolor to see the winner of the design competition and the designer color collections.

If you are inspired by the idea the site provides enough "how to" information overcome feeling intimidated by the thought of coloring your own pair.  All you need to do is let your creativity emerge and you become the designer.

Color Inspired Footwear: Havaianas

These flexible, durable and bouncy flip flops often referred to as the “best rubber sandal in the world” have been worn since 1962 by Brazilain citizens, dignataries and celebrities. 

Three years ago, Havaianas sandal were introduced to the United States and had an almost instant following.  While flip flops have traditionally been reserved for casual and beach wear designers latched on to Havaianas and showed them on the runway and in photo shoots for the treadiest fashion & sports magazines.  After that it wasn't long before celebrities were wearing them on the red carpet and stylish Americans were scooping them up in every color available.

And in case you aren't sure how to say 'Havaianas' it is pronounced ah-vai-YAH-nas, Portuguese for Hawaiians, and was a tribute to America’s glamorous holiday destination.

Color Trends: Understated Pink

Pink like red is moving in two directions. It is now warmer with tones toward coral, watermelon and delicate shell pink.  On the cooler side pink hints of dusty lilac and heather.

Recent comments about the trend for pink:

One of our favorite style trends this season is a dusty pink dubbed "blush" by interior designer Barbra Barry. "Blush evokes lightness and air", says the designer. "I've fallen in love with it as the new neutral- with a twist."- Home magazine (Sept. 2006)

"We're still showing pinks, but they are getting dustier, almost going to old-fashioned." --Britt Bivens of Promostyl

"Fashionable and fun, the pinks of this year range from hues of deep fuchsia, to frosted berry, to sweet, candy pink." --Behr Premium Plus Color Trend Report

"The color you need to know now...shell pink...Rather than feeling saccharine and childish, shell pink is a sophisticated version that both men and women can appreciate. It's more subtle than pure pink, with coral undertones and a lumininescent feel...--Southern Accents magazine (Sept/Oct 2006)

"Pink is no longer an "it" color but rather a new staple. Last year rose gold began to rise in popularity and this season, rose gold watches are coming into their own. And pink is not just for the ladies." --JewelryInformationCenter.org

Photo from Instyle of Dior by John Galliano Resort 2007

Color Trends: Contemporary Yellow

A soft yellow can quietly replace white or off-white walls in most decorating schemes and the addition of this sunny hue immediately creates warmth and ambiance in a room that may previously have lacked personality.  In comforting shades of straw, butter and light gold, this color blends easily with this season's smokey grays, sensual browns, or blue ocean hues.

Yellow gets glowing reviews:

"This is about using colour in a young, contemporary, urban way - it's easily achievable, not relying on accessorising with expensive pieces, instead it's simply about making the most of space and light." -- Oria Kiely, textile and fashion designer commenting on the Light Fantastic

"Straws Golden Moment..plucked from nature, this mellow yellow is a versatile neutral with a sunny disposition." --Metropolitan Home

"Be on the watch... in 2006, Yellow will be stealing the spotlight from the brown palette. Yellows with a buttery flavor are finding broad acceptance in traditional and American Country trends." -- Mannington

"In the last three years, yellow definitely has come back into play. That's going to be a continuing phenomenon because it came about because of Retro. A lot of people associate yellow with mama's or grandma's kitchen. Also, from the psychological standpoint, yellow is always associated with sunlight, good cheer and a friendly atmosphere." --Lee Eiseman, internationally renowned color and design expert from The 2006 Home & Housewares Show Preview

"Today's colour gurus are plumping for a more gentle, youthful, mellow yellow. Now, creamy yellows shimmer. Ochre yellows exude style. Green yellows strike a light, crisp note." --as seen in the Yellow Go-Go palette from Sico.

Photo from Sico website

Purple Continues Its Reign on the Red Carpet

Purple continues to reign as the color of choice on the Red Carpet and Tim Gunn who 'makes it work' on "Project Runway" cited aubergine as the hot color trend for the Emmys. 

Evagline Lilly, Ellen Pompeo, Leah Remini, and Cheryl Hines were among those showing off their lovely curves in this royal hue.

All photos Kevin Winter/Getty
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Color Trends: Natural and Juicy Orange

Orange remains natural and juicy for fall 2006 but as we move into 2007 the hue is toned down towards desert inspired adobe, aged terra cotta, and warm copper.  On the lighter side orange leans toward pink and the result is a lovely coral.  These oranges will move the color into more mainstream home decor and have broader appeal for fashion.

The energy of orange is creating buzz:

Color Marketing Group's predictions for the next batch of oranges as presented by HGTV include--

• Blood Orange: This is the newest look for consumer goods: a mélange of the authenticity of juicy orange and high-gloss coppers accentuated by a high-gloss finish.
• Koi: Look for this yellow-orange to stand in for red in homes everywhere in 2007.
• Lovely: For the fashionistas, watch for this feminine hue of merging vivid oranges and softer pinks. The basis of this color can be found in nature, from coral reefs to sun-filled skies.
• Sunrise: Last seen in the automotive field in the mid '80s, orange now has become accepted in sporty and rugged vehicles as a color of individualization. We'll see a lot of "sunrises" driving around in 2007. *Snappy: A "get real" orange that is copper based and Eastern influenced, Snappy will be beautiful in a matte or metallic finish. Where to look for it: in an office or commercial space near you soon.

"Orange, which was the color of the avant-garde in the late '90s, is still big. Mainstream designs simply use it to shock, while trendsetters are pairing it with hot, hot, pink." --Nancy Bernard of Step Inside Design Magazine

"Move over, pink--orange is a tangerine dream.  The color energizes neutrals, looks plucky in straw hats, and is the right bright for nearly all skin tones-but especially for redheads." --InStyle.com

"Orange is not generally one of America's favorite colors. But it really started to show itself in the Nineties and has continued to gain acceptance ever since." --Leatrice Eiseman, internationally renowned color and design expert as quoted in Women's Wear Daily

Chris Webb, Exterior Color and Trend Designer, for GM North America talks about the popularity of the color orange on the GM's FYI Blog

"Terracotta orange is now permanently in the top ten list of colors from Martha Stewart Home," according to Stephen Earl of Martha Stewart Omnimedia

Picture from HGTV website

Color Trends: Blue Ocean Hues

The deep blue of navy sport jackets and denim jeans remains strong, but the feeling changes when this classic color is paired with aqua, turquoise or green.  The influence of the blue spa colors  keeps the color cool by day and the deeper hues move it to dark, mysterious and chic at night. 

The trend towards blue ocean hues seems to be the consensus for the color this season:

"Blues inspired by the environment, are leading the color grouping...Aqueous is a sophisticated new introduction that bridges blue and green inspired by spa influences and ocean hues." --Color Marketing Group

"With these moods, it is hard for just one color to emerge as the ultimate hit of the season. It is possible, however, to indicate major directions, such as the blues for example; they really come up strong." --Dorlastan Fashion Colors Fall/Winter 2006/2007

"The mysterious ocean depths - the last truly undiscovered area of the globe - still serves as inspiration for the way we reflect upon our lives. Be seduced, enveloped, intoxicated by these dark, moody hues and disappear into its inky, mysterious depths." --The "Undercurrent" palette at Dulux

"Turquoise: Reflecting the light of a tropical sea, this refreshing blue is creating ripples both in the fashion world and at home" --Elle Decor magazine

"Continuing into 2008, Blue will be seen as the comeback family. Blues that focus on Turquoise and Teal are new to the home market and are being used in everything from paint to accessories. In the classic arena, Navy can't be ignored. It looks fresh with the combination of white and it also comes in the form of Cobalt-China Blue." -- Mannington

Picture from Dulux website

Color Trend: Go Green

Symbolic of life, health and nature, green the color of balance and harmony has come to represent the global movement to protect our environment.  The current hues of green are both acidic and botanical which reflects the influence of this movement and our desire for sustainability, organics and eco-savy lifestyles. 

Naturally green is making news:

"Green is in," said Margaret Walsh, forecasting director of the Color Association of the U.S. See why she thinks you should "Consider green in your new color scheme".

Recent color phenomena like lime green are being replaced by lighter shades of palm green and chartreuse, but the hot "now" color is a bright grass green with forest green not far behind, reports Dewey Sadka, president of Dewey Color System of Marietta, Georgia

"Greens are still alive and well and continuing in popularity to underpin many colour schemes." --Resene Paint

"An influence called the Techno-Organic Balance reflects consumers' desire to find a balance in their lives between nature and technological advances. Breathing Space refers to our search for serenity and calm in a space that insulates us from common daily stresses and emerging threats to safety. Both of these influences point to the continued popularity of green in a variety of hues." --Anne Krueger of HGTV commenting on the Color Marketing Group forecast Green.

"The most popular hue of this year, the color green is very diverse, ranging from shades of lush grasses, to crisp celery, to deep olive." --Behr Premium Plus Color Trend Report

"...a big movement from yellow green to blue-based green. An increase in knowledge and awareness of sustainability and eco-savvy products and processes is the influence." --Color Marketing Group