Sensational Color

Color Trends: Simply Black

Basic black is always in style because it is as much a color as it is an attitude.  What is fresh about black this season is that it is unadorned allowing interesting textures and surfaces to take center stage.

Another notable trend for the color black is that you will see it with an underlying hint of another hue such as blue, purple, green or brown which adds complexity and mystery to this chic color.  You can see color infused blacks in everything from luxury automobiles to floral arrangements.

And while we agree that black is a classic rather than a trend we still love talking about it:

"Black never goes away. It's so symbolic; it's sophisticated, elegant, classic, safe, dependable and classy." --Leatrice Eiseman, internationally renowned color and design expert

"The ultimate in chic simplicity; black and white makes a return in all combinations imaginable."--The Style Council

"While color infuses the runway, Prada plays with richly textured blacks and Marc Newson designs a limited edition cosmonaut sneaker - the Zvezdochka - with richly layered patterns of black." --Jody Turner, CEO of Culture of Future in an article for Apple

"After several years of brilliant color, black is back with a vengeance. This year it's unadorned and painfully plain, displaying it's nuances primarily through texture: the shadings of slippery velvet, shiny vinyls and supple leathers; the ambiguity of heavy black rubber soled boots underscoring a long black lace skirt." --Pantone

"Black, often with metallic effects, also strengthened as the second most popular color in Europe and tops among luxury vehicles there. Over the next few years, jet black will increasingly be replaced with black metallic in North America." --DuPont Automotive Color Popularity Report

Photo from New York magazine

Color Trends: Red Warming Up and Cooling Down

Looking back at color trends from past seasons red has been either on the warm side of the color spectrum or the cool side but not both.  It has been thought that for the cooler side of red to emerge that the warmer hues have to step back or vice versa but this is not what is happening for red currently. 

Warmer reds remain strong and merge with orange and at the same time cooler reds crossed with purple or blue are coming forward.  The trend for red has caught the attention of many trend and style mavens:

"The family of reds is heavily influenced by the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympics as well as global influences from Central America and India. Reds are both cooling down and warming up simultaneously." --Color Marketing Group

"While red wasn't used much for spring, it's making a nice comeback this fall." --Leatrice Eiseman,

"By the end of 2006, we'll be seeing some very rich and vivid orange-reds, like the color of a blood orange" --Aimee Desrosiers of California Paints in an interview with HGTV

"We see many shades of Red hitting this country by storm in both the Apparel and Home Fashion markets"  --Design Options Forecast

"Scarlet Fever... the color of passion and excitement, this hot-blooded hue is all the rage in home decor." -- Metropolitan Home magazine ( Sept. 2006)

"Magenta...Lusciously elegant, this deep purple-red captures the essence of autumn and makes an alluring statement at home"  --Elle Decor

"Roule Rouge is flamboyant yet sensual...all about style and glamour...the vibrant and forceful power of the prime colour red... captures a range of hues from blood red right across the palette to baby pink." --Fashion Capital

"Red is the new black...after the black and white 1990's, after the neon brights of 2002-4, red looks sophisticated and new."--Vogue magazine (Aug 2006)

"With tricked-out plaids and somber shades dominating the stores, red has emerged as the breakthrough color of the season. And not just dark red, but fiery crimson and scarlet too. A ruby-hued accessory makes looking effortlessly elegant a cinch. Red-dy or not, this color is here to stay." --Fall shoe trends from ivillage

Photo courtesy of Color Marketing Group

Color Trends: Purple as a New Neutral

Purple, from soft violets to lush orchids to deep blue-purple, is a color has won over designers this year.  It has been called the hottest color on the fashion runway and in home decor puple is being used prominently.  Purple is a color that can take on many moods from soft and feminine in its lighter tints to deep and mysterious in its deeper shades making it a color that has broad appeal.

Many people are commenting on purple:

"Purple Moves in on Pink. "We're starting to see a decline in pink. It's been a prominent color, but it is heading more toward violet and orchid. Some of the paler shades of purple will start to replace pink..." --Aimee Desrosiers of California Paints in an interview with HGTV

"The new black. The new beige. Call it what you will, but purple is the hottest neutral on the home-fashions runway these days," -- Mary Graff of iVilliage.com

"Purple is Top Pick for Homer Laughlin in 2006. New Heather Fiesta® Adds Warmth and Excitement to Tabletop Décor." --Dan Williams of Homer Laughlin China

"The cultures of continental Asia come together for a rich, creative and luxurious feeling. The colors are composed of rich ochres and purples tones inspired by the sunrise and sunset of an exotic mountain range. Patterns of tapestries and embellisments inall-over treatments reference far-away lands."--Promostyl Fashion Key Trend Report

Style.com has included the purple chunky-heel platform from Gucci (shown in pic) in their top ten fashion looks.

Leslie J. Harrington, principal of LH Color, of Old Greenwich, Connecticut recognizes purple's proven staying power, indicating that it is no longer trendy. "It's a usable color that has served us well and is hard to let go." Moving forward, she foresees deeper colors evolving like rich orchid and blue-purple.

Color Trends: Sexy, Smoky Gray

In looking at the direction for gray this year and going forward the word that keeps coming to mind is 'sfumato'.  This is an Italian term derived from 'fumo' meaning smoke and sfumato is a term I have heard often in the last year because it is a word used to describe the works of Leonardo da Vinci.

The short definition of sfumato is the translucent layering of color to create the perceptions of volume and depth; the colors are blend so subtly that you cannot perceive the transition or the individual colors.

In describing many of the grays that I am seeing it is difficult to truly say if the color would be considered gray or brown or green or some other hue.  The colors have depth and are rich, smoky, and sexy.  These are the types of color that are complex and can hold your interest.  You can't immediately put a label on them.

See what is being said about gray in all of its variations:

Gray, in all its sexy, smoky permutations, is a major tone for fall jeans. --In Style "Top Denim Trends"

Gray is the new neutral for 2006 and will be warming up, so much so, that it will be hard to tell the gray from the brown. -- Mannington

The British designer Matthew Williamson...handled color well at a moment when fashion is becoming more somber. His palette of grays,mauves and pinks was gentle and efffective. --Suzy Menkes for the International Herald Tribune

"First made glamorous in the '40's by Katherine Hepburn and her signature menswear-inspired look, Grey-Flannel turns up on fall's most versatile pieces" --Elle.com

"Gray- the color of the season is sophisticated and versatile for both daytime and evening".--Harper's Baazar (Aug 2006)

Photo from Calvin Klein

Color Icon: The Tiffany Blue Box

Whether you catch a glimpse from across a busy street or receive a precious package under the soft glow of candlelight, the box is unmistakably from Tiffany & Co.  Since 1837 the blue box has contained the exquisitely designed jewelry and high quality gifts that have made Tiffany's a legend.

The particular shade of "robin egg" blue over time has become so closely identified with the Tiffany brand that it is often called Tiffany Blue.  The blue box is an American icon that has come to symbolize exclusivity and unmatched craftsmanship. 

When someone gives you a gift from Tiffany's they are communicating that they care enough to give you something very special.  For those lucky enough to have received a gift from Tiffany's it is very likely that upon catching sight of the blue packaging you breathed in a bit deeper, felt your heart rate increase and silently whispered the word "Tiffany"s" before you ever opened the box. 

The positive emotional responses that are evoked by the sight of the blue box during the gift giving process have a very real and significant value.  Tiffany's takes great care to protect this assest and the blue designated by Pantone as number 1837 (which interestingly is the same as the year Tiffany's was founded) is a registered trademark of the company. 

If you've yet to experience the delight of receiving a gift from Tiffany's I suggest clicking over to Tiffany.com and printing out a few wish list items that you can strategically leave where your loved one will find them.  If you already own one or more of their timeless creations go anyway because you can never have too many gorgeous adornments.

Color Trends: The Sensual Appeal of Brown

We have recently been putting together a list of links and quotes about "the buzz on color trend" and over the next week I'll share some of what Julie(fashion and home trendspotter extraordinare) and I have found for each color trend.

Brown has become an important color for fashion and home.  Both men and women are discovering how sophisticated brown tones can work as a wardrobe staple in the same way that they have always used black.  Brown is being worn beautifully in combinations that include everything from the softest blush pink to warm straw, bold reds, and water inspired blue greens. 

For home the the mid-tones are warm and inviting and the deeper tones rich and sensuous.  Brown in all of its wonderful variations seen this season is elevated it to a new level.

Here is some of what is being said about the trends for brown:

"People are tapping into the sensuality of brown. When you think of brown as stockings or foundation powder or dark roast coffee-you get the feeling of the richness of it and how warm and sensuous it can be" --Aimee Desrosiers of California Paints in an interview with HGTV

"Musings about neutrals rarely end in exclamation points. They're too safe, too recessive, too conventional. Not to worry. This season it's all about beautiful mid-tones and deep shades. Think cinnamon, gourmet chocolate, Turkish coffee. Think tortoiseshell. Think skin tones from ports around the world." --Sherwin-Williams Color Trend "Sumptuous Browns"

"The green movement, this time meaning environmental rather than color, is affecting the color forecast. This movement's impact on color is expansive from the return of neutrals with linen, taupe and beige to materials like raffia, bamboo and exotic woods." -- From Home Accents Today

"This look combines sensuous shapes with beautiful smoky colours, taking inspiration from contemporary designers influenced by the legacy of the Arts and Crafts Movement." -- from The Still Live palette from Dulux.

"The big news in color is brown. Yes, people, brown is the new black. Paired with baby pink and blue, rich jewel colors, or black and metallics, brown is really happening." --Nancy Bernard of Step Inside Design Magazine

Picture from Sherwin Williams website

OPI Celebrates 25 Colorful Years

I remember the first time I bought OPI nail polish.  It was a shade of coral that perfectly blended with my tanned skin and became an immediate "have to have" purchase. 

OPI was still the "new kid" then so it seems hard to believe that this year they are celebrating 25 years of bringing color to the world and that their business has grown across 75 countries and six continents.

For over two decades OPI has offered glorious color and style  and their 25th anniversary collection continues in that tradition.  The colors are timeless with a richness and diversity of style that will satisfy every fashion personality and will blend perfectly with this seasons fashion colors of warm caramel, deep brown, rich reds, and the sophistocated mid-shades of straw, gray flannel and moss green or the luxurious metallics and jewel tones. 

A few of the colors are shown here but for the complete offering and the always creative color names visit OPI.com. 

Now the question is, "Should I try "Decades of Shades", "OH...To Be 25 Again!" or "OP-I Love This Color" first?"

Answering the Call With Color

The current rage in the cellular industry is offering cell phones in an assortment of colors.  "As the cell phone market nears saturation, cell phone companies are increasingly appealing to the consumer’s sense of style as a way to drive sales." according to Wirefly , an online leader in one-stop comparison shopping for cell phones and wireless service plans.

This color trend had been emerging over the last year but truly became colormania with the release of Motorola's Pink RAZR.  Unveiled earlier this year (to coincide with Valentine’s Day) it marked the first time a major cell phone advertising campaign focused on color rather than features.

Most of the other cell phone companies have released their own colorful contendors.  The Sanyo SCP-2400 phones come in Dark Bronze, Misty Rose (Pink), True Blue, Midnight Black and Silver Sky!

 
Motorola has expanded it’s color selection for the Pebble Phones beyond classice black and now offers it in blue, green and orange.

 

Nokia and Sony Ericsson also have released new models in unique colors like granite grey, amethyst purple, and harvest taupe.

 

Following the success of the pink RAZR Motorola is back with another notable color option.  Their latest is the distinctive and stylish gold of the MOTORAZR V3i Dolce & Gabbana signature cell phone.

Earlier this week Verizon Wireless announced a digital music player called “Chocolate” which is a cell phone made by LG Electronics that plays songs downloaded over Verizon’s wireless network.

What color is your cell phone?

 

Color and Imagination Solve Age Old Problem

We've all experienced the problem.  You put two socks in the washer yet only one comes out leaving you with a bunch of socks without mates.  While the lone sock problem is a minor annoyance for most of us for a group of folks in San Francisco it has become a mission.

They set out to:

1. Solve the age-old problem of the disappearing sock,
2.  Transform the sad sock into a necessary accessory,
3.  Provide kids permission to express themselves, and
4.  Allow girls a chance to be girls for as long as they want.

Acheiving that mission took innovation, creativity and color!

Their company, Littlemissmatched sells colorful patterned socks for children and adults. Packaged in odd numbers, they're sold in missmatched colors and patterns.

Color consultant Joann Eckstut developed four unique color palettes for the company with each color palette different from the next and based on the "missmatched color wheel" shown here.

KOOKY
All about complementary colors. These colors sit opposite each other on the color wheel.

FABULOUS
All about monochromatic colors. These colors are different shades of the same color.

MARVELOUS
All about analogous colors. These colors sit next to each other on the color wheel.   

 

ZANY
All about every color on the color wheel.

Color and ingenuity plus a dash of fun have solved the laundry day dilema.  I love the thought of never having to match up socks again.  I'm just wondering how TJ and David will look wearing them.

You can see their socks and other missmatched products at Littlemissmatched

Technorati Tags: Littlemissmatched, Joann Eckstut, socks, color, colour

When It Comes To Gems The Natural Color is Most Valuable

The appeal of gemstones is in large part is due to their rarity.  Historically these eye dazzling beauties were the result of several of nature's elements coming together perfectly to produce their rare color. 

Today many of the stones we see in jewelry stores are not the result of nature but rather the result of enhancing techniques that are used to produce the color.  While these processes produce some beautiful results they take away a bit of the mystery and magic of these precious jewels.

Recent controversy over undisclosed treatments has had a negative impact on the the value of some colored stones.  While there is nothing wrong with a treated or enhanced stones the skepticism has risen out of this fact not being disclosed. 

If someone wants a rare gem it is fair to expect that they would want to know whether or not the stone has been treated. As in anything people don't want to pay for a rarity of nature when what they are getting is something produced in a lab. 

Even if you are not soley in the market for a rare gem you might like to have an untreated stone. For a selection of dazzling "naked" stones visit  Out of Our Mines where you can find all of the colored gems pictured.

One thing to remember is that regardless of whether the jewels you wear are natural or enhanced colored gemstones are a wonderful way to show your "dazzling" personal style