The Color of the Year - 2011

I can't believe how fast 2010 has come to an end and it has been a year since my posting on the 2010 color trend! Well, the New Year is here and Pantone has announced the Pantone 2011 color of the year! It is the PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle!

Pantone says that it is "A Color for All Seasons! It is Courageous. Confident. Vital. A brave new color, for a brave new world. Let the bold spirit of Honeysuckle infuse you, lift you and carry you through the year. It's a color for every day – with nothing “everyday” about it."

They further state that while the 2010 color of the year, PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise, served as an escape for many, Honeysuckle emboldens us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor.

A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting. It elevates our psyche beyond escape, instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life. "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."

Some Suggestions from Pantone:

Wedding Apparel
A flattering hue for wedding attendant apparel and accessories, Honeysuckle is now one of the nearly 200 PANTONE WEDDING Colors available from Dessy, a leading manufacturer of bridesmaid, social-occasion and flower-girl dresses.

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.

Paint
Honeysuckle is one of 3,000 colors available in Pantone's line of superior-quality, eco-friendly paint. PANTONE Paints combine the accuracy of PANTONE Colors with the beauty of high-performance Dutch paints.

Home Interiors
Honeysuckle is upbeat and dynamic when used on large areas like the entry area of a house or an apartment. It is an appetite and conversation stimulant when used on the dining room walls. In the kitchen, it adds a fun touch on the table in placemats and other linens (patterned or solid), colored glassware, candles and small appliances. Honeysuckle is a great color to cover up shabby kitchen cabinets, or, if that's too much of a color statement for you, try repainting knobs and drawer pulls. But be warned – once you try this arresting shade, it can become addictive.

Packaging
Honeysuckle is an excellent packaging color for products that speak to something active or festive, or are suggestive of sweet tastes and scents. It’s an especially good shade for delicious food or drink packaging. The name Honeysuckle is evocative of these perceptions.

The Color of the Year -- 2010

Color is very personal. Everyone has a favorite color and can relate to it from the time they were little children. Certain emotions are associated with color, and planners and designers know that using color is very important to create that “bang” or “pop” you are looking for when you walk into a room. First, I'd like to go over the basics of color before I reveal Pantone's Color of the Year for 2010.

As you may remember from elementary school, there are three main categories of color:

1. Primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. These are pure and cannot be created through the mixing of any other colors.

2. Secondary colors: orange, purple, and green. These are produced by mixing of primary colors. i.e. yellow + blue = green; blue + red = purple; and red + yellow = orange.

3. Tertiary colors: A combination of primary and secondary colors. There are six tertiary colors: red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-violet, and red-violet.

Additionally, colors fall into three schematic groups:

1. Monochromatic colors: all colors, tints and shades of a single hue. They go well together, are easy on the eyes, and have a soothing effect.

2. Analogous colors: these are in close proximity to each other on the color wheel and always made up of three colors, the main one being red, plus two neighboring colors. They are similar in hue and saturation.

3. Complimentary colors: usually comprised of two colors that are opposite of the color wheel and are high in contrast.

The Color Wheel
Image courtesy of Northlite

So, who comes up with the color trends from year to year, you ask?

Pantone, Inc. in Carlstadt, New Jersey is the company known for its Pantone Matching System® (PMS), a book of standardized colors in fan format for color-coding. The Pantone name is known worldwide as the standard language for accurate color communication, from designer to manufacturer to retailer to customer, across a variety of industries.

According to Pantone, "PANTONE® 15-5519 Turquoise, an inviting, luminous hue, [is] the color of the year for 2010. Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing."

For brides wanting a flattering choice for attendant apparel and accessories on their big day, Turquoise is now one of the nearly 200 PANTONE WEDDING Colors available from Dessy, a leading manufacturer of bridesmaid, social occasion and flower girl dresses, as well as destination wedding gowns under the labels Dessy Collection, After Six, Alfred Sung, Lela Rose Bridesmaid and Sandals Destination Wedding Dresses. PANTONE WEDDING exclusively from Dessy provides a collection of color tools to make it easy for brides to achieve perfectly color-coordinated weddings – from inspiration to “I do.”

Additionally, Turquoise is one of 3,000 colors available in Pantone’s line of superior-quality, eco-friendly paint. PANTONE Paints combine the accuracy of PANTONE Colors with the beauty of high-performance Dutch paints. Perfect for a powder room or bedroom, Turquoise is an evocative, spa-like hue that adds an undertone of warmth and excitement to any cool space. In the kitchen, Turquoise adds a unique flare to tabletop and appliances. I love this years' color!

The Little Black Dress vs. The Little White Dress

We have all heard about the little black dress (LBD) – and for many years, the LBD has been “a must have” in everyone’s closet! It is the perfect dress for any event. It is a sophisticated, timeless classic, is season-less, always in style, and can be dressed down for work or dressed up for a party with very little effort by simply adding the right accessory. It is said to be “slimming” although not ideal for tropical countries as black is known to absorb heat.

However, as of spring 2009, based on the runway collections, we saw that the little white dress (LWD) was gaining on the LBD. It is considered a cool and refreshing summer choice, gives an aura of angelic innocence and on the contrary to many opinions, it can easily be accessorized. The LWD has always received a bad rap because it can be tricky to pull off for many, as it is somewhat revealing, not considered “slimming” and due to its stain-ability.

There are so many possibilities for the LWD, not only as a fashion statement but as a bridal attire option. Here are a couple from The Platinum Collection by Priscilla of Boston:

PL 276

PL 269

So, is the LWD going to be the new LBD? Will it still be around in 2010? I believe that it is just as versatile however… you be the judge:

• Check out these sleek, new LBD options from Neiman Marcus
• Take a look at Amsale's latest LWD collection

and let me know what you think!

The Magic of Color

I just wanted to share some pictures from a venue marketing event that I attended a couple of weeks ago. The event, called "The Magic of Color," was hosted by SESMA (Special Event Sites Marketing Alliance) in the Columbus Club at Union Station in Washington, DC. Union Station is a beautiful, historic venue whose setting and ambiance makes for a wonderful site to host your next special event! In addition to the Columbus Club, Union Station has two other sites in the Main and East Halls which can accommodate anywhere from 200 to 2,000 seated guests!

Here is a picture of a vibrantly decorated eco-friendly bar.

I absolutely loved the colors of this table setting!

If you would like more information on hosting an event at Union Station, please visit their Special Events website!