Gray skies are going to clear up – put on a happy color for Spring 2007
Outside my window right now it looks like the arctic tundra. Blowing and drifting snow, with much more snow on the way. The absence of color is startling – it’s all shades of gray, from the silver of the snow to the gray of the barren trees. It all seems pretty sad.
So, to counteract that view, I decided to check into what colors we’ll be wearing this spring. We know that shades of green will be in for Spring 2007, but what other colors will seem fresh?
I went to the
Spring 2007 Color Trend Report by Pantone, Inc.. Pantone is well known among designers and printers as the leader in color systems and products. They are also on the forefront of color forecasting for a wide variety of industries. They are showing an interesting mix of neutrals in almost cosmetic shades called “Silver Peony” and “Cafe Creme.” They also predicted a few surprising brights, like “Hollyhock” a less cloying purple than I have seen recently and citrus shades like “Golden Apricot. We know white and black combinations are going to be big for spring, but the contrasts work as well with a neutral like “Opal Gray.” Check out their full report, and more colors online.
To see if retailers are following these predictions, I went to Spiegel and L.L.Bean.
Spiegel’s Spring Look Book points to two trends that seem to fall into Pantone’s colorways. “Safari Chic” and “Feminine Neutrals” both pull from the pale neutral shades, sometimes with a glint of metallic, like this tank and jacket. Paired with white, they take on a sophisticated, polished look. L.L. Bean is showing some of the fresh, fruity brights, like this sweater. By contrast, when you pair these colors with white, they seem very perky and preppy.
Combat the gray skies and the blizzard conditions with a little tour around the Internet. You’ll see colors that will perk you up, and could soon be perking up your wardrobe!
Spring 2007, Color Trends, Spiegel, L.L.Bean
February 13th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Love that purple color! I’m a purple fan all around, but love the hint of a smoky gray underneath.
February 13th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Isn’t that nice? I am intrigued by the color combinations that are being shown for spring. I have read some other color forecasting stories recently, and spring almost has a split personality. It’s either high contrast or neutrals. But these few shots of brights are kind of refreshing. Thanks for stopping by, Jennifer!