Spring is on its way. Rising hemlines, bare legs, and uncovered shoulders all usher in this season of renewal and excitement. My grandfather once said to me, “It would be a shame to die in the Spring… you made it through the doldrums of winter and then don’t get to enjoy the buds on the trees and the returning robins.” He was right; Spring is terrific. Maybe it’s the color: we move away from blacks, browns and neutrals, into greens, yellows and pinks.
We just returned from market and color is everywhere. Pantone, Inc., the fashion industry’s expert on color, annually defines the emerging color palette for Spring. This year it suggests shades that are lively and a bit quirky. A few favorites that will show up at Zelaz:
Bright Yellow (thank you Michelle Obama!) is hot and in terrific shades this season: yellow grass, lemon, sunlight, all evoking the earth and its exuberance.
Fuchsia Red has deep blue undertones. It exudes warmth and vibrancy. An easy color to overdue, use it to splash up one of last year’s favorites.
Dark Citron is citrus-inspired soft green that is heavy on the yellow. It is calm and earthy and works well on nearly everyone.
Lavender is back. It’s lighter and softer than last year’s purples, but is less violet than its friend periwinkle. Be careful with lavender; not everyone can wear it. If you are one of them, rather than using lavender as a primary color, accent with lavender or find it in a print.
Lucite Green hasn’t shown up in several years, and it’s back in full force this Spring. It represents renewal and vibrancy and compliments subdued neutral tones. Not quite turquoise and not quite aqua, it pairs well with Salmon Rose, another great color on Pantone’s list.
Not used to wearing color? Some of us dive into color in the spring, but that’s not for everyone. Try it in a scarf or add a jacket to offset your naturals. Have fun and enjoy what Spring offers.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
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