The Color Kids: Spring 2009 Color Trends

Remember when neon brights were the coolest thing you could own? How about seafoam green and mauve- together? You've noticed how colors play into trends, but how much thought have you really given it? Luckily for you, you don't need to. There's this company called Pantone, and the people there are sort of the official Color Kids of the industry, and a few times a year, they issue a color trend report for an upcoming season. And believe me- spring '09 came out a WHILE ago. If you think the high design people are ahead of the fashion trends, think again- there are hoardes of forecasters and trendspotters who are always looking for the next thing, what's going to be happening next year, in two years, in five years? But I digress. The point is, these people stay way ahead of the game so that you and I can live at our own pace and take the trends as they show up- which is a lot less costly.

One thing you should know about color is that the trends in color are affected by our moods. Much like when you get up in the morning feeling fantastic and reach for a bright pink cardigan, color trends change with society's outlook. Right now, people are feeling uneasy about the global economy, but with the recent change in U.S. leadership, a lot of people are feeling a new sense of hope. Whether it's hope for the end of the war, a stronger economy, or just hope for a better life in general, people are feeling a bit of optimism- without throwing their caution to the wind. What does that have to do with color? We want to be revitalized this spring- fresh, new takes on color that we haven't seen in a while, colors that don't remind us of the dreary past few months, that cheer us up and brighten our day- but also, we need a rock to hold onto. A good, solid base of neutrals that stand their ground and keep us tied together. Readers, I give you the Pantone Spring '09 Top Ten:

The Optimistic Brights:

-Fuschia Red- an elegant purplish shade- this actually counts as a cool red, so check your color temperature (we'll discuss how to do that soon, promise!) before bedecking yourself in this shade. You’ll see it in everything from t-shirts to nail polish to handbags!

-Salmon Rose- perfect, floral pink with just a hint of orange- perfect with a tan and an almost universally flattering color- can you help but to love it? For bright, springtime contrast, try pairing this with lemon, or tone it down by pairing it with celery green.

-Palace Blue- tropical turquoise, this one pairs well with almost every color in the report and makes a real splash! It makes me think of those few places in the world where you can't see the horizon because the sky and the ocean are the same color. I love these aqua shades of blue, especially in spring and summer! This one will look fantastic with white, so get your self tanner out.

-Lucite Green- pale green-blue. Subtle and clean, this color brings some light and clarity to this group of saturated brights. Someone has to regulate, and this elegant color does it with character and class.

-Super Lemon- the name says it all, and I can’t wait because, I don't want to sound biased, but yellow is one of my favorites! I recently spotted a pair of bright yellow shorts at one of the bargain basements- they'll be mine next week.

-Vibrant Green- a fresh, jungle green, which evokes that spring renewal kind of feel. This one is leafy and cool, and it kind of makes me want a mojito.

Notice anything so far? If you guessed that all of these shades are floral, botanical, natural colors, you're dead-on. My guess is that Megan will have some thoughts on that in her post on Spring Fashion Trends tomorrow! Onward, to our new neutrals...

The Rock Steady Neutrals:

-Dark Citron- sage green, and it's really not very dark as the name implies, almost like a deep celery tone. This is possibly the most serious shade in the report, but it adds a little maturity to and ties together an otherwise bright and cheerful spray of pinks, purples, and citrus shades- a great way to grow up a bright pink top or a pair of yellow shorts.

Lavender- just like the scent of it’s namesake flower, this shade is here to have a soothing effect on us and help us relax and feel hopeful. It looks fantastic with all the amazing greens in the spread-and yes, lavender can be a neutral. The way to wear it? The lavender is toned down so it looks a bit gray, and then you can pop your favorite other colors in with it. You'll see this one in a lot of accessories this season, I think.

Slate Gray- bluish gray, pure and simple. This is as neutral as it gets. Amazing with the hot bright florals- think of a garden with a slate walk.

Rose Dust- Think Salmon Rose and Slate Gray getting together and having a love child. This is anything but your average neutral, and I think it’s refreshing! I'm guessing we'll see this one not only in clothes, but also in makeup.

Noticing anything else, like how purple, green, and blue are still around from the fall? The fall shades were rich, opulent jewel tones, and they're growing up into weathered, washed neutrals and delicious botanical brights. Enjoy this season's garden of fashion Eden, it's going to be fun and bright, but you'll have to wait til Megan's post tomorrow to see how it's all coming together. And later in the week, we're discussing the biggest fashion no-no's- all the things we really hate to see. Don't miss it!

all images courtesy google images.