Pantone‘s color of the year is “Radiant Orchid”! Why should you care? It means you’ll start to notice this color every where from paint colors, scarves, nail polish and even with lamps. That’s right.. It’s orchid’s year! And if you want to be awesome, get your mom an orchid colored scarf for Mother’s Day this year. She’ll have a perfect accessory that’s in style. You’re welcome.
Now, I’m thrilled about orchid. This color really looks good on me, if I do say so myself. And by a lovely accident, I started stocking up on shirts this exact color last year. Now I just need some fun accessories to make it awesome.
So, why should you care about Pantone? Well, other than having a universally used swatch book of colors so that manufacturers abroad can use the exact shade of purple that the designers in New York want, say “18-3224″…Pantone dictates the color trends for each year in advance, way in advance. You can bet the big designers are already planning and sewing next year’s fashions. Pantone picks these colors way in advance…designers pay to learn the colors early and design their whole runway looks around them. After we get a glimpse, they are immediately knocked off and start showing up in the local stores around you.
A little like The Devil Wears Prada…but they’re the actual ones who decides the colors, not Meryl Streep. And if you want to know what kind of trends are coming next season or next year…you would ask WGSN. They take the colors and then forecast the upcoming trends with them. I remember one fall season had earthy muted tones, with a grunge/industrial feel. We have that season to thank for boys’ skinny jeans…or blame. Wish I could unsee some things but the damage is done.
So there’s a little peek behind the curtain. Now when you see this color popping up everywhere you can tell your friends it’s the “color of the year”. Look how smart you are!
Anyone else have any plans to incorporate this color into their designs? They could be desserts or sewing projects…I know a cousin who could make pretty little orchid macaroons with glitter dust.