The Color Palette For Fall and Winter Clothing
Knowing what colors will be popular in Fall and Winter clothing this year is as easy as reviewing last February’s New York Fashion Week and looking at the Pantone Fashion Color Report for Fall 2009. The Color Report comes out to the public each year during the New York Fashion Week and is the result of Pantone’s survey of the designers who show products during Fashion Week. Their Report for Fall includes the top 10 fashion colors, designer sketches, and quotes from designers.
Last year the dominant colors proved to be purple and blue. This fall and winter will see a dominance of lighter colors mixed with a few darker colors. This year’s colors feature natural tones with a couple of darker shades to give dramatic effect.
Among the numerous lighter colors this fall will be the warm and golden Honey Yellow, a variation of the Mimosa 2009 color of the year. A good color to combine with Honey Yellow will be the pinkish, earthy Burnt Sienna. Reminiscent of Mediterranean roof tiles, this color has been described as the most fall-like of the Pantone colors. Iron is another good color to combine with Honey Yellow and Burnt Sienna. This fall’s Iron, neither a true gray nor a brown, is described as the “new black” of the season and has been called a good grounding color for all other hues.
Two other good colors to combine with Burnt Sienna will be Nomad and Rapture Rose. Nomad is a timeless classic neutral color which falls between a light gray and beige. It can easily stand alone or be combined with other strong colors. Rapture Rose is a fresh and new color for fall. It is very feminine and should enliven other subdued fall tones. This color will also be seen in cosmetics and accessories.
Another great neutral color this fall will be Creme Brulee, named after the delicious French dessert. This is a beige color, though much lighter than Nomad. It is said to look good enough to eat.
Warm Olive adds a touch of sophistication to the fall color lineup. It is like the olive in a martini and, according to Pantone, will help all other colors come alive. It can easily be paired with Majolica Blue, a deep teal blue, and is a rather exotic color. It will complement oranges and purple tones well.
The darker colors in the fall selection are American Beauty and Purple Heart. American Beauty is a true, saturated red and is designed to suit all skin tones. It is patriotic, robust, well-balanced, and is a feel-good color. Purple Heart, a beautiful, refined lilac, is sensual and exciting. It is a variation of last year’s purple and is very feminine. Combine it with American Beauty for a dramatic effect or with its color wheel opposite, Honey Yellow, for a surprising flair.
Rings, necklaces, earrings, and chains in olive, chocolate, maple, plum, citrine, and garnet will all complement the 2009 fall and winter palette. As they say, if it sounds like a food item it will probably look great with this year’s fashion colors.
For more information about Fall and Winter fashion trends listen to the podcast entitled, “Fall/Winter Fashion Trends in Footwear,” on Womens Style .