Spring 2012 Color Palette Swatches

I realized last night that the color swatches for the Pantone Spring 2012 Fashion Color Palette blog post might be a bit small for some readers. So, here are the Pantone Spring 2012 Fashion Color Palette for women and men in larger swatches.

Tangerine Tango	Solar Power
Bellflower	Cabaret
Sodalite Blue	Margarita
Sweet Lilac	Cockatoo
Driftwood	Starfish
Dazzling Blue	Vintage Khaki
Granita	Hawaiian Ocean
Tradewinds	Grass Green

Take-Along a Swatch Sheet

In case you’re someone who likes to take a guide along while shopping, here’s a downloadable Swatch Sheet that you can take with your to the fabric store. Note: Colors may not exactly match to Pantone or between your computer screen and the print out, due differences in color calibration of your computer and/or printer.

Enjoy! and Happy Sewing…in color!

Pantone Spring 2012 Color Palette

It’s Fashion Week in New York and to kick it off Pantone has revealed the color palette for Spring 2012. Pantone invites us to Dance Into Spring with the Spring 2012 Fashion Color Forecast.

Pantone’s Spring 2012 Fashion Color Forecast reminds us that spring is a time of renewed energy, optimism and a promise of a brighter day. And color can help alter or sway a mood. This coming spring is a colorful palette of vivid brights, soft muted tones and fun-loving pastels.

Pantone Spring 2012 Color Palette for Women

Pantone usually leads with the color palette for women. For a larger view of the palette, just click on the graphic.

Provocative Tangerine Tango, an enticing juicy orange, is a vivacious and appealing refresher to enliven anyone’s outlook this spring. Providing a jolt of energy, Solar Power radiates warmth and cheer.

Fanciful Bellflower, a distinct ornamental purple, exudes uniqueness and creativity. Scintillating and sexy, Cabaret is a sensual and intense rosy-red — an excellent choice for summer clothing and cosmetics.

Sodalite Blue, a classic maritime hue, brings order and calmness to mind. Like an anchor to a ship, this dependable shade works with every color in the palette. Cockatoo, a tactile blue-green, is sure to make your spirits soar. This unusual hue adds a whimsical touch to the palette and will surely make a statement this spring.

Margarita, a piquant yellow-green, lifts spirits with its refreshing and stimulating glow. Reminiscent of a blossoming garden on an early spring morning, fragrant Sweet Lilac evokes the fresh scents of summer. This delicate pinkish lilac adds a touch of romance to any wardrobe.

Natural versatile neutrals add practicality to this season’s brights. Driftwood, an adaptable blend of beige and gray with a slightly weathered feel, and Starfish, a perfect warm summer neutral, complement all colors featured in this season’s top 10.

For an ultra-bold vibrant look this spring, try mixing Bellflower with Tangerine Tango and Cabaret. Combine Margarita with Sweet Lilac and Cockatoo for a subtle alternative, or combine Margarita with Sweet Lilac and Driftwood for a more practical variation. Solar Power is best juxtaposed with Sodalite Blue. For a safer bet, add a natural neutral like Starfish to the mix.

— Pantone Spring 2012 Color Palette Press Release

Pantone Men’s Spring 2012 Color Palette

Pantone’s Men’s Spring 2012 Color Palette is similar to the Women’s Color Palette, but a bit more “braver” and “bolder.”

“Spring and summer naturally evoke feelings of calm ocean waters and tranquil beach vacations. Vivid Hawaiian Ocean adds sparkle to any attire. Pair it with Dazzling Blue to lift basic blues to new heights.

Vintage Khaki, a timeless yet quintessential classic, is best paired with Granita, a full-bodied and robust deep red.

Breezy Tradewinds creates the perfect combination for spring with Dazzling Blue and Grass Green. This sporty yet classic golf green is sure to be a hit in active sportswear.”

Re-do It Design includes some interested interpretations to the color palettes when thinking in a color story. They look at it from a home decor view, but still very much applicable whether your considering your Spring 2012 wardrobe or making over your home.

Spring 2012 Fashion Color Palette Report

Download Pantone’s Color Report in .PDF with the designers’ influences and inspirations. The Pantone Color Report is filled with designer “must-have’s” and inspirational drawings. This year, Pantone also asked the designers what colorful item defined their style as a child. Fun and interesting to read what fashion design icons such as Betsey Johnson, Tommy Hilfiger, Caren Marc Valvo, Tracy Reese and others said.

Here’s a re-cap of the Spring 2012 Women’s and Men’s colors. What colors will you be using?

• Tangerine Tango
• Solar Power
• Bellflower
• Cabaret
• Sodalite Blue
• Margarita
• Sweet Lilac
• Cockatoo
• Driftwood
• Starfish
• Dazzling Blue
• Vintage Khaki
• Granita
• Hawaiian Ocean
• Tradewinds
• Grass Green

Still thinking Fall 2011? Here’s our blog post from Pantone’s Fall 2011 color report.

Image source: Pantone

Fall 2011 Color Report

Fashion Week is synonymous with fantasy designs; watching for up-and-coming designers; and identifying trends. Whether you follow the Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris or the next season’s trends in Milan, London or New York, one thing that is a common theme throughout is color. During New York’s Fashion Week, Pantone, Inc. always releases its color trend forecast.

Here in Chicago, we’re barely getting ourselves out of snow…in fact, there’s another snowfall predicted for tomorrow. And while we can’t wait for spring and to wear the Spring Colors, Pantone released the Fall 2011 Color Trend report last week at New York’s Fashion Week. So, even though we want to think of short-sleeves and bright colors, the fashion industry is showing us that color will be with us when we put our chunky knits and layers back on later in the year.

Honeysuckle-colored weddings (Image source: Wedding101.net)

The color trend report is usually associated with womenswear fashion, but these same colors can be seen in menswear. wedding schemes and home decor fabrics and paints that you’ll find at your home improvement centers.

I don’t really know if the quilting industry follows Pantone’s color trends. Do you? If you do, please leave me a comment below. I’d love to know.

Honeysuckle — The “It” Color For Fall 2011

How did you feel about the “IT” color from spring, honeysuckle? If you’re not a pink person, you might be a bit hesitant about it. But if you are a pink person, you’ll be continuing your love through fall.

Pantone calls this fall’s colors as “The Art of Color — Sensible and Spirited,” recalling a painter’s masterpiece of combining color with neutrals. I happen to love color, so personally I’m thrilled to see color injected into the neutrals. And here they are. If you want to skip ahead to download the full report from Pantone, be sure to look through the designer inspirations from fashion trendsetters like Betsey Johnson, Chris Benz, Tracy Reese, Adrienne Vittadini, Carmen Marc Valvo, Elie Tahari, Tommy Hilfiger and more. Don’t miss the section of “must-haves.”

 

Pantone Fall 2011 Color Trend (Image source: bagaddictsanonymous.com)

Bamboo, a surprising fall hue, brings a warm, exotic flavor to the season. Like a filtered sunset on the waning days of fall, Bamboo is a standout yellow with a subtle green undertone. This dappled shade pairs dramatically with several of the top 10, including Phlox, Teal and Honeysuckle.

Radiant Emberglow, a traditional autumnal tone, emanates the warmth of a glowing fire – the perfect panacea to the crisp air of fall. Combine Emberglow with Coffee Liqueúr for a classic look, or with Honeysuckle for something a bit more retro. Add a spark with shoes or a handbag in Emberglow, or perhaps a patterned scarf combining purpled Phlox or Deep Teal.

Offering a sense of continuity from spring, dynamic Honeysuckle adds a bold punctuation point. This playful, reddish pink works with any other color in the palette, especially fall staples like Coffee Liqueúr and Nougat. To add some intensity, pair it with complementary Bamboo. Flirtatious and festive, Honeysuckle produces a healthy glow – great for cosmetics and holiday soirees.

Phlox, a magical, deep purple with a hint of mystery, is an outstanding statement when worn on its own. Add Phlox to this season’s neutrals to create a bit of drama, or combine it with Cedar, Deep Teal or Coffee Liqueúr for something extraordinary. To add even more excitement, pair Phlox with Honeysuckle or Bamboo against a Cedar background – a combination inspired by Mother Nature.

Evoking the freshness of a cool mist in a dark forest, Cedar is a versatile, mid-tone neutral green. It is a natural with Deep Teal, and sophisticated and timeless with Phlox or Orchid Hush. Deep Teal, a strong, blue-toned green, suggests ocean depths and the color of the sky as daylight descends into darkness. A great standard when used with Cedar, its color-wheel neighbor, Deep Teal is also a unique counterpoint to Honeysuckle.

Consumers continue to add stability to their wardrobes with neutrals. Rich, decadent Coffee Liqueúr brings a sense of elegance to fall, and is a savory alternative to basic black. A deliciously warm camel tan, Nougat is tastefully embellished by Phlox, Emberglow or Honeysuckle. Orchid Hush, a unique tone of gray with complex orchid undertones, blends well with any other color in the palette. Quarry, a reliable medium gray, remains, as always, a practical, dependable staple.

Source: Pantone, Inc.

Menswear colors are slightly different.

Image source: Pantone, Inc.

Taking orange in a more masculine direction, Burnt Sienna serves as the standard, fall classic. Accent pieces including ties, scarves and pocket squares in this warm orange are a must. Providing men an alternative to Honeysuckle, Raspberry Wine has more sparkle than a merlot, making a statement with its vital red characteristics. The assemblage of Deep Teal, Cedar and Raspberry Wine is a spectacular composition.

Cadet, the perfect marriage of blue and gray, is another indisputable classic, serving as a dependable backbone that can be worn from season to season. Magical purple Phlox blooms against a neutral background of Nougat, Coffee Liqueúr and Quarry.

Source: Pantone, Inc.

I just love the way the colors are described! What do you think of the Fall 2011 colors? Love them? Not so much? What’s your favorite color from the collection? Leave a comment with your choice. Hmmm, should I bring this color palette to the ASG Chicago Fashion Show in October to see who’s on trend? 😉

Happy Spring, Happy Sewing!

Fashion Color Report – Spring 2011

 

Image source: Groove Press blog

Below is a copy of my Sew Chicago Fashion Color Report – Spring 2011 post from September 12, 2010. I thought it would still be appropriate information to share since we’re on the closer side of seeing spring coming. (I’m very optimistic as snow showers are predicted.)

Pantone Fashion Report Spring 2011 (Image source: Pantone, Inc.)

Fresh from New York’s Fashion Week, Pantone — THE authority of color trends — released the Fashion Color Report for Spring 2011.

When I used to be an ad agency art director, I lived and breathed by Pantone’s color trends when selecting colors for photo shoots, logos and packaging color stories. I always thought the coolest job would be to work for the Color Institute and get to name the colors. Cerulean blue was status quo to the art student as I went to the art store to buy paints, but when I became a working art director and could specify “Capri Ocean Blue” — oh! the visions that came to mind. Back then I hadn’t yet been to Capri! I don’t “pick colors” for a living anymore, but I still get excited when Pantone announces the color forecast.

As you look at these colors, keep in mind that these are saturated hues, kind of like if you colored straight from the crayon. Your skin and hair color combination may not work well with the full-saturation hue and you might be better with a tint (lighter) or tone (darker) of the color or lean to the warmer or cooler values. So, don’t be discouraged if Honeysuckle 18-2120 is not in the palette that your color consultant advised. There is probably a variation of Honeysuckle that you can work with. (Note: If you’re in the Chicago area and are looking for a color consultant, we can put you in touch with one that we know. Just drop us a comment and we’ll connect you to Kathy.)

Spring 2011

“Explore the world!” seems to be the theme for Spring 2011. Africa, India, Peru and Turkey were the inspirations for Spring 2011’s color palette. (Hmmm, I just might need to make trips to these places for the real deal.)

Pantone Fashion Report Color Palette Spring 2011 (Image source: Pantone, Inc.)

“The colors designers have chosen for the spring season present an interesting marriage of unexpected warm and cool tones,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “By cleverly combining complementary colors, those that are opposites on the color wheel, they have created a striking intensity to the palette. These unique color combinations make it possible for consumers to pair existing pieces in colors traditionally associated with fall, with new favorites to punch up springtime wardrobes.”

Flirtatious Honeysuckle is a feel-good hue that brings a festive sense of playfulness to this season’s palette. This vibrant pinkish-red for both apparel and cosmetics makes consumers feel alive, and is a perfect post-winter pick-me-up.

Spicy, gregarious and persuasive describe Coral Rose, a sophisticated orange that, much like Beeswax, a warm, honeyed yellow, conjures up feelings of faraway lands and locales. Pair either of these piquant hues with a cool, refreshing color-wheel opposite like Regatta for a vibrant color combination that will add zest to any wardrobe. Romantic, fanciful Lavender implies sensuality with its subtle hint of red undertone. Combine it with Beeswax or Coral Rose for a unique counterpoint.

Alluring Blue Curacao evokes thoughts of tropical destinations and pays homage to the 2010 Color of the Year, Turquoise. Practical consumers can continue to incorporate enticing Caribbean blues into spring by pairing Blue Curacao with warm, complementary colors like Honeysuckle or Coral Rose. Peapod, a fresh yellow-green, brings an organic element to the palette and is reminiscent of the green shoots that signify change and new beginnings traditionally found in spring.

Trans-seasonal neutrals ground this season’s palette and provide a stable backdrop for all the other colors. The so-called “nude hues” are represented in the range of ethereal Silver Peony to dramatically deep Russet. Another dependable background color, Silver Cloud, is the quintessential neutral that consumers can rely on to coordinate with everything in their closet.” Source: Pantone, Inc.

Download the full report with the designers’ inspirations from Pantone’s site. You’ll find sketches and color stories from designers such as Christian Soriano, Tracy Reese, Catherine Maladrino, Tadashi Shoji, and many more. They also give their quick “must-have’s” for Spring 2011. At the end of the report, Pantone also talks to other fashion industry influencer, such as make-up artist Collier Strong, Desparate Housewives costumer Cate Adair and Essie Weingarten from Essie Cosmetics to ask what geographies are influencing fashion and how it plays into the color palette.

Play with their interactive summary and you’ll see all the designer sketches who commented by specific color.

And for our male readers or if you’ll be sewing for a man in your life, Pantone specifies a separate color palette for menswear.

Pantone Men's Fashion Palette Spring 2011 (Image source: Pantone, Inc.)

Fall 2010

If you’re like me, I haven’t even started to think about Spring 2011. So, I thought I’d include the Fall 2010 color trend. You can download the full report from Pantone’s site with the designers’ inspiration stories.

Pantone Fall 2010 Color Trend (Image source: Dion Label)

Pantone’s iPhone/iTouch App

If you have an iPhone or an iTouch, you can keep the Pantone colors with you. What better reference to have the next time you’re in the fabric store and dreaming of your next garment or accessory?

Pantone has an iPhone/iTouch app, you can carry the Pantone library with you and build color palettes. Select a color and you can also select complementary colors or “matchy-matchy” tones. The really neat feature is being able to take a picture either already on your iPhone/iTouch or snap one immediately, then extracting a color out of that image and go from there to pick your complementary colors, etc. For more screen captures, read more about it on Pantone’s site with screen captures of the app.

Open your box of crayons or uncap your colored markers! Whether it’s a new fall scarf, patterned hose or just a splash of color on a trim, I hope you enjoy color throughout the seasons!

Note: After reading about this app, one of Sew Chicago’s members purchased this app and was so happy that she left this comment. This makes it all worthwhile to be able to share information through our blog.

Hi Tina! Bet you never thought one of your postings would be lifechanging, huh? I have known about Pantone forever, but since I’m colorblind (or at least color deficient), it’s never been much use to me. But thank you SO MUCH for posting about the iPhone app from Pantone. This one is killer! Within 5 minutes of reading your posting I was on iTunes to buy it for myself.

To test it out, I tried this out on a piece of multicolor fabric I have in my stash. To my eyes, I can’t tell if it’s purple tones or blue tones, and I’m not at all sure what the other colors are (I just know I like it). I set the palatte selections to textiles (home and fashion), took a picture of my fabric, and immediately I get a detailed description of the 5 predominant colors by name! I’m blown away! This is going to be such a big improvement for me in my fabric selection process, and then I’ll be able to take a first pass on coordinating fabrics without having to ask someone else for help all the time.

Thank you so much, Tina. This is lifechanging!

Have a great week and happy sewing,
Debora